WELS Foundation Newsletter and Resources

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WELS Foundation is pleased to provide a newsletter created to support our ministry partners as they guide and encourage Christian giving.  Each issue includes valuable insights, tools and resources to assist you in serving donors.

Browse past issues and download supporting materials below.

Have questions or want to join our email list?
Contact WELS Foundation at 414-256-3255 or [email protected].

WELS Association of Lutheran High Schools Conference Mission Advancement Sectional

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March 5, 2026, Mission Advancement sectional during the WELS Association of Lutheran High Schools conference, Sheraton, Brookfield, Wis.

Bryan K. Clontz, Ph.D., CFP® led a Mission Advancement sectional during the WELS Association of Lutheran High Schools conference. Dr. Clontz is a nationally recognized planned giving strategist and founder of Charitable Solutions LLC. For more than 20 years, he has helped Christian leaders build effective planned giving and endowment programs with limited time and resources. He is widely known for practical, step-by-step approaches that make planned giving approachable, sustainable, and effective.

The presentation slides from both sessions are available below for those who attended the sectional, as well as for development leaders who were unable to participate.

Sectional presentation information:

  • Bible Study: Rev. Charles Vannieuwenhoven, Ministerial Education Administrator (9:30-10:00 a.m.):
  • Session 1: Planned Giving with a Shoe-String Staff and a Shoe-String Budget (10:00-12:00 p.m.):
    Learn how to create or enhance a robust planned giving program with no money and in just 2-3 hours per month. Bryan will explain planned giving in simple terms, describe what really motivates donors to give, how to prospect and have the conversations while literally providing a step-by-step action plan for when you get back to the office. Over the last 20 years, more than 3,000 attendees have enjoyed and benefited from this talk, and nearly everyone says, “I never thought it could be this easy and for absolutely no money!”
  • Session 2: Planned Giving with a Shoe-String Staff and a Shoe-String Budget, Part 2 Endowment Building on Steroids: Follow the Recipe (1:15-3:45 p.m.):
    This highly interactive session will not focus on the reason to have an endowment, but instead on the design and implementation of a plan to grow your endowment. We will discuss best practices of board engagement, prospecting, marketing, cultivating donors, having the conversation, gift documentation, and recognition. The session will be very practical and offer specific how-to suggestions that attendees can follow-almost like an endowment building recipe!

Additional Resources
The following resources were shared with development leaders following the session:

Questions?
Contact WELS Foundation at [email protected].

Estate Planning Guide

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A thoughtful resource to help you plan with confidence and Christian stewardship
We’ve created this estate planning guide especially for you as you carry out the privilege of managing all that our Lord has entrusted to you. Throughout your life, you’ve dedicated your time, talents, and treasures to Christ, your family, and others—through your congregation, synod, and WELS-affiliated ministries.

This guide provides practical, Christ-centered direction as you make decisions about the gifts God has placed in your care. Whether you’re beginning your estate plan or updating an existing one, our prayer is that this resource offers clarity, peace of mind, and a biblical perspective throughout the process.

What you’ll find in this guide
A clear, organized, and biblically grounded process designed to help you create a plan you feel confident in—one that:

  • Reflects God-pleasing Christian stewardship
  • Provides for your loved ones and the ministries you cherish after the Lord calls you home
  • Can be completed efficiently and cost-effectively

📘Using This Booklet
This booklet guides you step-by-step through preparing a Christian estate plan. It includes sections to gather and organize important information—helpful for both your family and the professional planners who assist you.

Getting started:

⚠️ Important notes:

  • To complete the digital form fields, you will need Adobe Reader. If you do not have it, it is available as a free download here.
  • This workbook is intended for saving and printing only. For your privacy and security, please do not e-mail the completed version of the form.

WELS Foundation Annual Report

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Your Legacy Matters
WELS Foundation is the foundation of choice for WELS members and ministries—the only foundation dedicated solely to helping donors support gospel ministry across WELS congregations, schools, missions, and outreach.

Leave a “Memorial Stone”
When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they set up a stone memorial so future generations would remember God’s goodness (Joshua 4:4-9). Today, you can leave your own “memorial stone” through gifts that continue to bless and strengthen ministry for generations to come.

A Lasting Testimony of Faith
A planned gift is more than a financial decision—it’s a lasting testimony of faith. It ensures the ministries you love continue to thrive, the proclamation of God’s Word reaches new hearts, and your gratitude for God’s grace is remembered for years to come.

Reflect on Your Legacy
How will your legacy reflect your faith?