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Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

EIN 41-0872993 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA EXPRESSES THE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICE THAT INSPIRES HOPE, CHANGES LIVES AND BUILDS COMMUNITY. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA AND AFFILIATES IS ONE OF MINNESOTA'S LARGEST AND OLDEST NON-PROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA HAS 350 SERVICE UNITS IN OVER 300 LOCATIONS ACROSS MINNESOTA. WE SERVE 1 IN 63 MINNESOTANS.LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA IS A WELCOMING ORGANIZATION OFFERING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR ALL PEOPLE. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS SERVICES CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.LSSMN.ORG.

Income
$187.2 million
Spending
$185.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
3,673
Volunteers
3,200
Highest pay
$495,183, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    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 September 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 (3)
  1. $91.9 million spent. IN RESIDENTIAL AND CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT SERVICES, WE HELP PEOPLE WITH IDENTIFIED NEEDS LIVE THE LIVES THEY IMAGINE FOR THEMSELVES THROUGH RESIDENTIAL, IN-HOME AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. IN FY 25, WE SERVED 779 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. OUR COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH IDENTIFIED NEEDS IN COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS TO LIVE THE LIVES THEY IMAGINE FOR THEMSELVES, THROUGH LIFE SHARING, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING FAMILY SERVICES, CARE COORDINATION SERVICES AND A SUPPORTIVE, MEDICALLY SOUND CAMP FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER IDENTIFIED NEEDS. IN FY 25, WE SERVED 7,556 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.
  2. $44.8 million spent. OUR CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT STRENGTHEN THEIR RESILIENCY AND CONNECTIONS IN COMMUNITY THROUGH FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, A CAMP FOCUSED ON KIDS' RESILIENCE AFTER LIVING THROUGH DISASTERS, AND FAMILY SERVICES SUCH AS KINSHIP SUPPORT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. IN FY 25, 14,682 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM LSS THROUGH THESE SERVICES. LSS' ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY & YOUTH SUPPORT SERVICES STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE THEIR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, HEALTH, AND HOUSING STABILITY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES, FINANCIAL COUNSELING, REFUGEE SERVICES AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN FY 25, WE SUPPORTED 30,624 INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.
  3. $19.1 million spent. LSS' SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS HELP OLDER ADULTS AND OTHERS MAINTAIN HEALTHY, CONNECTED, AND BALANCED LIFESTYLES IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS, CAREGIVER AND COMPANION SERVICES, TRUST SERVICES, SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING AND GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES. IN FY 25, WE SUPPORTED 14,801 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THESE SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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? 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 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 August 1963.

    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.