Potential Board Member Guide
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
Our Why
Michigan ranks 36th in the country in infant mortality with the City of Detroit holding the highest number of infant deaths in the state, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The Luke Clinic was started in 2016 to directly address the lack of trust between the provider and the patient. We wanted to provide relationship-based care in an accessible location that was free to moms and infants up to 12 months of age. We sought to combine great compassion and the Great Commission in a ministry model of care to best achieve our goals.
Diversity
We embrace and celebrate diversity as a fundamental strength that enriches our community and enhances the quality of healthcare we provide. We believe that everyone deserves compassionate and inclusive medical care regardless of their background. The Luke Clinic welcomes patients, staff, students, and volunteers from diverse backgrounds: people of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, backgrounds, and philosophies are respected and valued.
We aim to provide healthcare in a supportive and equitable environment where all our diverse community members feel safe and accepted.
Our Vision
Our Mission
To promote the health and wellbeing of the local population by providing pro-life, high-quality medical care for expectant mothers and infants under 12 months of age. We are committed to providing accessible, relationship-based services that will exceed the expectations of our patients and their communities resulting in an effective great compassion and great commission ministry.
Saving Lives, Empowering Women, and Building Faith
Low-income mothers desperately need quality prenatal care to learn how to care for themselves and their growing babies. And yet, this is the group of mothers most likely not to get prenatal care, sometimes even showing up in labor at the hospital ER never having seen a doctor. In these sad circumstances, many premature, low birth weight babies struggle to survive.
The most common reasons women give for getting little or no prenatal care are transportation problems, no insurance, and poor treatment by clinic staff.
The Luke Clinic wants to meet these women where they are by coming to their communities to provide care. Our desire is to offer accessible, relationship-based prenatal and infant care. By locating inside local churches the clinic accomplishes another important goal of connecting families with churches and local ministries that provide the long-term counseling and support needed, particularly for young mothers in difficult circumstances.
By operating with unconventional afternoon and evening hours, we aim to make it easier for mothers to get prenatal care without taking a day off from work. We provide a safe, family atmosphere where adult-supervised, safe childcare is provided. We also provide wrap-around services such as social work support, a free meal, children's clothing closet, insurance navigators, baby bundles to welcome your newborn, home nursing visits, education classes, a mobile Mother and Baby Care Unit, and help with transportation.
Our Medical Team
DR. KATY GOLD - MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DETROIT
JENNIFER WALL - MEDICAL OFFICE MANAGER
ELISE ENGLERT RN - MOBILE RN & PATIENT EDUCATION
LORI SMALLEY - ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN
KATIE COWAN - MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
Our Office Team
PENNY ARMBRUSTER - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KRISTIN MYHER - FINANCE MANAGER
WENDY DIGNAN - DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT
CARRIE YOUNG - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ministry Partners
REV. JIM HILL - SENIOR PASTOR, FAMILY OF GOD MISSION
REV. NICK GAPSKI - ASSOC PASTOR, FAMILY OF GOD MISSION
REV. MATT CANYON - CHAPLAIN
SARAH WYLIE - PRAYER TEAM
Our Board Members
Philip Zazove MD
Sam grew up in the city of Hamtramck and attended Lawrence Technological University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Industrial Engineering. He is an entrepreneur, who has started and run several successful companies. Sam has served Northfield Township for over 20 years on multiple boards including the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees. Sam brings a business perspective to the Luke Clinic.
Dr. Cindy Fenske DNP RN
Cindy is an Assistant Vice President for Academics, Chair for the School of Nursing at Concordia University Ann Arbor, and Professor of Nursing. She was formerly the Campus Dean for Nursing. She has worked closely with The Luke Clinic since its inception, sending nursing students for clinical rotations. She is an advocate for the practice of medicine in a faith-based context.
Katie Mehari MD
Carrie is a clinical associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Her areas of practice include preventative care, minimally invasive procedures, and surgical alternatives. Carrie provides medical expertise to the Board to ensure the clinic follows best practices.
Responsibilities
Board Responsiblities
The overall responsibility of the Board is to provide a strong and ethical pursuit of the mission of The Luke Clinic.
Board Member Responsiblities
Regularly participate in the fundraising ministry of The Luke Clinic, Undertake personal spiritual discipleship for the development of their individual faith lives,
Be prepared for and attend the Board meetings. (Should it be necessary to miss a meeting, contact the Board Chair for dialog both before and after said meeting.)
Work to expand their leadership abilities and increase their understanding of the mission and ministry of The Luke Clinic, and gain a working knowledge of the Board’s policy manual.
Make informed decisions by insisting on complete and accurate information from the Executive Director.
Support all decisions once they have been fully discussed and resolved by the Board, Invest personal energy and skills in the missions and ministries of The Luke Clinic, other than the role of Board member,
Relate to other individuals with integrity, honesty, and straightforwardness,
Board Member Qualifications
Board members should possess many of the following qualities:
Meet the requirements of Board Membership as stipulated in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Have good communication skills, Are visionaries.
Can effectively represent the concerns of the ministry.
Understand and support the concepts of Policy-Based Governance.
Understand and support the Strategic Plan of The Luke Clinic.
Are willing and able to accept the Board Responsibilities and Board Membership Responsibilities as delineated in the Governance Manual.
Board Member Terms
The number of Board Members shall not exceed nine. Members shall be elected on a rotating basis with two or three of the board members being elected each year.
A term of service for a Board Member shall be three years.
Two or three members of the Board shall be elected each year to assure continuity of service and experience on the Board.
Board members may serve two consecutive terms, not to exceed seven consecutive years.
Vacancies: only individuals deemed “qualified” by the Nominating Committee may be appointed to fill a vacancy.
Appointments to fill a vacancy on the Board shall always be to complete an unexpired term, and in no case shall such an appointment work in contradiction to the election of two or three members of the Board each year.
Mark Your Calendar
The board meets six times a year, on the 2nd Monday of alternate months. January, March, May, July, September, and November. Board meetings take place via ZOOM and typically last for 2 hours. Board meetings can be recorded if a member is planning to be absent.
We like to have a once-a-year face-to-face meeting in South East Michigan, combining a board meeting with an opportunity to meet with the staff, and/or visit the clinics. Once a year we ask Board members to meet with the Patient Panel.
We are Fulfilling our Purpose When
Our clients feel loved and cared for during their prenatal care and the first year of the baby’s life
Our clients experience optimal health outcomes at an efficiency better than the average of local hospital systems. Every client experiences being a cherished child of God; respected and shown dignity by all members of The Luke clinic. Every client has an opportunity to explore God’s presence in their lives. The Medical Staff, the staff, and volunteers are loved in a faith-based environment as they serve in the clinic.
Financial Information
The Luke Clinic was started as a mission of the Luthern Church Missouri Synod congregations in Michigan.
49% of support is provided by churches
10% of support is provided by corporations
20% of support is provided by individual donors
18% is funded by grants.
3% miscellaneous
Areas of Growth
As the clinic has grown in size, the budget has increased accordingly. 2021 saw a rise in the size of the annual budget which has been accompanied by a significant increase in annual giving over the last two years.
The board decided to move from a volunteer-led organization to a model underpinned by centrally paid staff. This was accompanied by a full review of the mission, vision, and operations. Fundraising was prioritized, communication with stakeholders increased, and an intentional relationship with donors was prioritized.
Lutheran Church Funding
The Luke Clinic in Detroit was initially started with a $75,000 loan from the LCMS Michigan District. Living Water Lutheran Church repays that loan for us. Our Flint clinic was started with a $125,000 loan that the Flint Tric Circuit Lutheran Churches repay. Both are interest-free loans repayable over 20 years.
The LCMS has been our strong partner over the last eight years.
