Lutheran Family Services of Virginia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ENCIRCLE'S MISSION IS TO EXPRESS GOD'S LOVE BY PROVIDING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR JOURNEY TO WELL-BEING. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE WORLD A MORE LOVING PLACE.
- Income
- $59.9 million
- Spending
- $62.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 606
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $362,609, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (4)
- $37.1 million spent. DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: ENCIRCLE'S COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOCUS ON QUALITY CARE, WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING MEANINGFUL LIFE EXPERIENCES IN THE SETTING OF THEIR CHOICE. OUR STAFF ACT AS MENTORS AND FRIENDS TO HELP PEOPLE ATTAIN THEIR GOALS, WHILE ENSURING THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MEDICAL NEEDS ARE MET. OUR 17 GROUP HOMES (IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA) PROVIDE AROUND-THE-CLOCK SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN COMFORTABLE, COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSES. WE ALSO SUPPORT ADULTS LIVING IN THEIR OWN HOMES THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED IN-HOME SERVICES. SKILLED NURSING AND THERAPEUTIC CONSULTATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT CLIENTS IN ANY SETTING TO ENSURE THEIR MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS ARE MET. WE ALSO CONTRACT WITH AND SUPPORT 225 FAMILY CARE PROVIDERS, PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LIVING IN THEIR HOMES. TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARE INTEGRATED INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE, WE OFFER DAY SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY COACHING PROGRAMS AS WELL. OUR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ARE LICENSED THROUGH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (DBHDS) AND THE WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF HEALTH FACILITY LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION AND ARE ACCREDITED THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES (CARF). DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WE HELPED 351 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LEAD MORE ABUNDANT LIVES.
- $13.2 million spent. MINNICK SCHOOLS: ENCIRCLE'S MINNICK SCHOOLS HELP STUDENTS AGES 5 TO 22 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS REACH THEIR ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, VOCATIONAL, AND DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS. MINNICK SCHOOLS, LICENSED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS PRIVATE DAY SCHOOLS AND ACCREDITED THROUGH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES, ARE LOCATED IN ROANOKE, LYNCHBURG, HARRISONBURG, WYTHEVILLE, WISE, GRUNDY, AND BRISTOL. WE PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 37 LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHICH REFER STUDENTS TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH STUDENTS' FAMILIES. OUR HIGHLY TRAINED EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION IN SMALL CLASSROOMS, INCORPORATING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY. WE SERVE STUDENTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, TO REACH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL MILESTONES. OUR GOAL FOR STUDENTS IS THAT THEY TRANSITION SUCCESSFULLY BACK TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR IN OUR VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TO THE WORK WORLD. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WE SERVED 305 STUDENTS, 33 OF WHOM SUCCESSFULLY RETURNED TO PUBLIC SCHOOL AND 8 OF WHOM GRADUATED WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE.
- $1.4 million spent. TREATMENT FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, AND COUNSELING SERVICES: AT ENCIRCLE, WE WRAP SUPPORT AROUND CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA TO HELP THEM HEAL AND FIND PERMANENT FAMILY CONNECTIONS. WE ARE A LICENSED CHILD PLACING AGENCY THROUGH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND OUR TREATMENT FOSTER CARE PROGRAM IS CARFACCREDITED. WE RECRUIT AND TRAIN ADULTS IN THE RICHMOND AND TIDEWATER REGIONS WHO ARE EAGER TO SHARE THEIR SKILLS, STRENGTHS, COURAGE, AND "LIFE FIRSTS" WITH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. MANY OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE ARE TEENS, PART OF SIBLING GROUPS, OR HAVE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES OR OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS. IN SOME CASES, OUR FOSTER FAMILIES ADOPT CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE, AND IN OTHER CASES, CHILDREN RETURN TO BIRTH FAMILIES OR OTHER PLACEMENTS. FREQUENTLY, OUR FOSTER PARENTS PROVIDE LONG-TERM STABILITY AND CONNECTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH GREATLY INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF BECOMING SUCCESSFUL AND CONTRIBUTING ADULTS. OUR HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF ALSO OFFER POST-ADOPTION CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED CHILDREN EITHER FROM FOSTER CARE OR THROUGH PRIVATE AGENCIES. WE UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE AND ONGOING NEEDS OF FAMILIES CREATED THROUGH ADOPTION. FINALLY, WE ALSO PROVIDE VISIT COACHING TO MENTOR FAMILIES THROUGH VISITS WITH THEIR CHILDREN WITH THE GOAL OF REUNITING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, ENCIRCLE SUPPORTED 22 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, AND 3 CHILDREN IN CARE WERE ADOPTED. WE ALSO SUPPORTED 65 FAMILIES THROUGH POSTADOPTION CASE MANAGEMENT AND 11 FAMILIES THROUGH VISIT COACHING. ENCIRCLE ALSO PROVIDES OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH WE CALL COUNSELING. ENCIRCLE'S EXPERIENCED COUNSELORS OFFER A TRAUMA-INFORMED AND INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING. WE CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS AND HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT. OUR COUNSELORS ARE TRAINED IN TRAUMA-FOCUSED TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. OUR CLINICIANS OFFER IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COUNSELING OPTIONS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, ENCIRCLE CLINICIANS SERVED 179 INDIVIDUALS.
- $3.7 million spent. IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES: ENCIRCLE WORKS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES WELCOMING PLACES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES THROUGH OUR GROWING ARRAY OF PROGRAMS. OUR BILINGUAL STAFF ASSIST IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WHO ARRIVE IN THE U.S. UNACCOMPANIED IN REUNITING WITH FAMILY AND SPONSORS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE PROVIDE FINGERPRINTS AND CONDUCT HOME STUDIES AS PART OF THE BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SPONSORS WHO ARE TAKING IN AN IMMIGRANT CHILD TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER REUNIFICATION TO ENSURE CHILDREN WHO ARE RELOCATING HAVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, LEGAL, AND OTHER NEEDS MET. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WE FINGERPRINTED 47 FAMILY MEMBERS AND ASSISTED 52 CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGH OUR HOME STUDY AND POST-RELEASE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE IN RICHMOND FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED A SAFE HOME WHILE AWAITING REUNIFICATION WITH A SPONSOR, AS WELL AS LONG TERM FOSTER CARE IN TIDEWATER FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE REUNITED WITH THEIR SPONSOR. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, 21 CHILDREN WERE REUNITED WITH SPONSORS THROUGH OUR TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALL PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL REFUGE, FORMERLY LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES (LIRS). WE ALSO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULT IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM AS THEY AWAIT IMMIGRATION HEARINGS. THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA (LSSNCA). IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, OUR BILINGUAL STAFF SERVED 99 PEOPLE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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