Give Monthly

When you give monthly, you join a community of people who stand with deaconesses and deacons in their call to serve. This community is committed to steadfastly supporting the whole people of God in Christ’s call to serve. We are grateful for your support. Please click one of the buttons above to give.

Give Now

Make a gift today so that we can form, educate, and support new, caring, and compassionate deaconesses and deacons to continue serving and comforting God’s people. They are ready and waiting. Thank you. Just click one of the buttons above to donate.

Note: If you’d rather call the LDA office and give via credit card over the phone, we can do that too! Our phone number is (219) 464-6925. See our Ways to Give page for other ways to make your donation to the LDA. We are grateful for your support!


Become a member of the Towel and Basin Club

The towel and basin are the symbols of deaconess and deacon ministry, representing humble service to others in need. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, and he instructed them to do the same for others. Sometimes it means literal foot washing; but more widely, washing feet means serving Christ by walking with those whom the world would easily forget  ̶ the marginalized, the poor, the powerless, the sick.

The Towel and Basin Club is the LDA’s way to thank donors for their annual support. All donors whose total giving is $100 or more in a year are members of this giving circle. As a Towel and Basin member, you will receive special recognition to thank you for your support, such as:

  • A Towel and Basin pin
  • Your name listed in the LDA Today newsletter
  • Invitations to special events

Towel and Basin Club Giving Levels are:

  • Diaconal Friend $100-$249
  • Diaconal Associate $250-$499
  • Diaconal Advocate $500-$999
  • Diaconal Sponsor $1,000-$2,499
  • Diaconal Benefactor $2,500-$4,999
  • Diaconal Philanthropist $5,000 and up

Contact Us

Phone: 219-464-6925
Email: [email protected]
Center for Diaconal Ministry
1304 LaPorte Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383

Tax ID 35-0976804

Ways to Give

By credit or debit card
The LDA accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
If you wish to make a credit card gift over the phone, please call us at 219-464-6925. Please click here to make an online gift.

PayPal
Use PayPal to make a one-time donation or a monthly recurring gift. Please click here to make an online gift.

Electronic contributions straight from your bank account
The Simply Giving program works in the same manner as other electronic fund transfers or debits from your bank account. You authorize the amount and frequency of your gift to be electronically transferred from your bank account (or credit card) to the LDA. The LDA will send you an annual donation statement for your tax records. Click here to donate directly from your bank account.

Check
Please make your check payable to “LDA” and mail to:
Center for Diaconal Ministry
1304 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383

Shares of stock or securities
Securities, including stocks and bonds, may be used to make a gift to the LDA. You realize no capital gains tax if stock is transferred directly to us. Because of this tax savings, gifts of securities are often more beneficial to you than gifts of cash. The fair market value of the securities on the date the gift is received determines the income tax deduction.

Please contact us for specific instructions to donate your stock by wire delivery, by mail, or by hand delivery.

Memorial and Tribute Gifts
The LDA welcomes gifts in memory of or tribute to another. These designations can be made online or in the memo line of your check. We are happy to notify all honorees or family members that a gift has been received in their name.

Thrivent Choice
You may find these instructions to designate your Thrivent Choice Dollars to the LDA helpful to you.

Online:

  • Visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice.
  • In the Direct Choice Dollars section on the right, click “Get started now.”
  • Log in, enter your user ID and password, and answer your security question. (If you haven’t yet registered on Thrivent.com, click “Register for account access.”)
  • Find the number of Choice Dollars available to direct.
  • Enter Lutheran Deaconess Association and click “Search.”
  • Choose “Direct All” or enter a specific number and click “Direct Now.”
  • Follow the prompts on the confirmation page to direct Choice Dollars.

Phone:

  • Call 800.847.4836 and when prompted, say “Thrivent Choice.”
  • Then press 1 to direct Choice Dollars (a representative will assist you).

Matching Gifts
Does your company match gifts? If so, it could double or triple your gift to the LDA. Check with your human resources department for details.

