Lutheran Services in America is the national office for a network of health and human service organizations, dedicated to advancing innovative solutions and partnerships to achieve a healthier, more equitable future for millions of people in America.
Lutheran Services in America Incorporated directs large grants to a network of Lutheran health and human service organizations serving older adults and families in crisis. The biggest recent award in the data was $533,891 to Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota for improving the lives of underserved families in crisis, followed by $485,640 to Ak Child & Family in Anchorage and $393,644 to St John's Lutheran Ministries in Billings for the same family-crisis focus. That pattern shows a funder working through affiliated service providers rather than through individuals, with grants that are sizable enough to support direct service delivery and local capacity. Its portfolio also includes repeated support for rural senior services, with multiple awards at the $245,042 level to organizations in Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota. Other grants extend to Brooklyn, New York, affordable housing-linked senior services, and family stabilization efforts. The foundation’s recent awards are all to U.S. recipients, and the organization’s active program structure includes scholarship funds administered separately through the ELCA and LCMS for chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical credentialing.
A major theme is family stabilization and crisis intervention. In 2024, Lutheran Services in America Incorporated gave $193,200 to Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota for family stabilization, and $154,824 to Alaska Children's Services dba Ak Child & Family for the same purpose. Those grants sit alongside a $25,000 award to Gemma Services in Plymouth Meeting for strengthening families. Another recurring area is older adult services, especially in rural settings. The foundation awarded $385,066 to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck for improving the lives of seniors in rural communities, and $245,042 to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota in Saint Paul for the same objective. Place-based senior work also appears in Brooklyn and in affordable housing. Family Health Centers at NYU Langone received $91,250 in Brooklyn for seniors in Brooklyn, NY, while Graceworks Lutheran Services in Dayton received $17,000 for improving the lives of seniors in affordable housing.
Typical grants are relatively large for a network funder: the 25th percentile is $94,692, the median is $245,042, and the 75th percentile is $265,392. Several recipients appear more than once across 2023 and 2024, including Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, St Johns Lutheran Ministries, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, and Family Health Centers at NYU Langone. That repetition points to ongoing support rather than isolated awards. The organization is a nonprofit operating as the national office for a Lutheran service network, and it does not make program-related investments. The active scholarship program is administered separately by ELCA and LCMS and does not accept unsolicited applications.
$2.1M
$10.3M
$6.3M
$6M
Most grants fall between $95K and $265K, with a median of $245K.
25th Percentile
$95K
Median
$245K
75th Percentile
$265K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MN.
ALESIA FRERICHS
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Grantmaking is national, but the recipient map is concentrated in a few states. Minnesota has the highest grant count, and South Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and New York also appear repeatedly. Recent awards reached Sioux Falls, St. Paul and Saint Paul, Billings, Anchorage, Bismarck, Brooklyn, and Scarsdale. Every grant in the recent list went to a U.S. recipient, with 100% of grants landing in the United States.
The foundation funds Lutheran health and human service organizations and related service providers. Recent grants support child welfare and youth services, older adult services, affordable housing and supportive services, disability services, policy and advocacy, leadership and capacity building, and scholarship funds for chaplaincy and pastoral counseling credentialing.
The grant-size distribution is centered on fairly large awards. The 25th percentile is $94,692, the median is $245,042, and the 75th percentile is $265,392.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, St Johns Lutheran Ministries, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, and Family Health Centers at NYU Langone. The repeated awards suggest continuing relationships with selected providers.
The recipient distribution is national, but Minnesota has the highest grant count. Recent grants also show repeated activity in South Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and New York, with cities such as Sioux Falls, Billings, Anchorage, Bismarck, and Brooklyn appearing in the list.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals. Its active scholarship program is administered separately by the ELCA and LCMS for ecclesiastical endorsement and credentialing in chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MISSOURI SLOPE LUTHERAN CARE CENTER | BISMARCK, ND | $385,066 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| ST JOHNS LUTHERAN MINISTRIES | BILLINGS, MT | $350,060 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| ST JOHNS LUTHERAN MINISTRIES | BILLINGS, MT | $272,175 | 2024 | FAMILY STABILIZATION |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $245,042 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| IMMANUEL LIVING | KALISPELL, MT | $245,042 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $193,200 | 2024 | FAMILY STABILIZATION |
| ALASKA CHILDREN'S SERVICES DBA AK CHILD & FAMILY | ANCHORAGE, AK | $154,824 | 2024 | FAMILY STABILIZATION |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $140,024 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS AT NYU LANGONE | BROOKLYN, NY | $37,500 | 2024 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS |
| GEMMA SERVICES | PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | STRENGTHENING FAMILIES |
| LUTHERAN SENIOR SERVICES | BRENTWOOD, MO | $16,600 | 2024 | TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $533,891 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS |
| AK CHILD & FAMILY | ANCHORAGE, AK | $485,640 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS |
| ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN MINISTRIES INC | BILLINGS, MT | $393,644 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $245,042 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES | KALISPELL, MT | $245,042 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN MINISTRIES INC | BILLINGS, MT | $245,042 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $245,042 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| MISSOURI SLOPE LUTHERAN CARE CENTER | BISMARCK, ND | $105,018 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS AT NYU LANGONE | BROOKLYN, NY | $91,250 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN BROOKLYN, NY |
| THE LUTHERAN CARE NETWORK | SCARSDALE, NY | $55,000 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN BROOKLYN, NY |
| GRACEWORKS LUTHERAN SERVICES | DAYTON, OH | $17,000 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING |
MISSOURI SLOPE LUTHERAN CARE CENTER
$385,066IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
ST JOHNS LUTHERAN MINISTRIES
$350,060IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
ST JOHNS LUTHERAN MINISTRIES
$272,175FAMILY STABILIZATION
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
IMMANUEL LIVING
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$193,200FAMILY STABILIZATION
ALASKA CHILDREN'S SERVICES DBA AK CHILD & FAMILY
$154,824FAMILY STABILIZATION
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$140,024IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS AT NYU LANGONE
$37,500IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS
GEMMA SERVICES
$25,000STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
LUTHERAN SENIOR SERVICES
$16,600TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$533,891IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS
AK CHILD & FAMILY
$485,640IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS
ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN MINISTRIES INC
$393,644IMPROVING THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED FAMILIES IN CRISIS
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN MINISTRIES INC
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$245,042IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
MISSOURI SLOPE LUTHERAN CARE CENTER
$105,018IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS AT NYU LANGONE
$91,250IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN BROOKLYN, NY
THE LUTHERAN CARE NETWORK
$55,000IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN BROOKLYN, NY
GRACEWORKS LUTHERAN SERVICES
$17,000IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SENIORS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING