People for the Steeple

If you're excited to be a part of preserving and sharing history and welcome, if this is your church or your neighborhood, if you've been shaped by this place and excited to help care for it - make a pledge or give today! Your generosity can make such a difference here. 

Georgetown Lutheran Church, established over 254 years ago, has been not only a place of worship and fellowship throughout its history but also a place of service and community connection. Leading up to the 250th anniversary in 2019 we logged over 250 service hours and raised funds to support immediate building structure needs and future exterior efforts to provide a safer, more sustainable space around the church building. This next phase of renovations and the “People for the Steeple” Capital Campaign will equip and improve GLC to serve and share with our neighbors and community, and restore the historic appearance of the building for safe use. 

Our target is to raise $150,000 by the end of our campaign in April, and we're already over 20% there!  This already includes support from the congregation, broader community, fundraising events, and grants we've received. We have a goal of 100% participation from the congregation: every gift makes a difference.

Thank you for your consideration and each donation and pledge of every faithful, generous size that's right for you.

We also welcome you to share this campaign with others and invite friends and others to join you as a part of "People for the Steeple!"

Project Plans

• Restore the historic bell tower and crumbling steps

• Remove the old bell structure and create a new gathering area outside

• Create an accessible, no-step walkway into the church front door and around to the new bell tower area

• Manage stormwater and support sustainable education/stewardship on our property

• Improve signage to reflect outside what we share inside - a living, sharing congregation

Any dollar amount - choose designation to "People for the Steeple Capital Campaign"

Mail/deliver checks made out to Georgetown Lutheran Church, with People for the Steeple clearly designated in the memo line. Mail to: Georgetown Lutheran Church, 1556 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Give securely online here.
Contact our Financial Secretary (glcfinancialsecretary@gmail.com), if you have any questions. If you'd like to consider a gift of appreciated securities/stock, or another method, or might be interested in making a challenge gift for matching (or something else creative).
Does your workplace or other organization offer a corporate or other matching program?  Your gift may be eligible, since we are a non-profit and this campaign is for infrastructure and community service, not directly religious purposes.

Already Achieved

• Between April 2019 - May 2020, in conjunction with the church’s 250th anniversary, we held a capital campaign titled “Grow - Restore - Serve” which raised $186,000 (out of a target of $250,000). Some of these funds were spent for immediate Phase 1 repairs, and the remainder will be used for the current projects. 

• In December 2021, GLC’s historic cast-iron bell was restored through the generosity of the National Bell Festival.  The bell is now mounted on a cart inside the front door, where it can be viewed by visitors. This was an approximately $6,000 gift in-kind. 

• In September 2020, GLC was awarded a $58,060 preservation initiatives grant by the DC Preservation League.  This grant will cover historic preservation of the 1914 bell tower at GLC, including the roof, louvers, and steps to the sidewalk.  This grant requires 100% matching funds from GLC, and we have met our matching requirement with the remaining money from the 2019 250th capital campaign. 

• In October 2022, GLC was awarded a DOEE RiverSmart Communities Grant, which is administered by the Anacostia Watershed Society.  This grant will cover stormwater management on the property by planning, engineering, and constructing a permeable pavement reservoir in the garden outside of the historic bell tower, and will equate to approximately $58,000 worth of support.