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Lutheran Social Mission Society of Philadelphia

EIN 23-1352365 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUTHERAN SETTLEMENT HOUSE IS A MULTI-SERVICE SOCIAL AID AGENCY PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF COUNSELING, EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND HEALTH SUPPORTS TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY, AND OLDER ADULTS.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
111
Volunteers
461
Highest pay
$150,820, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $2.2 million spent. LOCATED IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA, JANE ADDAMS PLACE (JA) FAMILY SHELTER SERVES FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, UP TO 30 ADULTS AND 70 CHILDREN CALL JA HOME AND FAMILIES TYPICALLY STAY AN AVERAGE OF FIVE MONTHS. THE SETTLEMENT'S TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH MAKES JA UNIQUE AMONG PHILADELPHIA SHELTERS; ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A FULL-TIME ON-SITE TRAUMA THERAPIST WHO HELPS PARENTS AND CHILDREN DEVELOP THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, JA PROVIDES SAFE SHELTER, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT TO NEARLY 300 PEOPLE.
  2. $2.5 million spent. THE BILINGUAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM (BDVP)SERVES OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR BY PROVIDING FREE, QUALITY SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND DATING ABUSE REGARDLESS OF GENDER OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ETHNICITY, AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. SERVICES INCLUDE: A SAFE SPACE FOR IN-PERSON AND OVER-THE-PHONE CRISIS COUNSELING, ONGOING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND ADVOCACY AND COUNSELING SPECIFICALLY FOR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS. WE ALSO WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR THROUGH PREVENTION AND EDUCATION WORK, INCLUDING STAR (STUDENTS TALKING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS), OUR SIGNATURE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP PROGRAM WITH TEENS, AS WELL AS THE MASCULINITY ACTION PROJECT, OUR PREVENTION INITIATIVE WITH MEN. BDVP ALSO HAS SPECIALIZED SERVICES BASED IN LOCAL HOSPITALS, INCLUDING EINSTEIN, CHOP, AND JEFFERSON.
  3. $473,376 spent. THE SETTLEMENT'S CENTER FOR OLDER ADULTS IS A HUB FOR MANY LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF THE RIVER WARDS NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CENTER PROVIDES LOW-INCOME OLDER ADULTS WITH DAILY MEALS AND REGULAR PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM CARDIO DRUMMING AND HEALTH COACHING TO ART WORKSHOPS, BINGO, YOGA AND REGIONAL TRIPS. THE SETTLEMENT OFFERS MORE THAN 20 CLASSES AND EVENTS EACH WEEK AND AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE CENTER DOORS EVERY DAY. THE CENTER CURRENTLY HAS 175 ACTIVE MEMBERS AND IS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ANCHOR IN A RAPIDLY GENTRIFYING SECTION OF THE CITY.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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 October 21, 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.