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Bethany Lutheran Homes Inc

EIN 39-0909446 · La Crosse, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

BETHANY LUTHERAN HOMES, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A BENEVOLENT CONTINUUM OF CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY COMPRISED OF NUMEROUS FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THE CARE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN THE LA CROSSE, WI AREA. BETHANY IS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, EXEMPT UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) THROUGH ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA.

Income
$44.7 million
Spending
$38.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
891
Volunteers
96
Highest pay
$813,155, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $12.9 million spent. SKILLED NURSING FACILITY (SNF) - BLH OWNS AND OPERATES A 123 BED SNF LOCATED IN LA CROSSE, WI WHICH OFFERS SPECIALIZED RESTORATIVE REHABILITATION FOR SHORT TERM STAYS, A SPECIALIZED MEMORY CARE UNIT FOR ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, AND END STAGE HOSPICE CARE. THERE WERE 34,846 DAYS OF CARE PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS IN 2024, WITH 15,810 OF THOSE DAYS (OR 45%) PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS ON MEDICAID WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT TO COVER THE COSTS OF CARE AND HOUSING. THIS SUBSIDIZED CARE AMOUNTED TO OVER 900,000 IN 2024.
  2. $5.3 million spent. COMMUNITY BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES (CBRF) AND RESIDENTIAL CARE APARTMENT COMPLEXES (RCAC) - BLH OWNS AND OPERATES THREE CBRF AND THREE RCAC FACILITIES IN THE LA CROSSE, WI AREA. THE CBRF FACILITIES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CARE TO THE ELDERLY WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA IN A HOME-LIKE SETTING. RESIDENTS RECEIVE MEALS, MEDICAL MANAGEMENT, HOUSEKEEPING AND OTHER DAILY LIVING SERVICES BASED ON THEIR NEEDS. THERE WERE 39,574 DAYS OF CARE AND HOUSING PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS DURING 2024.
  3. $17.8 million spent. EAGLE CREST NORTH AND EAGLE CREST SOUTH - TWO SIMILAR FACILITIES LOCATED IN ONALASKA, WI AND LA CROSSE, WI CONSISTING OF 262 INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS, 34 HIGH ACUITY ASSISTED LIVING (CBRF), 78 ASSISTED LIVING (RCAC), AND 81 MEMORY CARE (CBRF) APARTMENTS IN TOTAL. A CENTRALLY LOCATED TOWN CENTER CONNECTS THE INDEPENDENT, ASSISTED LIVING, AND MEMORY CARE UNITS AND PROVIDES AMENITIES TO ENHANCE THE RESIDENTS' SOCIAL, PHYSICAL,AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING. THE TWO FACILITIES PROVIDED 160,447 DAYS OF HOUSING AND CARE TO THE RESIDENTS DURING 2024.
  4. $49,042 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS - PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING: FOOT CARE SERVICES - CERTIFIED AND LICENSED NURSE PROVIDING PEDICURE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS - 20 APARTMENTS PROVIDED 7,218 DAYS OF HOUSING FOR SENIORS IN HOLMEN, WI.
  5. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS - PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING: FOOT CARE SERVICES - CERTIFIED AND LICENSED NURSE PROVIDING PEDICURE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS - 20 APARTMENTS PROVIDED 7,218 DAYS OF HOUSING FOR SENIORS IN HOLMEN, WI.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    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 1961.

    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.