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Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida Inc

EIN 59-1965600 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA, INC. (LSS) WAS FORMED IN 1979 BY LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS LOCATED IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA AS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT SOCIAL MINISTRY ORGANIZATION. THE AGENCY IS LED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTING OF A MAXIMUM OF 21 MEMBERS, 51 PERCENT OF WHOM MUST BE LUTHERAN, ACCORDING TO BYLAWS, AND 49 PERCENT OF WHOM ARE LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS. IN 1999, LSS FORMED AN AFFILIATE, LSS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. (LPM) TO OWN PROPERTY AS A TAXEXEMPT ENTITY. LPM'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS MADE UP OF SELECT MEMBERS OF THE LSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
102
Highest pay
$252,260, president/ce

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: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (5)
  1. $1.5 million spent. NOURISHMENT NETWORK - A HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA. THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS HUNGER THROUGH PROVIDING DIRECT FOOD ASSISTANCE TO AT RISK POPULATIONS SUCH AS: SENIORS, PREGNANT MOTHERS, LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND ANY DUVAL COUNTY RESIDENT IN NEED OF FOOD.
  2. $1.6 million spent. AIDS CARE & EDUCATION - PROVIDES HIV COORDINATION OF CARE THROUGH DIRECT LINKAGE, SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS IN A FIVE COUNTY AREA. THE ACE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE ONLY INITIATIVES IN NORTHEASE FLORIDA THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV. IN FISCAL YEAR 2018, THE ACE PROGRAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AIDS NETWORK (CAN), OPENED A FULL SERVICE MEDICAL CLINIC WITH DENTAL SERVICES AND A COMMUNITY PHARMACY ON SITE.
  3. $4.5 million spent. REFUGEE SERVICES - RESETILES REFUGEES SENT TO LSS FROM THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEIR LIVES WERE AT RISK IN THEIR HOMELAND DUE TO RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL PERSECUTION, BY FINDING THEM PLACES TO LIVE, HELPING THEM ADAPT TO THEIR NEW CULTURE, ENROLLING THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL AND HELPING THEM TRAIN FOR AND FIND JOBS.
  4. $264,825 spent. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES PROGRAM - MANAGES THE FINANCES OF ABOUT 500 PEOPLE IN A FIVE-COUNTY AREA WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY OR PENSION BENEFITS BUT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE INCAPABLE OF SOUND FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR WHO ARE TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR BASIC LIVING NEEDS ARE MET. STEPS 2 SUCCESS - FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER (FOC) IS A CAREER AND FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICE CENTER THAT HELPS LOW - TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE BUILD SMART MONEY HABITS AND FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL BOTIOM LINE. STEPS 2 SUCCESS PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER COUNSELING, ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING AND EDUCATION AND LOW-COST FINANCIAL PRODUCTS THAT HELP BUILD CREDIT, SAVINGS, AND ASSETS. STEPS 2 SUCCESS ALSO CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH INCOME SUPPORT SUCH AS FOOD STAMPS, UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE. THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FOC MODEL IS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IN AN INTEGRATED WAY - RATHER THAN AS STAND-ALONE SERVICES- AND WITH A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO HELPING CLIENTS REACH THEIR GOALS. TARGETED MENTAL HEALTH - PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ADULTS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. CASE MANAGERS ASSIST CLIENTS IN ATIAINING SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN LIVING, LEARNING, WORK AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 18, DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS LIVING IN JACKSONILLE.
  5. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES PROGRAM - MANAGES THE FINANCES OF ABOUT 500 PEOPLE IN A FIVE-COUNTY AREA WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY OR PENSION BENEFITS BUT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE INCAPABLE OF SOUND FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR WHO ARE TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR BASIC LIVING NEEDS ARE MET. STEPS 2 SUCCESS - FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER (FOC) IS A CAREER AND FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICE CENTER THAT HELPS LOW - TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE BUILD SMART MONEY HABITS AND FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL BOTIOM LINE. STEPS 2 SUCCESS PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER COUNSELING, ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING AND EDUCATION AND LOW-COST FINANCIAL PRODUCTS THAT HELP BUILD CREDIT, SAVINGS, AND ASSETS. STEPS 2 SUCCESS ALSO CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH INCOME SUPPORT SUCH AS FOOD STAMPS, UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE. THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FOC MODEL IS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IN AN INTEGRATED WAY - RATHER THAN AS STAND-ALONE SERVICES- AND WITH A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO HELPING CLIENTS REACH THEIR GOALS. TARGETED MENTAL HEALTH - PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ADULTS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. CASE MANAGERS ASSIST CLIENTS IN ATIAINING SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN LIVING, LEARNING, WORK AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 18, DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS LIVING IN JACKSONILLE.

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 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 September 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 June 1980.

    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.

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