Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ENABLING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $63.7 million
- Spending
- $65.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 95%
- Employees
- 586
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $326,395, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 120% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $58.1 million spent. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK (LSSNY) AIMS TO CREATE VIBRANT, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE IS VALUED AND CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. IT DOES THIS BY TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND LEADERS TO DISMANTLE THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE. WITH FIVE KEY PROGRAM AREAS: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/CHILD CARE, HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, FOSTER CARE/FAMILY SUPPORT, AND FOOD SECURITY, LSSNY NOW IS ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S LEADING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES REACHING 7,000 PEOPLE EVERY DAY.THE ENHANCED FAMILY FOSTER CARE PROGRAM OUT PERFORMED SEVERAL OTHER FOSTER CARE AGENCIES AT 97%, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE NYC AVERAGE IN THE DOMAINS OF PERMANENCY AND SAFETY. THE ROC (RESTORING OUR COMMUNITIES FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER), A NEW PROGRAM OUTREACHED TO FOUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH BRONX PROVIDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, AND PARENTING SUPPORTS. THE NEW LIFE CLINIC DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL EXAMS AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND IS DEVELOPING A WHOLE CHILD HEALTH MODEL. THE EARLY LIFE FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK PROGRAM PARTICIPATED WITH YALE UNIVERSITY TO TRAIN ITS PROVIDERS IN THE YALE CHILD INITIATIVE CHILD (CLIMATE OF HEALTHY INTERACTIONS FOR LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT) REPRESENTS A TARGETED INVESTMENT IN PRACTICE-LEVEL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.- 50 PROVIDERS COMPLETED AN 8-WEEK COACHING MODEL.- FOCUS AREAS INCLUDED:- SMOOTH AND PREDICTABLE TRANSITIONS- SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT- LANGUAGE-RICH ENVIRONMENTS- STRENGTHENED ADULT-CHILD INTERACTIONSAGENCYWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SANCTUARY MODEL IS IN PROCESS WITH 87% OF THE STAFF TRAINED. THE TRAINING HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN IN SPANISH LANGUAGE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF STAFF. THE SANCTUARY MODEL IS AN ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS ORGANIZATIONS CREATE TRAUMA-INFORMED, SAFE, AND EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENTS. ITS IMPLEMENTATION INVOLVES ADOPTING SHARED PRACTICES, LANGUAGE, AND LEADERSHIP APPROACHES THAT PROMOTE SAFETY, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE EMERGENCY AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE BRONX, BROOKLYN, AND QUEENS. WE DELIVERED CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO PROMOTE STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE. WE MAINTAINED HIGH-QUALITY OPERATIONS THROUGH STAFF DEVELOPMENT, COMPLIANCE MONITORING, AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WHILE HELPING RESIDENTS ACHIEVE GOALS RELATED TO HOUSING STABILITY, WELLNESS, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. WE ALSO RECEIVED A DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER'S COMMENDATION FOR SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING AN EMERGENCY FAMILY SHELTER TO AN ADULT MEN'S SHELTER WITHIN 72 HOURS.OUR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING SAFETY, STABILITY, AND LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE ASSISTED CLIENTS WITH APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENSHIP, PERMANENT RESIDENCY, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION, ASYLUM, AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF. OFFERED LEGAL CONSULTATIONS, CASE MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, AND REFERRALS TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS NAVIGATING COMPLEX LEGAL PROCESSES. PROMOTED ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY DELIVERING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1963.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.