Lutheran Services in America Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA MISSION: CULTIVATE CARING COMMUNITIES THAT ADVANCE HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL BY BUILDING VALUABLE CONNECTIONS, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES AND EMPOWERING OUR MEMBERS IN THEIR MISSION TO ANSWER GOD'S CALL TO LOVE AND SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR.
- Income
- $8.1 million
- Spending
- $6.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 9.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $258,993, president and 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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)
- $4.4 million spent. CREATING MEMBER SOLUTIONSLUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA CULTIVATES CARING COMMUNITIES THAT ADVANCE HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. WE CONVENE OUR SOCIAL SECTOR LEADERS AND ENGAGE PARTNERS IN PROGRAMS THAT CATALYZE INNOVATION AND SUSTAIN AND EXPAND COMMUNITY IMPACT BY:-CREATING LEARNING COLLABORATIVES TO BRING TOGETHER SOCIAL SECTOR LEADERS WITH SHARED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CRAFT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES; PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; OLDER ADULTS AND OTHERS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)-ESTABLISHING NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO TACKLE MANY OF THE BIGGEST HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE TODAY FROM HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH GROW UP TO BE HEALTHY, SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED ADULTS TO AGE IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND INDEPENDENCE AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. -CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER-TO-PEER AND NETWORK LEARNING INCLUDING CONFERENCES, VIRTUAL SEMINARS, WEBINARS AND GROUP PROJECTS ON PRESSING ISSUES.-STRENGTHENING, INFORMING AND EXPANDING FAITH-BASED CONNECTIONS NATIONWIDE.IMPACT:WE GROW NEW CAPABILITIES, DEVELOP SYNERGIES, AND PROVIDE FUNDING, SERVICE, GUIDANCE AND VALUABLE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES GEARED TOWARD IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE ONE IN 50 PEOPLE IN AMERICA OUR NETWORK SERVES EACH YEAR. LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA PROGRAMS FOCUS ON ENSURING ALL CHILDREN IN THE U.S. LIVE IN SAFE, STABLE AND PERMANENT FAMILY HOMES. PROGRAMS ALSO EMPHASIZE IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW- INCOME AND UNDERSERVED OLDER ADULTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS WORK ADDRESSES GAPS IN SERVICES FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS BATTLING CHRONIC ILLNESS AND VARIOUS SOCIAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT THEIR HEALTH AND ABILITY TO AGE INDEPENDENTLY WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- $384,869 spent. RAISING VISIBILITY FOR LUTHERAN SOCIAL MINISTRYLUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA IS A NETWORK OF 300 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE NONPROFITS, THAT EACH YEAR COLLECTIVELY SERVE ONE IN 50 PEOPLE ACROSS 1,400 COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. BY TELLING A CLEAR AND COMPELLING STORY THROUGH A UNIFIED VOICE, WE RAISE THE PROFILE OF OUR NETWORK'S MISSION AND IMPACT. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE:-SECURING AND CAPITALIZING ON PRINT, DIGITAL AND BROADCAST PRESS COVERAGE TO GROW THE VISIBILITY OF LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA NETWORK'S PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.-CONSISTENTLY REFINING AND REFRESHING OUR PUBLIC-FACING MESSAGING AND OUTREACH STRATEGY TO BEST MEET THE PRIORITIES AND NEWS OF THE DAY.-PROACTIVELY CONNECTING OUR STORIES AND COMMUNICATION RESOURCES WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ALLIES, STRATEGIC PARTNERS, AND BEING RECOGNIZED FOR OUR INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES IN RELEVANT DIGITAL NEWS OUTLETS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND PROMINENT NATIONAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS.
- $321,709 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CONVENINGSLUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA UNITES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST BROAD-BASED NETWORKS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS IN THE UNITED STATES. BY BRINGING SOCIAL SECTOR LEADERS TOGETHER AND WORKING COLLECTIVELY THROUGH EVENTS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS WE GROW OUR NETWORK LEADERS' INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CAPACITY TO LEAD AND EFFECT CHANGE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE:-CEO SUMMIT: AN INTENSIVE THREE-DAY FORUM FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS VIEWED AS THE INDUSTRY'S LEADING VOICES.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)-STRENGTH & SERVICE SERIES: AN ONGOING, INTERACTIVE, VIRTUAL GATHERING OF THE BEST MINDS IN OUR INDUSTRY, FOCUSED ON EXAMINING AND TACKLING THE CHALLENGES AND UNCERTAINTIES FACING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. -MISSION LEADERS: ONGOING COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGES FOCUSED ON ASSISTING MINISTRY LEADERS AND CLERGY WITHIN THE LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA NETWORK.-LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA DISABILITY NETWORK: A COLLABORATIVE OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROVIDE GREATER INDEPENDENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.IMPACT:LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA CREATES VALUE FOR OUR NATIONAL NETWORK THROUGH EVENTS, CONFERENCES AND OTHER CONVENINGS, BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. WE ALSO FORM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND KEY COLLABORATIONS WITH FOUNDATIONS, IN ACADEMIA AND WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT COLLECTIVELY REACH NUMEROUS POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. IN DOING SO, WE GROW THE CAPACITY OF OUR NETWORK'S MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO LEAD AND EFFECT CHANGE; CREATE DYNAMIC FORUMS FOR SHARING BEST PRACTICES; IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY AND PERFORMANCE; FOSTER INNOVATION AND PROGRESS; AND PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR ACHIEVING EVEN GREATER POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUR NETWORK SERVES.
- $258,424 spent. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY:BY HARNESSING THE TRUST AND INFLUENCE THAT ARE HALLMARKS OF OUR NATIONAL NETWORK, LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA AMPLIFIES OUR UNIFIED, FAITH-BASED VOICE TO ADVANCE SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED APPROACHES FOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. WE ARE VIEWED AS A TRUSTED RESOURCE BY LEGISLATORS, AGENCY OFFICIALS AND THEIR TEAMS, AND AS A CRITICAL PARTNER WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, HEALTH SYSTEMS AND REGULATORY DECISION MAKERS AS EVIDENCED BY OUR SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUING EFFORTS IN MOBILIZING OUR NATIONAL NETWORK TO ACHIEVE DIRELY NEEDED EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING AND RESOURCES DURING THE PANDEMIC. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE WORK TO SHAPE AND PROMOTE LEGISLATION TIED TO OUR MEMBERS' PRIORITY ISSUES. WE ARE STRICTLY NONPARTISAN AND WORK THROUGH OUR ACTIVE ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE LIVE WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND INDEPENDENCE.
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
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? 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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2015.
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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