Professional Code of Ethics
- FRCI believes it is in the best interest of our clients that:
- Initial meetings with prospective clients should not be construed as services for which payment is expected.
- No payments of special consideration should be made to an officer, director, trustee, employee, or advisor of a not-for-profit organization as compensation for influencing the selection of fundraising counsel.
- No payments of special consideration should be made to an officer, director, trustee, employee, or advisor of a not-for-profit organization as compensation for influencing the selection of fundraising counsel.
- Fees should be mutually agreed upon in advance of services.
- A flat, fixed fee is charged based on the level and extent of professional services provided. Fees are not based on the amount of charitable income raised or expected to be raised.
- Contracts providing for a contingent fee, a commission, or a fee based on percentage of funds raised are prohibited. Such contracts are harmful to the relationship between the donor and the institution and detrimental to the financial health of the client organization.
- Fundraising expenditures are within the authority and control of the not-for-profit organization.
- FRCI feels it is in the best interest of clients that solicitation of gifts is undertaken by Board members, staff and other volunteers.
- Subsequent to analysis or study, FRCI should engage a client only when the best interest of the client is served.
- FRCI should not profit directly or indirectly from materials provided by others, but billed to the FRCI, without disclosure to the client.
- FRCI does not engage in methods that are misleading to the public or harmful to their clients; do not make exaggerated claims of past achievement; and do not guarantee results of promise to helps clients achieve goals.
- Any potential conflict of interest should be disclosed by the firm to clients and prospective clients.
- FRCI will not acquire or maintain custody of funds and/or gifts directed to client organization.
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GJ - I challenge any congregation using Cornerstone (Heart in Focus) to examine whether the fund-raisers are living up to the code of conduct listed above.
Cornerstone is a Church Growth/Church and Change operation. They use their connections to promote their work as especially WELS blessed. They also work with LCMS congregations and have LCMS staff.
It's not religious unionism, because it's all about the money, honey.
Any large prosperous congregation looking for fund-raising help should get a second opinion after hearing a presentation from Cornerstone. When the smoke clears and the mirrors are gone, another proposal may be far less onerous.
Lest you think I back any group in particular - I believe the Gospel alone should be trusted. The temptation for hucksters is to dream up a project that will excite people into pouring funds into it.
The man who started this Possibility Thinking is the CEO of a bankrupt ministry - Robert Schuller of Garden Grove Community Church. After all the years of bragging and building, he cannot pay his bills. His son and daughter are engaged in spiritual fratricide, and his big entertainments are canceled because he cannot pay for the previous one.
Schuller presided over the expansion of the Church Growth Movement. He invented it and his gooey excesses slopped over into nearby Fuller Seminary.
Ron Roth (WELS) is the director of Cornerstone. He began the open promotion of CG in WELS with the start of TELL. The sole purpose of TELL was to promote CG in WELS.
Roth did for WELS stewardship what Schuller did for Garden Grove's. So the same people should teach Lutherans how to manage money and give it (to them)? Hahaha. And Mothers Against Drunk Drivers will give their next award to James P. Tiefel.
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Cornerstone is a team of dedicated disciples who love their Lord Jesus. We consider it a privilege to serve God's kingdom by challenging His people to grow in the grace of giving. With almost 150 years of combined service in public ministry and 58 years of stewardship education, we strive to conduct programs that bring honor to Jesus while giving thanks to him for all things. We are highly approachable and ready to serve!
Jeff Davis (Co-Founder) - Oh Noes! He is on the Board of Church and Change! And his bio there is blank, erased. I find that scary.Lake Mills, Wisconsin Jeff's 28 years of experience in administration, ministry and consulting, coupled with a strong desire to serve Jesus, have helped form his servant characteristics. Jeff enjoys teaching, directing and leading God's people. His personal commitment to stewardship is a reflection on his beliefs and thankfulness to Jesus. He has written extensively on stewardship, guiding and challenging God's people to live lives of thanks. Recently, Jeff co-authored Heart in Focus, a faith focused financial course (www.heartinfocus.com). Jeff and Sally, his wife, reside in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. They have been blessed with 5 children and 1 grandchild.
