ALDE is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation in support of its College 2 Career initiative. This partnership has led to the development of the College 2 Career – Thrivent Fellows Program. The project will identify and recruit from Lutheran colleges a young, talented, and diverse future workforce for the profession of faith-based charitable giving. Through quality internships, ongoing educational opportunities, and mentoring, participants will graduate with a realistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities of resource development, a support network of ALDE professionals who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their new career, and an understanding of stewardship that they will translate to their own congregations and institutions. 

ALDE and Thrivent believe this exciting C2C – Thrivent Fellows Program will prove to be highliy valuable since C2C addresses the need for competency, recruitment, and retention of qualified young development professionals for the faith-based nonprofit sector. An investment in the recruitment and adequate preparation of the faith-based nonprofit workforce will pay for itself many times over in the form of consistent stewardship programs and an increased number of faith-based fundraisers who stay in the field for more than four years.

The Lutheran community will benefit from the C2C – Thrivent Fellows Program. The students who participate take on volunteer roles within their own personal congregations and demonstrate the principles of faith-based philanthropy they have learned by tithing and including their congregations and favorite Lutheran organizations in their own planned giving strategies. Plus, this investment in the future work force of development professionals will increase the active membership of professional organizations such as ALDE. A less-transient and more committed work force will create a more consistent and committed ALDE membership base. ALDE eagerly anticipates what the C2C – Thrivent Fellows Program will contribute to the development field and Lutherans in general.

Michelle Janssen, Director of Major Gifts at Valparaiso University, has been appointed chairperson of the task force overseeing implementation of the C2C – Thrivent Fellows Program. Be on the lookout for continued information on how you and your organization can participate.