In early January of each year, Care Abounds in Communities® program dollars are made available to each chapter for that year. (To receive funding, the chapter must have the required leadership positions filled and on record with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.)

The dollars are used to supplement money raised by a community service team at a fund-raiser, or to pay for the materials needed by a community service team to perform a hands-on service activity.

Here are the 7 simple steps for using the Care Abounds in Communities program:

	Member(s) identifies need. A Thrivent Financial member(s) identifies a need and the type of activity—fund-raiser or hands-on service activity—that will best help meet the need and has the greatest impact for using Care Abounds in Communities program funds to help an individual, family or qualified not-for profit organization in the community.
	Member(s) form community service team. To receive Care Abounds in Communities funding, a service team must consist of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members (benefit, associate and/or youth members) from at least six different households who come together to plan, prepare for and conduct a fund-raiser or hands-on service activity. After the six-member-household requirement is met, nonmembers are also encouraged to be part of the team and participate in the activity.
	Community service team requests funding from the chapter. Before the activity occurs, and preferably early in the planning stages, a Thrivent Financial member on the team contacts the chapter leadership board to request funds to support the activity. (Note to chapters: Keep in mind the December deadline for entering activity/funding requests for activities in the current year.) The funding request is evaluated by the chapter leadership board for approval at a board meeting. (The leadership board may look at impact of activity, potential volunteer hours, funds raised and attendance, opportunity to publicize the Thrivent chapter service team’s involvement, etc.), If approved, a chapter leader enters the request online. The chapter informs the community service team leader (contact person) of the amount of funding available for the activity.	How will you pay the funds? Prior to the activity, it’s important for the chapter, service team and recipient to agree on how the funds will be paid. For example: Pay outstanding bills directly rather than issue a check to the recipient. Contribute to a fund or account that is set up for the recipient. However, the chapter may not set up or administer the fund or account because chapters are not allowed to have secondary / alternate bank accounts.
	Community service team publicizes and conducts activity. It is important that the activity is promoted as being hosted by Thrivent Financial (e.g., hosted by members of the Juneau Country Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; additional funding provided by the Juneau Country Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans). Promotional materials (e.g., posters, bulletin inserts and news release templates) are available online and/or from the chapter leadership board.
	Community service team reports results to chapter. After the activity is completed, the community service team leader (contact person) provides the chapter with: The results of the activity (Thrivent Financial members participating, volunteer hours, local funds raised, etc.). The net funds raised so the chapter can deposit the money into the chapter checking account. Any receipts from the activity.
	Chapter enters the activity results online Chapter enters the activity results online as soon as possible after receiving the above information and before Dec. 31 of the current year. This reporting triggers the release of Care Abounds in Communities funds from Thrivent Financial to: The chapter's checking account for a fund-raising activity, or to The chapter’s checking account or an identified person or organization for a hands-on service activity.
	Chapter financial director distributes funds. Care Abounds in Communities funds approved by the chapter and the net funds raised by the service team (which were deposited into the chapter checking account) are paid out in the manner agreed upon by the chapter, service team and recipient.