Budget Snapshot
Total income for the year 2023:
$439,800
Total expenses for the year 2023: $422,000
Our four largest grant sources were:
1. The Lutheran Church
2. CVS Foundation
3. Blue Cross Blue Shield
4. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Resource Development
In 2023 we continued to focus on fundraising and relationship development with donors and ministry partners. We were able to secure supplies and services that were generously donated by ministry partners. This represented 15% savings in ministry expenses. In 2024 we seek to leverage relationships with our larger donors to provide sustained funding on an ongoing basis.
Current Fundraising
A monthly newsletter is sent out via direct mail sharing specific needs and providing donors with a full clinic update.
Last fall ”Embodied” was our first fundraising event and brought in $170,340 in five-year pledges and $8,950 in one-time donations. We introduced legacy giving and diversified ways donors could give.
Board members, staff, and volunteers were encouraged to become part of the Luke Clinic Family Giving Circle.
Giving Tuesday and Year-End Giving Campaigns have proved to be good fundraising opportunities.
Top Donors or Income Sources
Historically the primary sources of income have been one-time donors. In 2023 we launched the Luke Family Giving Circle and encouraged donors to pledge nondirected funds over five years. Year-end remains a one-time giving event for us. The goal is to build relationships with these donors and grow them into regular supporters.
In 2024 we are seeking to increase the amount of income received from grants for both one-off projects, staff salaries, and increasing patient wrap-around services.
Board Fundraising
As Board Members, We prayerfully ask you to consider your continued, faithful and generous investment in the ministry of The Luke Clinic. This will look different for each Board Member. A combination of your time, talents, prayers, financial contributions and participation in an annual board-hosted fundraising event are strongly encouraged.
FINANCIAL Snap Shot
GIVING TRENDS
With costs increasing, we needed to increase our income sources. We focused on building up our donor base. Specific encouragement was given to build a group of consistent monthly donors and elicit annual giving from LCMS congregations. We strongly emphasised fourth-quarter giving, leveraging Giving Tuesday, and curating a strong year-end giving campaign.
We concentrated on donor retention and relationship building. The goal was to engage each donor and increase their annual giving amounts
We also benefited from strong community relationships that provided in-kind donations of $274,579 to offset budgeted expenses
We built relationships with LCMS churches, providing speakers, presentations, Sunday service preaching, and teaching. Organizational giving saw the largest increase over the year due to a grant from the Michigan district of the LCMS to enable us to open our Flint clinic.
We introduced a legacy giving program and started accepting stock donations. This was especially beneficial for year-end giving
We fundraised to start an endowment fund, resulting in a $15,000 donation.
IN THEIR OWN words
Karlita
"THEY ARE SERVANTS OF GOD"
The Luke Clinic staff are literally servants of God helping mothers and babies without insurance to get the proper prenatal care they need They have touched my life as well as my daughters, and they inspired me to go back to school, where I am currently on the Dean’s list and working hard to push towards my graduation. I was a single pregnant mother with nowhere to turn and Luke took me in as their own, I will always have a family within the staff that supported and assisted me when I needed it most I would definitely recommend any first-time and existing mothers to receive their prenatal care from them Literally the best group of people I have gotten to meet in my life! Thanks, Luke staff!
Olivia
"I LOVE THE STAFF"
"The Luke Clinic has truly impacted my life, I could call them any time with questions or concerns. Dr. Gold came to the hospital with me at 2 am because my husband could not be with me and she did not want me to labor alone They monitored my unborn baby and answered all of my questions The Luke Clinic has provided services that have helped me raise strong and healthy babies I love and will be forever indebted to the staff of The Luke Clinic."
THANK you
Thank you for taking the time to consider joining The Luke Clinic Board If you have questions or would like to schedule a time to meet with the Executive Director and Board Chair please call the office to schedule a time to get together
The person who nominated you for this position will reconnect with you If you are interested in joining The Luke Clinic Board, the next step would be to complete the Board Member Nomination Form which will be sent to you If you have a bio and/or a resume it would be helpful if this could be attached to the nomination form
The Board will review your nomination and you will be invited to come to a board meeting where your nomination will be voted upon. If your nomination is affirmed you will be provided with a Board Member Training packet to orient you to the work of the board and provide you with pertinent reference materials