Estate Gifts and Planned Giving
You can use gift planning through your estate and gifts that pay you income to provide meaningful support for the LDA while enjoying financial and tax benefits for you and your family. Click here for more details and feel free to contact us to determine a charitable plan that is the best fit.

If you have already included the LDA in your estate, would you please take a few moments to let us know so that we can thank you and be sure that we completely understand your intentions? Once we know about your estate gift, we would be happy to welcome you into our Servant Circle.

Contact Us

Phone: 219-464-6925
Email: [email protected]
Center for Diaconal Ministry
1304 LaPorte Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383

Tax ID 35-0976804

Estate Gifts and Planned Giving


The Servant Circle

The Servant Circle recognizes donors who have informed the LDA of a future gift through their estate. The generosity of these members supports and strengthens diaconal ministry, while leaving a legacy of the members’ values. Please notify us of your gift so that it is used exactly as you intend and so that we can thank you for your generosity. Listing your name as a Servant Circle member may also inspire others to join.

How to leave a legacy in 5 minutes
One of the easiest gifts you can make is to name the LDA as a beneficiary of one of your assets, such as your retirement plan or life insurance policy. You can set it up by yourself; there is no need to contact an attorney or financial advisor to leave your legacy.

1. Contact the administrator of your retirement plan, insurance policy or bank account for a “change of beneficiary form” or download a form from your provider’s website.
2. Decide what percentage of the account you wish to give to the LDA and name the LDA and percentage on the form.
3. Return the form to your plan administrator.
4. Tell us about your gift. It would be our pleasure to thank you for your support.

Your Planned Giving Options
You can use gift planning through your estate and gifts that pay you income, to provide meaningful support to the LDA while enjoying financial and tax benefits for you and your family. Please contact us to determine a charitable plan that is the best fit.

Your Goals Your Strategy Your Benefits
Leave a legacy to the LDA that costs you nothing now. Include a bequest for us in your will (cash, specific property, or a share of the estate residue). Ability to make a substantial gift when you no longer need the assets.
Avoid capital gains liability and take an income tax deduction. Use appreciated securities or property, instead of cash, to make your gift. Make a lasting difference while avoiding capital gains tax.
Provide more for your heirs. Name the LDA as beneficiary of your retirement plan, leave less-taxed assets to family. Eliminate income tax on retirement plan assets; free up other property to pass to your heirs.
Create a long-term gift that won’t draw funds from your estate. Create a new life insurance policy, or donate a paid-up policy whose coverage you no longer need. Reduce income taxes and increase your ability to make a significant gift to the LDA.
Secure steady payments for you with a significant gift to the LDA. Create income for life with a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder unitrust. Supplement your income for life and receive a charitable deduction now.
Provide a greater inheritance to your children while reducing gift and estate taxes. Create a charitable lead trust to pay income to the LDA for a fixed time, then pay the remainder to your heirs. Reduce gift and estate taxes, and freeze the taxable value of growing assets before they pass to your family.
Reduce high tax liability now; gain additional income later. Establish a deferred gift annuity. A larger deduction and greater fixed income for life than other life-income
gifts.

If you have already included the LDA in your estate, would you please take a few moments to let us know so that we can thank you and be sure that we completely understand your intentions? Once we know about your estate gift, we would be happy to welcome you into our Servant Circle.

Gift Acceptance Policy

The LDA has Gift Management/Gift Acceptance Policy that provides guidance to prospective donors and their advisors when making gifts to the LDA. The policy generally does not permit us to accept gifts of real estate and personal property. Donors are encouraged to leave real property assets through partnering foundations. We are happy to talk with you and your advisor about ways we can honor your wishes and the LDA’s gift acceptance criteria. Please call us at 219-464-6925. To request a copy of the Gift Management Policy/Gift Acceptance Policy, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for including the LDA in your estate plans!

Contact Us

Phone: 219-464-6925
Email: [email protected]
Center for Diaconal Ministry
1304 LaPorte Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383

Tax ID 35-0976804