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Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

EIN 36-2167778 · Oakbrook Ter, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS (AGENCY) IS A NONPROFIT STATEWIDE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY WHOSE MISSION IS TO ATTRACT, DEVELOP, MOBILIZE, AND PRVOIDE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, CONGREGATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEIR LIVES ARE IMPROVED.

Income
$45.4 million
Spending
$46.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
432
Volunteers
493
Highest pay
$256,022, 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: 46 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 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

    12 of 12 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 (4)
  1. $32.3 million spent. FOSTER CARE - LCFS SUPERVISES THE CARE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,951 CHILDREN WHOM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS REMOVED FROM THEIR BIOLOGICAL HOMES BECAUSE OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. LCFS IDENTIFIES, TRAINS, AND LICENSES FOSTER PARENTS AND PROVIDES ONGOING TRAINING AND HOME VISITS TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF EACH CHILD IN CARE. FAMILY COUNSELING - LCFS OPERATES A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS THAT SUPPORT AND SERVE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN SO THE FAMILY CAN REMAIN TOGETHER. LCFS HAS COUNSELORS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS WHO CAN HELP WITH SPECIALIZED CARE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS HELP IDENTIFY AND USE FAMILY STRENGTHS TO ENHANCE FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND IMPROVE PARENTAL AND CHILDCARE PERFORMANCE. 428 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH COUNSELING SERVICES.
  2. $2.2 million spent. RESIDENTIAL - LCFS IS COMMITTED TO HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK. SOUTHERN THIRTY ADOLESCENT CENTER (STAC) IS THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO NEED SPECIALIZED HELP, PROVIDING SERVICES AS A 30-DAY SHELTER AND DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS AGED 11-17. STAC PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE, CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS, COUNSELING AND FAMILY INTERVENTION. FY25 PROVIDED EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR 54 YOUTH.
  3. $2.1 million spent. CAMP WARTBURG IS A CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP AND YEAR-ROUND RETREAT CENTER OWNED AND OPERATED BY LCFS. ITS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN OUTDOOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENCOUNTER GOD AND HIS CREATION. FY25 CAMP WAS VISITED BY 5,921 YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS FOR RETREATS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION.
  4. $2.7 million spent. HOME BASED SERVICES - LCFS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF HOME-BASED SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, SUCH AS INTACT FAMILY RECOVERY, HOUSING ADVOCACY, FAMILY PREVENTION/REUNIFICATION, TEEN PREGNANCY COUNSELING, EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT, AND UNIFIED DELINQUENCY INTERVENTION SERVICES. IN FY25, 274 FAMILIES (760 FAMILY MEMBERS) WERE SERVED.ADOPTION - LCFS ASSISTS FAMILIES IN ADOPTING CHILDREN DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND PROVIDES CARE AND COUNSELING TO PREGNANT WOMEN CONSIDERING ADOPTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. FY25 SAW 56 ADOPTIONS TO FOREVER HOMES.BEST START FOR FAMILIES TRAINS PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND FACILITATORS TO IMPLEMENT EMPATHY-BASED INTERACTIONS INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES. IN FY25, 787 INDIVIDUALS WERE STRENGTHENED THROUGH PREVENTATIVE SERVICES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.