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The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

EIN 45-0228055 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOOD SAMARITAN IS COMMITTED TO THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT IT SERVES AND STRIVES TO BE THE PREMIER RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$1.0 billion
Spending
$948.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
16,518
Volunteers
747
Highest pay
$5.0 million, trustee, president & ceo (beg 6/24)

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 12 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, 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 (4)
  1. $630.9 million spent. SKILLED NURSING SERVICES - REHABILITATION/SKILLED NURSING SERVICES HAVE BEEN AT THE CORE OF THE SOCIETY'S SERVICES OVER ITS 100-YEAR HISTORY. THE SOCIETY APPROACHES CARE FOR THE SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF OUR SKILLED NURSING RESIDENTS IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL CARE THAT IS PROVIDED TO SOCIETY RESIDENTS EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY. SERVICES PROVIDED IN SOCIETY SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE; REHABILITATION SERVICES; AS WELL AS A HIGH QUALITY OF RELATED SERVICES SUCH AS DIETARY, RECREATIONAL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES; MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION; AND OTHER SERVICES THAT MEET THE HOLISTIC NEEDS OF THOSE THE SOCIETY IS CALLED TO SERVE. THE SOCIETY IS THE LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER OF REHABILITATION/SKILLED NURSING SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT SIZE IS NOT THE SOCIETY'S OBJECTIVE. INSTEAD, SEEKING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF "OLDER PERSONS AND OTHERS IN NEED" TO IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING - AS THEY DEFINE IT - REMAINS PARAMOUNT. STATISTICALLY, THE SOCIETY PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 1,730,888 SKILLED NURSING HOME DAYS OF CARE AND SERVICE IN 2024. THE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO REINVEST MUCH OF ITS REVENUE TO BUILD AND REVITALIZE ITS FACILITIES ON CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
  2. $74.7 million spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING - HAS BEEN A GROWING PART OF THE SOCIETY'S MINISTRY FOR MANY YEARS. WITH ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE RETIRING EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE UNITED STATES - AND WITH EVER-INCREASING NUMBERS OCCURRING IN FUTURE YEARS - THE PROVISION OF SENIOR LIVING/HOUSING WILL TAKE ON INCREASING IMPORTANCE IN YEARS TO COME. THE SOCIETY RECOGNIZES THIS GROWTH AND HAS MADE EXPANSION OF SENIOR LIVING SERVICES AND LOCATIONS A MAJOR PART OF THIS CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLANNING. CAMPUSES FEATURE ATTRACTIVE GROUNDS; A VARIETY OF COMMON SPACE AND MULTI-PURPOSE ROOMS FOR RESIDENT AND FAMILY INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS; LIBRARIES AND READING ROOMS; DINING SERVICES; CABLE TV AND PHONE SERVICE; AND THE AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTER/INTERNET SERVICES TO ALLOW AND ENCOURAGE ELECTRONIC CONNECTIVITY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. FURTHER, VARIOUS SENIOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED ON SENIOR LIVING CAMPUSES IN ADDITION TO THE SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS OFFERED IN REHABILITATION/SKILLED NURSING SERVICES AND ASSISTED LIVING.
  3. $85.4 million spent. ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES - ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES RESPOND TO THE SOCIETY'S RESIDENTS' NEEDS EACH DAY IN A "HOME-LIKE" ENVIRONMENT. IN 2024, THE SOCIETY PROVIDED 969,683 RESIDENT DAYS IN ASSISTED LIVING LOCATIONS. THIS IMPORTANT LEVEL OF CARE PROVIDES A VITAL, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NEITHER ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY NOR ARE IN NEED OF SKILLED NURSING SERVICES. THE LIST OF SERVICES PROVIDED IN SOCIETY ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES HIGHLIGHTS AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR THE HOLISTIC CARE OF ITS RESIDENTS. SERVICES INCLUDE THREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS A DAY, HOUSEKEEPING, LAUNDRY SERVICE, 24-HOUR STAFFING (IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEMS), SCHEDULED TRANSPORTATION, SPIRITUAL SERVICES, AND MEDICATION ASSISTANCE. COORDINATED SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR THE TOTAL WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS.
  4. $67.1 million spent. HOME HEALTH SERVICES - THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY OFFERS LICENSED HOME HEALTH CARE, HOSPICE AND SERVICES@HOME (PRIVATE DUTY) SERVICES IN 18 STATES. THESE AGENCIES PROVIDE SKILLED HEALTH CARE IN A CLIENT'S HOME. SKILLED CARE INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE, HOME HEALTH AIDE ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL SERVICES AND THERAPISTS TO MEET THE SKILLED-MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE CLIENT. WE PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT FOR THE PERSON ON A SHORT-TERM OR INTERMITTENT BASIS TO MEET HIS OR HER MEDICAL AND PERSONAL NEEDS.THE LICENSED HOSPICE AGENCIES AND GENERAL INPATIENT UNIT PROVIDED SERVICES INCLUDING PHYSICIAN, PROFESSIONAL NURSE, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER, CHAPLAIN, BEREAVEMENT SERVICE, HOME HEALTH AIDE, VOLUNTEERS AND THERAPY AS DIRECTED BY THE PATIENT'S CARE PLAN. THE COMPASSIONATE, LOVING CARE AT THE END OF A PERSON'S LIFE PROVIDES THE PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE SUPPORT AND CARE NEEDED TO MEET THE GOALS OF CARE.SERVICES@HOME, OUR PRIVATE DUTY AGENCIES, TAILORS SERVICES TO SUPPORT SENIORS, WHICH ALLOWS THEM THE CHOICE TO REMAIN HOME WHILE RECEIVING THE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND SERVICES NEEDED. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE MEAL PREPARATION, HOUSEKEEPING, COMPANIONSHIP, PERSONAL HYGIENE AND GROOMING, BATHING, EXERCISE, RESPITE CARE, MEMORY CARE, TRANSPORTATION, APPOINTMENT ESCORT, MEDICATION REMINDERS AND MORE.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 1955.

    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 October 21, 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.