Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - GSB has built a strong reputation for ethical, effective, and creative services to agencies, institutions, and foundations across the United States for over 47 years. Our roots began in outdoor ministry with Robert Gronlund, Richard Sayther, and David Brunkow, our first three partners, using nonprofit fundraising best practices to strengthen and support other nonprofits, and congregations.

Many of the consultants and partners working with GSB Fundraising today have nonprofit roots in summer camps. We have always shared a strong partnership with the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Network (LOM). LOM is a professional organization for camp and retreat center leaders. Camps and retreat centers encourage spiritual growth for the whole person through intentional Christian community. LOM’s mission is encouraging, educating, equipping, and empowering camp and retreat leadership. They are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). LOM is committed to providing safe and inclusive environments that reflect the lessons Jesus taught us in John 13:34. “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

LOM comprises 119 outdoor ministry sites, 89 outdoor ministry organizations, 675 full-time staff, 4,000 summer staff, 2,000 year-round volunteers, 30,000 acres of land, 150,000 summer campers, and 275,000 fall/winter and spring campers and retreat guests.

While each of our consultants and partners is individually generous to organizations close to our own hearts, we share a collective passion for LOM as a firm. At the end of 2022, when we announced six new partners, we set a firm goal to fund an endowment to support the ongoing ministry of LOM. “We decided to utilize the ELCA Foundation to manage our endowment,” said Mike Ward, Managing Partner. “They begin paying out distributions when endowment funds reach $25,000. The ELCA Foundation notified GSB in August of 2023 that the fund balance reached $35,000 and would begin distributing to LOM at the end of September.”

“During all of its time as a consulting firm, GSB has been providing invaluable guidance to a great many member organizations of LOM,” said Don Johnson, LOM Director. “In addition, GSB has been instrumental in forming LOM itself. Throughout the whole history of the ministry, GSB has contributed its resources of wisdom and financial support to ensure the health and vitality of LOM. Now, with the establishment of an endowment, GSB is spearheading the sustainability of LOM’s continuing impact on the quality of outdoor ministry leadership throughout the whole church. Gratitude for this important initiative abounds throughout the LOM network! Thank you!”

“As a firm, we lead people to generosity all the time,” said Ward. “For me, it is critically important that we reflect that spirit of generosity in all that we do. To that end, we have launched this endowment through the generous gifts of GSB partners and consultants to help our friends in outdoor ministry keep their national organization strong.”

GSB consultants and partners will continue contributing to the endowment throughout their lifetime. Some have included the endowment in their legacy planning. “I have taken the necessary steps to include the endowment in my estate plan,” said Mitzie Schafer, GSB partner. “Camping ministry has shaped my leadership style and how I parent. I am grateful for my time in camping ministry, and I want to know it will remain strong for future generations of the church.”

We are grateful for our partnership with LOM and the ELCA Foundation. You can learn more about LOM at https://www.lomnetwork.org/ and the ELCA Foundation at https://foundation.elca.org/.