Lutheran Services Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
LUTHERAN SERVICES FLORIDA BRINGS GOD'S HEALING, HOPE, AND HELP TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
- Income
- $443.7 million
- Spending
- $439.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 2,650
- Volunteers
- 4,254
- Highest pay
- $654,819, president and 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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 74% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $251.6 million spent. WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES POSING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, LSF HEALTH SYSTEMS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS. BY MANAGING A NETWORK OF 98 SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS 23 COUNTIES, LSF HEALTH SYSTEMS ENSURES THAT QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO LACK INSURANCE COVERAGE, HAVE INADEQUATE COVERAGE, OR ARE INDIGENT. THEIR EFFORTS IN PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL IN MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF THESE DISORDERS, REDUCING SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES, AND ULTIMATELY SAVING LIVES. THE REACH OF THEIR PREVENTION SERVICES, WHICH IMPACT OVER 1 MILLION INDIVIDUALS, AND THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR MORE THAN 3,361 INDIVIDUALS AND PEERS, HIGHLIGHT THE EXTENSIVE AND VITAL WORK THEY DO. MOST URGENTLY, 358 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH ACCESS TO CARE CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HELP. WITHOUT LSF HEALTH SYSTEMS, MILLIONS OF VULNERABLE AND AT-RISK FLORIDIANS WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO OVERCOME THEIR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND LIVE HAPPIER, MORE HOPE-FILLED LIVES.
- $80.6 million spent. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START SERVICES ARE VITAL TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS FLORIDA, AS THEY PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE, A CRITICAL PERIOD FOR GROWTH THAT HELPS BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND PLACES CHILDREN ON A PATH TOWARD LONG-TERM SUCCESS. THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH, HEAD START ENSURES THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY PREPARED BUT ALSO EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY SUPPORTED, CURRENTLY SERVING 2,538 HEAD START CHILDREN AND 798 EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN ACROSS 238 CLASSROOMS STATEWIDE. IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, HEAD START PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY BY PROVIDING HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS THAT PROMOTE PROPER NUTRITION AND REDUCE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON FAMILIES. DURING THE PAST YEAR, HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDED 862,117 MEALS TO ENROLLED CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM SUPPORTED CHILDCARE FACILITIES BY PROVIDING 2,240,785 MEALS, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTHY GROWTH AND SCHOOL READINESS. OVERALL, HEAD START SERVICES ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN LEVELING THE EDUCATIONAL PLAYING FIELD, FOSTERING FAMILY STABILITY, AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.
- $94.4 million spent. LSF FAMILY FOCUS MAKES A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN FLORIDA BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT SPAN FROM INFANCY TO SENIOR CARE, LSF ENSURES THAT EVERY FAMILY MEMBER RECEIVES THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND THRIVE. FOR CHILDREN FACING ABUSE OR NEGLECT, LSF'S CHILD WELFARE CASE MANAGEMENT OFFERED PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO MORE THAN 4,500 CHILDREN ENSURING THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. 1,840 ADOLESCENTS BENEFITED FROM RESIDENTIAL YOUTH SHELTERS AND GROUP HOMES, WHICH PROVIDE TEMPORARY SAFE HAVENS AND SUPPORT DURING CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS. 23,990 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE STRENGTHENED THROUGH COUNSELING SERVICES. WHOLE-FAMILY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMMING, AND DIVERSION SERVICES, HELP STRENGTHEN FAMILY UNITS AND PROMOTE STABILITY. ADDITIONALLY, LSF'S ADULT ADVOCACY SERVICES PROTECTED 433 AT-RISK ADULTS FROM EXPLOITATION, OFFERING THEM A LIFELINE AND MANAGING THEIR AFFAIRS AMIDST MENTAL OR PHYSICAL INCAPACITIES. BY ALSO EXTENDING SUPPORT TO OVER 10,000 REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, LSF HELPS NEWCOMERS INTEGRATE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND HOPE. OVERALL, LSF FAMILY FOCUS PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.