Spiritrust Lutheran
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
SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN, AN AGENCY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, WITNESSES TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH ACTS OF SERVING AND CARING.
- Income
- $65.2 million
- Spending
- $68.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -21.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 1,166
- Volunteers
- 1,536
- Highest pay
- $318,184, interim president, ceo/coo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
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
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $58.7 million spent. ESTABLISHED IN 1951, SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL AND ASSISTED LIVING, NURSING, AND REHABILITATION SERVICES IN SIX SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN YORK, SHREWSBURY, GETTYSBURG, HANOVER, AND CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. IN ADDITION TO THE SIX RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, CONGREGATIONS, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, EDUCATION PROVIDERS, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES VARIOUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES INCLUDING DOMESTIC ABUSE SOLUTIONS, FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COACHING, SENIOR COMPANION, STEPHEN MINISTRY, TOUCH-A-LIFE PROGRAMS, AND VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN LIFE, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN ESTABLISHED IN 2006, OFFERS SENIORS 55 YEARS AND OLDER HEALTH CARE ALTERNATIVES TO RESIDENCY IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY A TEAM OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT A SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN LIFE HEALTH CENTER, THE PARTICIPANTS' HOMES, AND/OR AN INPATIENT FACILITY. LIFE LUTHERAN SERVICES OPERATIONS COMMENCED IN 2008. HOME CARE AND HOSPICE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT FRANKLIN, PERRY, DAUPHIN, ADAMS, YORK, SCHUYLKILL, BERKS, LEHIGH, LUZERNE, CARBON, NORTHAMPTON, LACKAWANNA AND MONROE COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WASHINGTON, FREDERICK, AND CARROLL COUNTIES IN NORTHERN MARYLAND THROUGH SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN HOME CARE & HOSPICE, INC. A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY. TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES HAVE SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING, SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN PROVIDES 107 UNITS OF INCOME QUALIFIED HOUSING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THREE SUBSIDIARIES: SHREWSBURY HOUSING, INC., CHAMBERSBURG HOUSING, INC., AND WEST MANHEIM HOUSING, INC. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN IS ONLY FOR LUTHERANS, BUT THE ORGANIZATION WELCOMES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES. BEGAN AS A MINISTRY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN HAS GROWN IN SERVICE WELL BEYOND THE LUTHERAN CIRCLE AND SERVES THOSE IN NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, WITHOUT REGARD TO CREED OR BELIEF. THE SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN FOUNDATION, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN, EXISTS TO GROW PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT OF ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO BUILD PHILANTHROPIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS, CONGREGATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN MISSION. SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES SERVED 3,894 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND THROUGH RESIDENTIAL CARE, SKILLED CARE, ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, ASSISTED LIVING, HOME CARE, HUD SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, HOSPICE, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, FAMILY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES, STEPHEN MINISTRY, SENIOR COMPANIONS, FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. IN 2024, SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN SERVED THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF CLIENTS:- CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES - 1,907- COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES - 1,987- COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES - 0ADDITIONALLY, 354 VOLUNTEERS, PROVIDED 13,424 HOURS OF SERVICE (WHICH INCLUDES 586 AUXILIARY VOLUNTEER HOURS). SPIRITRUST LUTHERAN PROVIDED CHARITY CARE TO ITS PERSONAL CARE RESIDENTS OF APPROXIMATELY $928,000 DURING 2024. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE BENEVOLENCE AND USING THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA'S AVERAGE WAGE, THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES IS ESTIMATED TO BE $387,355.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
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 October 21, 2026.
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