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Lutheran Church of South Sudan

EIN 36-4898214 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORTING TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, TRINITY LUTHERAN SEMINARY, AND TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE IN ETHIOPIA.

Income
$262,621
Spending
$246,320
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $237,563 spent. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SEDAN - NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING THROUGH THE THIRD LARGEST REFUGEE CRISIS IN THE WORLD IN ONE OF THE POOREST PLACES ON THE PLANET. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING, WE ALSO PROVIDE PRAYER SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE GOING TO EAST AFRICA TO SERVE ON A MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TEAM IN GAMBELLA, ETHIOPIA, MISSION TRIPS, AND ASSISTED IN ARRANGING THE ITINERARY FOR TEN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS FOR PASTOR JORDAN LONG, PRESIDENT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN (LOCATED IN EAST AFRICA). THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN IS SERVING IN THE MIDST OF A GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IT IS A VIBRANT CHURCH THAT IS MEETING NEEDS DAILY AS WE PLANT CONGREGATIONS IN SOUTH SUDAN AND IN SUDANESE REFUGEE COMMUNITIES AND CAMPS IN ETHIOPIA, KENYA, AND UGANDA. WE ARE COMMITTED CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY JESUS OUR SAVIOR. WE HAVE RESPONDED TO HIS GOSPEL BY REACHING OUT TO OTHERS IN EAST AFRICA WITH THE LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE OF JESUS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES, WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND THE POOR. BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR IN SOUTH SUDAN, THE CHURCH BODY HAS MADE ITS HEADQUARTERS IN GAMBELLA, ETHIOPIA, A FEW MILES OVER THE BORDER FROM SOUTH SUDAN. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN RUNS TRINITY LUTHERAN SEMINARY AND SUPPORTS TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE, ALSO IN GAMBELLA. GROUNDED IN THE SCRIPTURE AND INSPIRED BY GOD'S WORD, THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN MAKES "DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I (THE LORD) HAVE COMMANDED" (MATHEW 28:19-20). THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN ENGAGES ON CARRYING OUT THIS GREAT COMMISSION THROUGH: TRAINING PASTORS IN LCSS SEMINARY TRAINING NATIVE, LOCAL PASTORS TO LIVE AND PREACH THE WORD OF GOD AS LEADERS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE HAS 2500 STUDENTS IN 6 LOCATIONS. IT GRADUATES 300-500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN A VARIETY OF HEALTHCARE AND BUSINESS MAJORS. CLOSE TO 250 STUDENTS GRADUATE ANNUALLY FROM DIPLOMA OR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE TWO LARGEST CLASSES AT THE TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE - NURSING AND MIDWIFERY. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SEDAN - NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING THROUGH THE THIRD LARGEST REFUGEE CRISIS IN THE WORLD IN ONE OF THE POOREST PLACES ON THE PLANET. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING, WE ALSO PROVIDE PRAYER SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE GOING TO EAST AFRICA TO SERVE ON A MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TEAM IN GAMBELLA, ETHIOPIA, MISSION TRIPS, AND ASSISTED IN ARRANGING THE ITINERARY FOR TEN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS FOR PASTOR JORDAN LONG, PRESIDENT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN (LOCATED IN EAST AFRICA). THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN IS SERVING IN THE MIDST OF A GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IT IS A VIBRANT CHURCH THAT IS MEETING NEEDS DAILY AS WE PLANT CONGREGATIONS IN SOUTH SUDAN AND IN SUDANESE REFUGEE COMMUNITIES AND CAMPS IN ETHIOPIA, KENYA, AND UGANDA. WE ARE COMMITTED CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY JESUS OUR SAVIOR. WE HAVE RESPONDED TO HIS GOSPEL BY REACHING OUT TO OTHERS IN EAST AFRICA WITH THE LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE OF JESUS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES, WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND THE POOR. BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR IN SOUTH SUDAN, THE CHURCH BODY HAS MADE ITS HEADQUARTERS IN GAMBELLA, ETHIOPIA, A FEW MILES OVER THE BORDER FROM SOUTH SUDAN. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN RUNS TRINITY LUTHERAN SEMINARY AND SUPPORTS TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE, ALSO IN GAMBELLA. GROUNDED IN THE SCRIPTURE AND INSPIRED BY GOD'S WORD, THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN MAKES "DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I (THE LORD) HAVE COMMANDED" (MATHEW 28:19-20). THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN ENGAGES ON CARRYING OUT THIS GREAT COMMISSION THROUGH: TRAINING PASTORS IN LCSS SEMINARY TRAINING NATIVE, LOCAL PASTORS TO LIVE AND PREACH THE WORD OF GOD AS LEADERS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE HAS 2500 STUDENTS IN 6 LOCATIONS. IT GRADUATES 300-500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN A VARIETY OF HEALTHCARE AND BUSINESS MAJORS. CLOSE TO 250 STUDENTS GRADUATE ANNUALLY FROM DIPLOMA OR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE TWO LARGEST CLASSES AT THE TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE - NURSING AND MIDWIFERY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 November 6, 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 August 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 May 2023.

    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 November 4, 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.