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Lutheran Endownment & Aid Fund Inc

EIN 34-1789663 · Painesville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE STATEMENT - SCHEDULE 0

Income
$136,426
Spending
$174,154
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 90%
Employees
0

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (2)
  1. SEE STATEMENT - SCHEDULE O
  2. FORM 990, PART III - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LUTHERAN ENDOWMENT & AID FUND, INC. (L.E.A.F.) WAS ESTABLISHED BY A NUMBER OF LUTHERAN CHURCHES AFFILIATED WITH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD IN LAKE COUNTY, OHIO TO RECEIVE DONATIONS AND INVEST FUNDS TO BENEFIT AND FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OUR SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION, INC.("OUR SHEPHERD")WHICH IS LOCATED IN PAINESVILLE, OHIO.THE INCOME FROM THE DONATIONS AND INVESTMENTS MADE BY L.E.A.F. PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OUR SHEPHERD; A LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH GRADES K-8. L.E.A.F. IS RELATED TO OUR SHEPHERD AND ITS MEMBER CONGREGATIONS THROUGH ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND CONSTITUTION. L.E.A.F.'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION STATE THAT L.E.A.F.'S PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT LUTHERAN EDUCATION IN GENERAL AND OUR SHEPHERD IN PARTICULAR. L.E.A.F.'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONSISTS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ELECTED BY THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY OF OUR SHEPHERD, WHICH ARE CHOSEN BY THE MEMBER CONGREGATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR SHEPHERD'S CONSTITUTION. L.E.A.F IS REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE MEMBER CONGREGATIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF L.E.A.F., AS WELL AS THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM AND ITS SUPPORT OF OUR SHEPHERD. FINALLY, SHOULD L.E.A.F.'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OUR SHEPHERD'S DELEGATE ASSEMBLY DECIDE TO DISSOLVE THE CORPORATION THE ASSETS REMAINING ARE REQUIRED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO OUR SHEPHERD. THROUGH DONATIONS, PRIMARILY FROM INDIVIDUALS, L.E.A.F. PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR OUR SHEPHERD'S OPERATION BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. DONATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY L.E.A.F. AND INVESTED IN ASSETS SUCH AS STOCKS, BONDS AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. THE ONLY ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY L.E.A.F. ARE FUND RAISING, INVESTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME AND PRINCIPAL TO HELP SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF OUR SHEPHERD. L.E.A.F. RAISES FUNDS FROM MEMBERS AND BENEFACTORS MOSTLY THROUGH THE USE OF AN ANNUAL APPEAL DRIVE IN WHICH A FLYER IS SENT TO PROSPECTIVE DONORS ASKING FOR PLEDGES. L.E.A.F. IN TURN INVESTS THOSE FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR SHEPHERD.IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL APPEAL DRIVE L.E.A.F. RECEIVES DONATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A PRIOR RELATIONSHIP WITH L.E.A.F. OR OUR SHEPHERD. THE INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF L.E.A.F. ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BOTH CURRENT INCOME THAT IS USED TO DEFRAY THE CURRENT OPERATING EXPENSES AS WELL AS SOME GROWTH THAT ALLOWS FUNDS TO BE SAVED FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. BY RAISING THE DONATIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, L.E.A.F. IS FURTHERING THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF BOTH THE MEMBER CONGREGATIONS AND SCHOOL IN THAT THE SCHOOL IS MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE ITS OPERATIONS IF IT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE EDUCATION. THE PURPOSES OF THE MEMBER CONGREGATIONS ARE ALSO SERVED BY PROVIDING THE LUTHERAN BASED EDUCATION FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO WISH TO HAVE SUCH AN OPTION. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4D - ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEE STATEMENT - SCHEDULE O FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 11B - ORGANIZATION'S PROCESS TO REVIEW FORM 990 NO REVIEW WAS OR WILL BE CONDUCTED. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 19 - GOVERNING DOCUMENTS DISCLOSURE EXPLANATION NO DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

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? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    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 October 2004.

    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.