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Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

EIN 86-0252302 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE STABILIZE PEOPLE DURING CRISIS AND TRANSITION, BUILD A FOUNDATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN THRIVE, AND PRESERVE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE.

Income
$27.5 million
Spending
$27.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
573
Volunteers
637
Highest pay
$217,061, ceo & president

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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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)
  1. $10.9 million spent. THE REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROGRAMS HELP REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED PERSECUTION TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES IN THE PHOENIX AND TUCSON AREAS BY PROVIDING SHORT-TERM HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, LANGUAGE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY SKILLS TRAINING, CULTURAL EDUCATION, CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING. LSS-SW SERVED 2,216 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $7.4 million spent. THE AGING & DISABILITY SERVICES PROGRAMS PROVIDE QUALITY, CUSTOMIZED IN-HOME SERVICES THAT ALLOW OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE AT HOME, MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN SKILLS, AND REDUCE STRESS; AS WELL AS HOME DELIVERED MEALS AND SHOPPING SERVICES FOR HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS. LSS-SW PROVIDED 1,086 OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN-HOME SERVICES AND DELIVERED 68,769 MEALS.
  3. $3.7 million spent. THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, BASIC NEEDS PROGRAMS, AND FOSTER CARE. LSS-SW OPERATES THREE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, PART OF A NETWORK OF FIRST THINGS FIRST CENTERS THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY, THAT ASSIST FAMILIES IN METROPOLITAN PHOENIX AND SOUTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY. FRCS CREATE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT OPTIMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THROUGH PLAY AND LEARN EVENTS, PARENTING CLASSES, CAREGIVER TRAINING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. LSS-SW SERVED 1,189 CHILDREN AND 1,748 ADULTS. FOSTER CARE RECRUITS, TRAINS, LICENSES, AND SUPPORTS FOSTER FAMILIES IN CARING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)LSS-SW SUPPORTED 234 FOSTER HOMES IN CARING FOR 337 CHILDREN AND ADULTS. BASIC NEEDS PROGRAMS PROVIDE ACCESS TO FAMILIES NEEDING SUPPORT TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS THROUGH FOOD PANTRIES, EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. LSS-SW SERVED 10,061 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDED 6,812 BED NIGHTS OF EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND DISTRIBUTED 6,386 FOOD BOXES.
  4. $1.1 million spent. THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAITH PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, RELIEVE HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS FOR NEIGHBORS FACING EXTREME POVERTY THROUGH FOOD PANTRIES, RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. LSS-SW SHELTERED 175 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDED RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO 286 FAMILIES AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES, AND DISTRIBUTED 6,386 FOOD BOXES TO FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

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

  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? 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1963.

    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.