Bethel Community
Bethel Lutheran Home Foundation

The Foundation was created in 1987, with the sole mission to provide much-needed financial assistance and stability to the ongoing ministry of Bethel Lutheran Home. Of every dollar given to the Foundation, 100% goes to benefit the ministry of service within the Bethel Community. There are four ways of supporting Bethel:

* Gifts and Memorials:
Individuals often bless us with specific gifts and/or memorials in memory of a friend or loved one. A memorial may be given undesignated or designated for a specific purpose or fund. An acknowledgment is sent from the business office to those who send a gift and/or memorial of $5 or greater.

* Annual Gifts:
Memberships in the Bethel Home Foundation are to those who give at least $100 per year to the Foundation, and become Bethel Benefactors. The Foundation board of directors uses these annual gifts to support the various programs within the Bethel Community, as requested by either the administration or board of directors of the facility, or by action approved by the Foundation board of directors.

* Specific Project Support
In the 41-year history of Bethel, there have been specific capital fund drives to help support a specific project. Examples of these projects have been the 21st Century Appeal; which raised over $300,000 towards the million-dollar expansion/remodeling project in 1993, the Bus Drive; which raised the $50,000 needed to purchase the new paratranist bus in 2001, and the Dining Room Fund; which helped offset the cost of the dining room expansion/roof replacement project that was completed in the spring of 2003.

* Use of life insurance, charitable gift annuities, or estate plans:
The Foundation has been the receiptant of paid-up life insurance, charitable gift annuities, and estate gifts – all used to provide financial assistance to the ministry of Bethel Lutheran Home. Those individuals and/or couples who would like more information about making such a lasting gift are welcome to contact the Administrator. Free assistance is available through the Development Office of the South Dakota Synod Office of the ELCA, the ELCA Foundation, or local attorneys in this process.