Elizabeth and John made their donation through LDS Philanthropies, a department of the Office of the Presiding Bishopric responsible for encouraging and facilitating voluntary donations to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its charities. These donations are made by members who feel that they can afford to give after paying tithes and other offerings. Those charities include Humanitarian Services, the Missionary Fund, the Perpetual Education Fund, the Temple Patron and Construction Funds, Church and Family History, and the four LDS universities and colleges.
McClain Bybee, Managing Director of LDS Philanthropies, explains that the role of LDS Philanthropies is to be "the matchmakers—to learn what the donors' dreams are and what cause they want to support, and then match them with that program in the Church that can help them fulfill their dream. The Church is the charitable organization that sponsors these programs, the Brethren approve these programs for the support required, and the various Church institutions are the vehicles for carrying out that work. It's an amazing and effective system. And it's done the Lord's way."
Those who donate through LDS Philanthropies come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are well-known and might be considered wealthy. But many come from modest backgrounds and live otherwise ordinary lives in ordinary neighborhoods. What distinguishes them is that when the Lord has blessed them beyond what they really need, their eyes and hearts have turned to those with unmet needs. They show how ordinary people can turn their own blessings into blessings for others.