Rekindled to Respond - From Crisis to Unprecedented Growth
Beth Nelson Chase, CFRE and Andrew Steele

When the humanitarian crisis unfolded after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) was once again a leader in refugee resettlement across the United States. Over the course of just a few months, LIRS resettled more than 14,000 Afghans who arrived in the U.S. for protection and safety. LIRS witnessed an outpouring of support and an unprecedented time of giving, especially with a surge of first-time major donors.

This session will highlight how earned media, social media, and new and creative ways of communication and stewardship led to unprecedented levels of giving that have continued throughout 2022 and 2023, and ultimately led to LIRS receiving a transformational gift of $15 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Andrew Steele (VP for Development and Mobilization) and Beth Nelson Chase (Director for Major and Planned Giving) will lead a presentation of cultural shifts that continue to impact major and planned giving strategies in 2023 and beyond.

Learning Outcomes:

• Discover how the LIRS development and mobilization team pivoted to respond to humanitarian crisis
• Figures and results of press and social media postings on donor response and support
• Developing retention policies and strategies for sustainable giving
• Leveraging major giving for developing future support

Beth Nelson Chase serves as the Director of Major and Planned Gifts for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. She formerly served in primarily Lutheran and faith based organizations as the Executive Director for Bright Stars of Bethlehem, supporting Dar al-Kalima University in Palestine; Vice President for Mission Support for Wartburg Theological Seminary; Vice President for Corporate Advancement at Lutheran Life Communities; Vice President for Advancement with Wheat Ridge Ministries (now the WeRaise Foundation); and Program Administrator Behavioral Healthcare Services for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, serving urban and rural populations and issues. 

Beth received her bachelor's in music education at Wartburg College, and a master's in music education and therapy at Michigan State University. She held academic teaching posts at MSU, and Napa Valley College in California. Beth served in volunteer positions as the past President of the Board for ACF (formerly ALDE) and as the Alumni Board President at Wartburg College. She is currently on the Mosaic Foundation Board.

Beth was the recipient of the ACF Outstanding Executive of the Year Award in 2017. She and her husband, John Chase, are members at St. James Lutheran Church in Forreston, Illinois, where Beth serves as Director of Music.

As Chief Development and Mobilization Officer of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Andrew G. Steele leads a dynamic team responsible for all revenue generation; mobilization efforts; and church and faith relations at LIRS. Prior to joining LIRS, Andrew was the Assistant Vice President for Advancement & Director of Campaigns at his alma mater, Wittenberg University. Before serving in that capacity, Andrew was the Director for Global Mission Funding at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). An avid traveler, Andrew annually returns to South Africa and Lesotho, where he once lived and co-founded BLOOM Africa, a 501(c)3 organization. When not 30,000 feet up, Andrew can be found hiking, golfing, or at a nearby farmer’s market.