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Lutheran Church Charities Fund

EIN 36-2212704 · Northbrook, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INITIATE, DEVELOP, COORDINATE, PROMOTE, AND SUPPORT A UNIFIED EFFORT OF CHRISTIAN HUMAN CARE.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
45
Volunteers
1,100
Highest pay
$156,000, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 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 January 31, 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 (9)
  1. $1.1 million spent. K-9 MINISTRIES - PLACES TRAINED COMFORT DOGS IN PARISHES. LCCF PROVIDES ONGOING TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR THE COMFORT DOG HANDLERS AND CAREGIVERS AND WORKS WITH THE CONGREGATIONS TO DEVELOP MINISTRY PLANS THAT UTILIZE THE DOGS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE K-9 MILITARY MINISTRY, WHICH ENCOMPASSES OUTREACH DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY CONNECT WITH ACTIVE MILITAR, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO STAND BY THEM DURING ACTIVE SERVICE AND UPON RETURNING HOME. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE K-9 POLICE MINISTRY. THE K-9 POLICE MINISTRY HANDLERS ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (CURRENT AND FORMER) WHO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
  2. $226,092 spent. DISCIPLESHIP PROVIDES FAITH-BASED TRAINING AND MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO EQUIP INDIVIDUALS, CHURCH LEADERS, AND CONGREGATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND OUTREACH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING, MINISTRY RESOURCES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT SUPPORT SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND STRENGTHEN CONGREGATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS RELIGIOUS MISSION.
  3. $307,277 spent. HUMAN MINISTRY CARE (HMC) PROVIDES SPIRITUAL CARE, MINISTRY SUPPORT, AND FAITH-BASED OUTREACH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PASTORS, CHURCHES, AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, PRAYER MINISTRY, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING CRISIS, TRAUMA, OR OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES. THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS RELIGIOUS MISSION BY STRENGTHENING CONGREGATIONAL CARE AND COMMUNITY MINISTRY.
  4. $430,197 spent. CARES MINISTRY PROVIDES DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISTRIBUTION OF DONOR-FUNDED ASSISTANCE, COORDINATION OF VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, AND DELIVERY OF RESOURCES AND SERVICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS CHARITABLE AND RELIGIOUS MISSION.
  5. $929,594 spent. DISASTER RESPONSE - COORDINATING AND DEPLOYING VOLUNTEER TEAMS TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL NEEDS AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS, PROVIDING ON- GOING TRAINING FOR DISASTER RESPONSE VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS PROVIDING TRAINING FOR CONGREGATIONS IN DISASTER READINESS PLANS AND RESPONSES. LCC COORDINATED AND DEPLOYED RESOURCES IN RESPONSE TO RECENT DISASTER IN HAITI AND CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO NEEDS RESULTING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS AROUND THE UNITED STATES.
  6. $86,127 spent. INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PROVIDES FAITH-BASED HUMANITARIAN AND MINISTRY SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COORDINATING VOLUNTEER-LED MISSION TRIPS, PROVIDING TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO LOCAL MINISTRY PARTNERS, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT ADDRESS SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS. THESE EFFORTS ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATIONS CHARITABLE AND RELIGIOUS MISSION THROUGH GLOBAL SERVICE AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
  7. CARES MINISTRY PROVIDES DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND 430197. 0. 10.
  8. DISASTER RESPONSE - COORDINATING AND DEPLOYING VOLUNTEER TEAMS TO 929594. 0. 0.
  9. INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PROVIDES FAITH-BASED HUMANITARIAN AND MINISTRY SUPPORT TO 86127. 0. 0.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 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 January 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 July 1985.

    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.