St Johns Lutheran Ministries 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
St. John's Lutheran Ministries is a community of diverse people sharing God's healing presence. Our mission is to provide living opportunities within nurturing environments of hope, dignity & love.
- Income
- $27.3 million
- Spending
- $29.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -10.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 773
- Volunteers
- 217
- Highest pay
- $332,627, ceo
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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 89% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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 (1)
- $26.6 million spent. St. John's Operations - St. John's Lutheran Ministries, Inc. is a ministry to the world given by 25 local Lutheran (ELCA) ownership congregations who are committed to caring for people regardless of religious preference, race/national origin, gender/age/marital status, diagnosis/disability, or financial status. St. John's began as a HUD facility (115 beds) in 1963 and has grown into one of the largest providers of senior housing and long-term care services in the State of Montana. We offer a full continuum of care providing low-income housing, assisted living, skilled nursing, and independent living, as well as childcare, rehabilitation/home health, child adoption services and many other support services to enhance the lives of those we serve. (Continued on Schedule O)Overall, we served 947 seniors on our campus in 2024 as well as 1,355 seniors in outlying communities. The below are examples of that support. Program Service Accomplishments:Skilled Nursing Services - We operate a 36 bed transitional rehab unit as well as 52 skilled nursing beds located in four individual cottages. During 2024, St. John's nursing division cared for 455 residents providing 29,335 patient days of care. St. John's has proven to be an innovative leader in nursing home care through the implementation of programs such as Eden Alternative, Comfort Care Vigil Ministry, and the Green House cottage model with an open door to other service providers from around the country to tour our facilities and exchange information and service delivery ideas. Two principals have contributed to the success of the cottage model of care, 1) the creation of a home environment serving a small group of elders and, 2) the role of the Elder Sharaths ("servant" in Hebrew) in the cottage and the extensive training/education given them to prepare them for this new role. The organization, operations and delivery of care within this recent paradigm are radically different from those of the traditional nursing home. Dementia Care and Assisted Living Cottages - Located next to the nursing facility are two individual cottages (24 beds) which specialize in assisted living dementia care as well as two additional high-acuity assisted living cottages (29 beds). In 2024, the cottages provided 15,579 days of care to 63 individuals. Retirement Services In 2021, residents living in our former HUD retirement facility were relocated to our new 56-unit low-income housing tax credit project or to other facilities on campus. The completion of the tax credit project provided a rejuvenated independent living space for our elders, while still giving them access to our activities program, pastoral care program, and nursing amenities if needed. We served 64 residents in our new facility in 2024.Other Facilities - The Crossings, a St. John's facility located in Laurel, Montana, includes a 12 unit assisted living dementia care cottage, 14 assisted living apartments, 24 independent living apartments and 5 townhomes. The Crossings served 69 individuals with 18,791 days of care provided in 2024. The Willows, a St. John's facility located in Red Lodge, MT has two connected assisted living cottages (24 beds total). The Willows facility was closed in August 2023.Medicaid Residents - St. John's provides services to all people in need including Medicaid residents. The cost of such care is much greater than the related reimbursement. In 2024, St. John's continued as one of the largest providers of Medicaid long-term care services in Yellowstone County, Montana providing 12,008 days of care to Medicaid residents. The gap between our cost to provide care to Medicaid recipients and the reimbursement we received in the nursing facility during 2024 is an estimated $2,470,000.Home & Community Based Services/Rural Outreach - Through our rehabilitation department, we served 48 patients. These patients were located at a hospital a distance of 50 miles from Billings. In addition, we contracted with our joint venture, Home Based Services Initiative, LLC to provide rehabilitation services for their homebound clients; in 2024, we served 1,108 clients.Center For Generations - We continue to provide child and infant daycare to our staff members and the community, many of whom cannot afford, nor have access to safe, quality childcare. St. John's Center for Generations is accredited which assures high quality early childhood developmental programs for the children we serve. In 2024, the Center for Generations served 87 children (43 community families and 44 staff families). The program helps create a nurturing environment through intergenerational activities for our seniors as well. During 2024, St. John's subsidized $277,000 of direct costs to operate the Center for Generations. St. John's United Family Services - With four offices throughout Montana, Family Services has been serving the people of need in Montana and Northern Wyoming as part of St. John's since 2010, "Joining Hearts in Hope". In 2024 Family Services was involved in bringing hope to the lives of 49 adoptive families. We assisted birth parents and related family members and had a role in the placement of 1 child in a forever home. In addition, Family Services worked with 20 adoptable children through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program as well as 41 individuals in our professional counseling program. We also worked with 95 families within our C.A.R.E.S. program, which is a family-centered, strength-based, and community-driven model of care designed to promote child abuse prevention and family preservation, to divert entry into the juvenile justice system; and enable children with complex needs to remain at home and in their community. In 2024, St. John's subsidized $93,000 in direct costs to operate Family Services, which is offset in part by contributions made through the St. John's Foundation.Other Subsidies St. John's also provides college scholarships to many of our staff wishing to pursue an education in the healthcare
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
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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
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.
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.