Tom Grunow (Co-Founder of CSM, MEd, CFRE)Portland, Oregon Tom Grunow is a 33-year veteran in Christian Education, Fund Development and Strategic Planning having served with Lutheran educational ministries in Florida, Texas and Oregon. Following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Robert A. Grunow, known throughout the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) for his estate planning and fundraising expertise, for the past 14 years he has served as a consultant to Lutheran churches and schools throughout the U.S. Previously he served as Vice President of the Concordia University Foundation Portland and on the National Board of Directors of the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE). He currently serves Trinity Lutheran Church, as Volunteer Minister of Stewardship & Gifts, is an active member of ALDE, a member of the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA), and serves as Board Chair of the Lutheran Education Association (LEA). Tom resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Karin, a commissioned Lutheran schoolteacher. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
Ron Roth (Director) - Founder of Church Growth in WELSHales Corners, Wisconsin Ron loves to teach and encourage God's people to respond to God's grace with thankful and generous gifts. He has served four congregations as pastor, leading three of them through capital expansion programs. As administrator of Christian giving for an international Lutheran church body, he developed a major gifts ministry and led three national campaigns. He was instrumental in developing a planned giving ministry which after twelve years is blessing various ministries with annual gifts of $10-12 million in current donations and matured bequests. Another $400+ million in estate gifts for the Lord's work have been completed. Ron and his wife Arlene live in the Milwaukee, WI area and are blessed with three children.
Wayne Baxmann (Associate)Colgate, Wisconsin Wayne's forty plus years in public ministry have provided him with numerous opportunities to practice servant-leadership. He eagerly applies his spiritual gifts in working with God's people, particularly in the areas of organization, teaching and administration. He strongly believes in and models the attitude that Christian Stewardship is a manifestation of one's love and gratitude for what God has done. Wayne and his wife Renee live in Colgate, Wisconsin, just northwest of Milwaukee, and are active members of Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Their three adult children and their families live in Washington and Texas.
Jon Mahnke (Associate)Round Rock, TX One of Jon’s strengths is that of teaching where he has opportunity to personally connect with God’s people. Jon has served as pastor of a church plant, a medium size congregation, and the lead pastor of a large multi-staffed church and school ministry. He led his congregations through four highly successful major building programs. Throughout his ministry he implemented annual, congregation wide stewardship programs and emphases. Synodically, Jon has served on the Mission Board, Evangelism Commission, Synodical Council, Conference of Presidents (COP) as well as numerous sub-committees of the same. Jon and his wife Myrna live in Round Rock, TX. They have been blessed with four children and nine grandchildren.
Mel Fournier (Associate)
Leesburg, Florida Mel is "Mr. Lutheran" throughout Florida having served as a layperson in various Lutheran churches and in
every capacity both during his work as an independent electrician and later in his retirement years. He has served as both paid and volunteer for Thrivent (formerly AAL) in fraternal assistance and is well versed on the Biblical concepts of Christian stewardship.
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Roth, Ronald D. Went home to be with his Lord and Savior on January 3, 2011. Loving husband of Arlene (nee Biever). Father of Steve (Mary), Cindy (Andy) Petraske, and Michael. Grandfather of Kelsey, Zachary, and Noah Petraske, and Marisa Roth. Further survived by brother Phillip (Carol), nephews Rodney and Ryan (Sheila), and their children Reagan and Carson. Visitation to be held Thursday, January 6, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, S66 W14325 Janesville Rd., Muskego, from 4 to 7 PM, service to follow at 7PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Paul's Lutheran, WELS Missions, or the CJD Foundation appreciated.
Leesburg, Florida Mel is "Mr. Lutheran" throughout Florida having served as a layperson in various Lutheran churches and in
every capacity both during his work as an independent electrician and later in his retirement years. He has served as both paid and volunteer for Thrivent (formerly AAL) in fraternal assistance and is well versed on the Biblical concepts of Christian stewardship.
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