Election Process

2011 Election Results

Board of Directors

Benefit members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans elected three incumbents to the organization’s board of directors in the 2011 election: Kurt Senske, Paul Middeke and Fred Kraegel. They will begin their terms in February 2012.

Detailed Results

Advisory Vote

The ballot also included an Advisory Vote on the Thrivent Choice program. Benefit members voted for who should select the organizations eligible for the Thrivent Choice program:

• 135,856 members voted for "individual members through their local chapters."
• 40,392 members voted for "Thrivent Financial home office personnel."

In the months ahead, Thrivent Financial will be evaluating its current process to determine what types of changes would be needed to allow individual members (through their local chapters) to select the organizations eligible for Thrivent Choice.

Board Election

Each year, Thrivent chapters and the Board of Directors have the opportunity to nominate candidates for election to the board based on required and recommended qualifications. Election materials and the ballot are sent or emailed to each benefit member in the fall, and votes may be cast by mail or online. Three to four board positions are up for election each year, and directors serve four-year terms. Each vote carries the same weight and there is no proxy voting.

Nominations

As a membership organization, Thrivent Financial gives members the unique opportunity to nominate candidates for the board election through our chapter system. Chapters can make nominations during a specific period each spring. Learn more about nominee qualifications.

To make a nomination, contact your chapter president. To find out which chapter you belong to:

• Use the Chapter Locator; or
• Call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836).

FAQs

Q: Who can vote in the board of director's election?

A: "Benefit members" of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are eligible to vote for the election of directors to the Board of Directors of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Q: Who qualifies as an adult benefit member?

A: A benefit member is an individual age 16 or older who is (in the vast majority of cases) the insured or annuitant on an insurance or annuity contract issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, or premerger AAL or LB. In some cases, third-party owners of premerger AAL or Thrivent Financial contracts or beneficiaries of settlement agreements may be benefit members. Voting eligibility does not include associate members. Election materials are sent only to benefit members.

Q: Why can only benefit members vote for our Board of Directors?

A: This stipulation is included in our Articles of Incorporation and is true for virtually all fraternal benefit societies. Benefit members vote because they have a financial stake in the fraternal benefit society. (Note: members holding Thrivent mutual funds vote for the directors of the mutual funds boards).

Q: Why does the Board of Directors endorse certain candidates?

A: The Board endorses certain candidates to assist you as you complete your ballot. The Governance Committee of the Board reviews the qualifications of all nominated candidates; it also conducts peer evaluations of the incumbent candidates. The Governance Committee also looks for the skills sets and experience needed to provide the necessary oversight to this complex organization. Based on their review, and in consideration of the Board's recommended qualifications, the Board makes a decision as to which candidates to endorse for election. This is only a recommendation; the final choice is yours.

Q: Who nominates the candidates?

A: Branches, including Chapters and Thrivent Communities, and/or the Board of Directors nominate the candidates.

Q: How do I determine which candidate I should vote for?

A: To assist benefit members in selecting candidates to elect to the board, the Board of Directors provides a list of recommended qualifications, which is included in the election materials. These recommended qualifications can be used to determine which candidates are qualified to serve as directors for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a membership organization that is also a Fortune 500 financial services provider. The final decision is always with the individual voting member. Each voting benefit member has total freedom and power to vote for their choice of candidates.

Q: How many candidates can I vote for?

A: Each year, three positions are up for election. Benefit members can vote once for up to three candidates on their ballot. Benefit members can submit only one completed ballot.

Other Questions
You can refer other questions to Cindy Nigbur, Corporate Board Assistant, at (612) 844-8322 in Minneapolis.

¹ Tabulated by Election-America, an independent election services company.