WHO WE ARE
Outreach for Hope supports life-giving ministries that serve with the people of low income communities in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA. These ministries not only provide help with daily necessities, but most importantly, they are centers in the heart of their communities for providing transformation and hope. Outreach for Hope seeks donations primarily from generous individuals. It also receives gifts from organizations and from special offerings of congregations.
Our Values…
- Generous Hearts: Asking, Gifting, Being Called
- Changing Lives: Working for Justice
- Church Together: Acts of Faith and Word & Sacrament Ministry
Our Mission…
We inspire donors to live and give generously by investing their gifts as a resource for transformation in ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod ministries, serving communities of poverty.
Our Vision…
That strong, vibrant ministries will be centers of hope in the midst of every community challenged by poverty within the Greater Milwaukee Synod.
OUR HISTORY
From its beginning in 1988, the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been committed to “walking with the poor.” In response to that growing commitment, the Greater Milwaukee Synod established the Outreach Fund at its 1995 Synod Assembly as an integral part of its strategy in meeting the financial needs of Word and Sacrament ministries serving the poor within the synod. A part-time director of resource development was hired in 1997.
From 1998-2004 administrative expenses, including staff salary, were funded by the Siebert Lutheran Foundation as well as congregational endowment grants. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans also made a grant that enabled the Greater Milwaukee Synod in 2005 to hire a full-time Director of Development for Outreach Ministry. The generosity of the Siebert Foundation, Thrivent Financial for Lutheran and the congregational endowments allowed donor gifts to be used directly in ministry support. Today, thanks to a generous five-year grant toward building an endowment fund and covering administrative costs, the funds donated to Outreach for Hope continue to be directed towards the ministries of Outreach for Hope.
In 2005 the Outreach Ministry Fund became “Outreach for Hope, Inc.” and a separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Outreach for Hope is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are drawn throughout the region of the Greater Milwaukee Synod. A member of the Greater Milwaukee Synod Council serves as an ex-officio member of the Outreach for Hope Board of Directors with voice and vote.
OUR STAFF
 |
 |
 |
 |
| REV. CHRIS MANKE Executive Director chris@outreachforhope.org 414-671-1212 |
ROBYN BAYLAND Communications Manager robyn@outreachforhope.org 414-671-1212 |
PHIL SMITH Administrative Assistant phil@outreachforhope.org 414-671-1212 |
PENNY SCHWID Ride Run Walk Coordinator penny@outreachforhope.org |
OUR BOARD
Tim Culhane, Chair
Julie Starks, Vice Chair
Sonja Wolfe, Secretary
Dale Landgren, Treasurer
Vickie Stretz, Synod Council Representative
Dr. Chris Beloin
Tim Knutson
Stephen Marsh
Tim Muth
Bishop Paul Erickson