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Lutheran Social Services of Nevada

EIN 86-0845241 · Las Vegas, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EXPRESS THE LOVE OF CHRIST BY SERVING AND CARING FOR 8,000 - 10,000 FAMILIES IN NEED - FOOD ASSISTANCE, NUTRITION EDUCATION, SNAP (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS) ASSISTANCE, CONGREGATE HOT MEAL PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAMS, AND TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH RENT, UTILITIES, BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND NEVADA STATE IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
40
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$178,971, fy23 ed

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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 (3)
  1. $2.1 million spent. NUTRITION SERVICES IS OFFERED TO HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDES HEALTHY FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY. IT ALSO PROVIDES COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS. PERIODICALLY, OPEN AIR MARKETS ARE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THREE SQUARE FOOD BANK IN WHICH FOOD AND BOTTLES OF WATER ARE DISTRIBUTED. LSSN LAUNCHED THEIR DIGIMART IN OCTOBER 2016, WHICH ALLOWS CLIENTS TO LOG INTO THE FOOD DATABASE ON DESKTOP KIOSKS AT LSSN OR FROM ANY COMPUTER WITH INTERNET ACCESS. THE MONITOR DISPLAYS PICTURES OF AVAILABLE FOOD ITEMS, WHERE CLIENTS CAN ADD ITEMS IN THEIR DIGITAL SHOPPING CART. THEN, THE CLIENT SIMPLY GOES TO THE PANTRY TO PICK UP THEIR ORDER. CLIENTS ARE ALLOTTED POINTS EVERY 30 DAYS TO "PURCHASE" ITEMS FROM THE PANTRY. HIGHER NUTRITIONAL VALUE ITEMS CAN BE "PURCHASED" FOR FEWER POINTS THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS. NUTRITION SERVICES IS OFFERED TO HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDES HEALTHY FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY. IT ALSO PROVIDES COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS. PERIODICALLY, OPEN AIR MARKETS ARE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THREE SQUARE FOOD BANK IN WHICH FOOD AND BOTTLES OF WATER ARE DISTRIBUTED. LSSN LAUNCHED THEIR DIGIMART IN OCTOBER 2016, WHICH ALLOWS CLIENTS TO LOG INTO THE FOOD DATABASE ON DESKTOP KIOSKS AT LSSN OR FROM ANY COMPUTER WITH INTERNET ACCESS. THE MONITOR DISPLAYS PICTURES OF AVAILABLE FOOD ITEMS, WHERE CLIENTS CAN ADD ITEMS IN THEIR DIGITAL SHOPPING CART. THEN, THE CLIENT SIMPLY GOES TO THE PANTRY TO PICK UP THEIR ORDER. CLIENTS ARE ALLOTTED POINTS EVERY 30 DAYS TO "PURCHASE" ITEMS FROM THE PANTRY. HIGHER NUTRITIONAL VALUE ITEMS CAN BE "PURCHASED" FOR FEWER POINTS THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE IN NEED WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO GIVE PEOPLE THE SENSE OF DIGNITY THAT COMES FROM BEING ABLE TO OBTAIN AND KEEP EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS HOW TO MAKE GOOD, INFORMED DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. UNDER THIS PROGRAM LSSN OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR OR RENEWING SNAP (FORMALLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS) WITH THE STATE OF NEVADA DIVISION OF WELFARE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; HELPS CHILDREN GET SIGNED UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND ASSISTS PEOPLE IN OBTAINING THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND/OR NEVADA IDENTIFICATION. TO HELP THOSE IN DANGER OF BECOMING HOMELESS, LSSN CAN PROVIDE TEMPORARY RENT AND/OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
  3. $227,111 spent. THE SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE SPECIFICALLY TO SENIORS (AGED 60 OR OLDER). SENIORS ARE OFFERED TWO DAYS PER WEEK OF BY- APPOINTMENT SHOPPING IN THE PANTRY, AND FRESH COOKED MEALS ARE PROVIDED AT TWO LUTHERAN CHURCHES AT NO COST. HOME-BOUND SENIORS RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, FOOD DELIVERY, AND ASSISTANCE WITH NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS LIKE ENSURE OR BOOST, AS WELL AS PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 June 2024.

    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 July 1998.

    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.

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.