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Lutheran Services in Iowa Inc

EIN 42-0698267 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA'S MISSION IS BASED ON A CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORS. OUR MISSION IS, INDEED, WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO: LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA RESPONDS TO THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH COMPASSIONATE SERVICE.

Income
$30.5 million
Spending
$28.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
612
Volunteers
373
Highest pay
$270,684, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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 December 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 (4)
  1. $11.0 million spent. "SERVICES TO FAMILIES" IS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN, BUILD, AND FORTIFY FAMILIES. LSI PROVIDES IN-HOME SERVICES TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN SKILLS SUCH AS ANGER MANAGEMENT, COPING OR COMMUNICATION. BASED ON A MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THE CHILD, THE GOALS AND APPROACH ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE FAMILY. LSI ALSO PROVIDES URGENT SERVICES, SUCH AS CRISIS INTERVENTION OR FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS. WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF AVOIDING AN OUT-OF-HOME CHILD PLACEMENT, THESE SERVICES ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH SHARED GOALS AND SUCCESSES. IN ADDITION TO MANY COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT FILL THE GAPS BETWEEN LOCAL RESOURCES AND IDENTIFIED NEEDS, LSI IS A PARTNER ON STATEWIDE CONTRACTS FOR RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND SUPPORTING IOWA'S FOSTER/ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND FAMILY SAFETY, RISK PERMANENT SERVICES.
  2. $7.1 million spent. "SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES" HELPS INDIVIDUALS GAIN AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND ASSISTS CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS BY PROVIDING CRUCIAL RESPITE CARE, WHICH HELPS TO PREVENT OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. CONSUMERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOURLY OR 24-HOUR SERVICES TO HELP THEM LEARN LIFE SKILLS AND ACHIEVE INDIVIDUAL GOALS.
  3. $5.9 million spent. REFUGEE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPPORT REFUGEES IN CONNECTING ELDERLY REFUGEES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT READINESS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE HIGH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING, AND SUPPORT REFUGEES IN COMMUNITY GARDENING INITIATIVES.
  4. $499,179 spent. "RESIDENTIAL SERVICES" FOCUSES ON FAMILY-CENTERED, STRENGTH-BASED TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN THROUGH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, SHELTER CARE, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, LSI PROVIDES SERVICES TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 THAT LIVE AT LSI'S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER WHILE THEY ARE IN CARE. UTILIZING A TRAUMA-SENSITIVE CARE APPROACH, STAFF DELIVER AN INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH FOR EACH CHILD'S EMOTIONAL AND/OR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS KEY TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME-CARE, INCLUDING SHORTENING LENGTH OF STAY AND AVOIDING FAMILY DISRUPTION. FAMILY SUPPORT WEEKENDS ALLOW FAMILIES TO ATTEND AN INTENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT WEEKEND TO HELP THEIR CHILD SUCCEED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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? 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    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.