Voting Event Organizations

The current Thrivent Choice Voting^SM Event runs from Jan. 24 to Feb. 28. All members 16 and older can help determine where Thrivent Financial distributes $1 million of its outreach funds among the seven organizations listed below.

Learn more about each organization. Then vote for your favorite.

Bethesda Lutheran Communities

Enhances the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Christ-centered residential care facilities, programs, workshops and in-home support.

Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest)

Provides food to more than 37 million low-income people in the U.S. through a network of 200 food banks that distribute 2.5 billion pounds of food annually.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Serves as a champion for uprooted people, helping those seeking safety from persecution in their home countries and reuniting families torn apart by conflict.

Lutheran Services in America

Works as an alliance of the ELCA and LCMS and their 300 health and human services organizations, helping them touch the lives of one in 50 Americans each year.

Orphan Grain Train

Brings food, clothing, medical supplies and other relief support to combat human need and suffering worldwide, and shares the Gospel with recipients

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Provides research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases, and is the only such center where families never pay for treatments not covered by insurance.

Wheat Ridge Ministries

Provides start-up support for new faith-based health and human care initiatives that help people in need experience wellness of body, mind and spirit.

Organization Comparison Chart

Name and Address	Story
Bethesda Lutheran Communities 600 Hoffman Dr. Watertown, WI 53094	Founded: 1904 Yearly Budget: $151,519,500          7.8% Administration Costs Sharing the love of Christ while providing quality supports and services to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is the cornerstone of Bethesda's ministry. Thrivent Choice grant funds will help Bethesda provide the highest possible quality of programs and services that impact and empower thousands of people with disabilities. Bethesda will strengthen and build new community programs nationwide that directly affect the physical and spiritual lives of those with disabilities and their families. To learn more, visit their website.
Feeding America 35 East Wacker Dr., Ste. 2000 Chicago, IL 60601	Founded: 1979 Yearly Budget: $729,106,000          2% Administration Costs Feeding America provides food to more than 37 million low-income people in the U.S. through a network of 200 food banks that distribute 2.5 billion pounds of food annually. Grant funds from Thrivent Choice will help Feeding America expand the number of proven programs for children and underserved communities. The funds will also help food banks create new connections to increase food supplies, as well as innovative systems for obtaining and distributing foods. To learn more, visit their website.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service 700 Light St. Baltimore, MD 21230	Founded: 1939 Yearly Budget: $40,000,000          7.5% Administration Costs Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service serves as a champion for uprooted people, helping those seeking safety from persecution in their home countries and reuniting families torn apart by conflict. Thrivent Choice grant funds will support services such as congregational and community engagement. They will help the organization build advocacy on behalf of migrant and refugee communities. Funds will also provide overall support for the organization's work to build communities of welcome for vulnerable refugees and migrants. To learn more, visit their website.
Lutheran Services in America 700 Light St. Baltimore, MD 21230	Founded: 1997 Yearly Budget: $2,063,642          14% Administration Costs Lutheran Services in America works as an alliance of the ELCA and LCMS and their 300 health and human services organizations, helping them touch the lives of one in 50 Americans each year. Thrivent Choice grant funds will help people with disabilities or the frailties of age through projects such as Caregiver Suite, Technology for Independence, Disabilities Network Spiritual Life Conference, and Volunteers in Vogue. The funds will also help the board, staff and church leaders grow and share knowledge through the organization's annual conference, CEO, Leadership and Board academics, and various professional networks. To learn more, visit their website.
Orphan Grain Train PO Box 1466 Norfolk, NE 68702	Founded: 1992 Yearly Budget: $9,500,000          4% Administration Costs The Orphan Grain Train brings food, clothing, medical supplies and other relief support to combat human need and suffering worldwide, and shares the Gospel with recipients. The Orphan Grain Train will use grant funds from Thrivent Choice to ship food, clothing, medical supplies, religious material and other items to people in need. To learn more, visit their website.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105	Founded: 1962 Yearly Budget: $792,827,356          9.7% Administration Costs St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provides research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases, and is the only such center where families never pay for treatments not covered by insurance. Grant funds from Thrivent Choice will support basic and clinical research of deadly pediatric diseases, such as cancer, hematological disorders and genetic diseases. The funds will also help provide lifesaving treatment for children who suffer from these diseases and support services for their families, such as housing, travel and food. To learn more, visit their website.
Wheat Ridge Ministries 1 Pierce Place Ste. 250E Itasca, IL 60143	Founded: 1905 Yearly Budget: $3,000,000          12% Administration Costs Wheat Ridge Ministries provides start-up support for faith-based health and human care initiatives that bring wellness – body, mind and spirit – to help people in need. Thrivent Choice grant funds will be used to support inspired leaders within congregations and organizations through the fragile, initial steps of developing their programs. Wheat Ridge Ministries' technical support, consulting and granting resources aid ministries throughout the United States and the world, including India, Haiti, China, Brazil, Chile, Rwanda and Liberia. To learn more, visit their website.

Directing Thrivent Choice Dollars^SM and participating in Voting Events are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Thrivent Choice® program and if you direct any Thrivent Choice Dollars or participate in any Voting Events this means that you agree to the Terms and Conditions.