
Fostering a world of just and welcoming communities.
A single network of child- and family-serving Lutheran agencies anchors Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Inc Dba Global Refuge’s recent giving, with one recipient, Bethany Christian Services of Michigan in Grand Rapids, taking the largest awards in back-to-back years and another Bethany grant in 2023. That pattern points to a funder that channels substantial operating support into resettlement, children’s services, and family-based care rather than one-off project grants. The foundation’s portfolio also includes large awards to Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran Ministries of Georgia, and Lutheran Services Florida, showing a repeated relationship with established service providers across the country. Its stated focus areas connect refugee resettlement with asylum and immigration services, family reunification, unaccompanied children services, mental health and trauma services, economic empowerment and employment, advocacy, and international humanitarian programs. The recipient taxonomy reinforces that emphasis on refugee and immigrant children, families with children, and transitional foster youth. The foundation also makes program-related investments, adding another tool alongside grants. In the latest filing year on file, its annual grants totaled $505,624,096, indicating a large-scale grantmaker with a national reach and a strong preference for organizations already embedded in direct service delivery.
Children and family services sit at the center of the grant portfolio. The foundation gave $17,844,820 in 2025 to Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas for children services, and $12,070,291 in 2025 to Lutheran Services Florida for children services. Those awards sit alongside similar grants in earlier years to the same network, including Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas and Lutheran Family Services of Rocky Mountains. Refugee resettlement is another recurring lane. In 2025, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan received $8,645,979 for refugee resettlement, following a $7,912,889 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. Asylum services also appear in the recent record: Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Phoenix received $5,284,593 in 2025 for asylum services, children and family services, and resettlement and integration services. The portfolio also includes youth and foster-care related work. Chris 180 in Atlanta received $8,697,258 in 2025 for children services, and the foundation’s taxonomy includes transitional foster care and services for refugee and immigrant children.
$93M
$97.1M
$170.5M
$165.5M
Most grants fall between $189K and $3.4M, with a median of $772K.
25th Percentile
$189K
Median
$772K
75th Percentile
$3.4M
About 5% of grants go to recipients in CA.
KRISH O'MARA VIGNARAJAH
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Typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $189,207, the median is $772,286, and the 75th percentile is $3,356,464. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Bethany Christian Services of Michigan, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, Lutheran Services Florida, and Lutheran Family Services of Oregon & Sw Washington. That recurring pattern suggests ongoing operating support rather than isolated project funding. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. The data provided do not describe an application process.
The foundation gives nationally, with 145 grants to U.S. recipients and 6% of grants going to recipients in Maryland, its headquarters state. Grant volume is heaviest in Michigan, and the recent record includes major recipients in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Other frequent recipient locations include Atlanta, Salisbury and Charlotte in North Carolina, Tampa, Denver, Portland, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Des Moines. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided.
It supports service providers working with refugee and immigrant children, families, asylum seekers, and transitional foster youth. The stated focus areas include refugee resettlement, asylum and immigration services, family reunification, unaccompanied children services, mental health and trauma services, economic empowerment and employment, advocacy, and international humanitarian programs.
The grant-size distribution is relatively large. The 25th percentile is $189,207, the median is $772,286, and the 75th percentile is $3,356,464.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support across multiple years for several organizations, including Bethany Christian Services of Michigan, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, Lutheran Services Florida, and Lutheran Family Services of Oregon & Sw Washington. That indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Grant volume is heaviest in Michigan, while 6% of grants go to recipients in Maryland. The recipient-country distribution in the data is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent awards include children services, children and family services, resettlement and integration services, refugee resettlement, and asylum services. Examples include grants to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan for refugee resettlement and to Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest for asylum services plus children and family services.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES OF MICHIGAN | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $34,600,216 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES IN THE CAROLINAS | SALISBURY, NC | $6,088,424 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN MINISTRIES OF GEORGIA | ATLANTA, GA | $4,214,662 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES NEW ENGLAND | CONCORD, NH | $3,868,940 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF VA INC | ROANOKE, VA | $3,785,988 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,750,126 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $3,495,022 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF ROCKY MOUNTAINS | DENVER, CO | $3,238,807 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES FLORIDA | TAMPA, FL | $3,107,823 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF OREGON & SW WASHINGTON | PORTLAND, OR | $2,880,949 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $2,327,487 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,845,598 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| ICNA RELIEF USA PROGRAMS INC | NEW HYDE PARK, NY | $1,763,627 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF NEBRASKA INC | OMAHA, NE | $1,575,561 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,528,440 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| CHRIS 180 | ATLANTA, GA | $1,393,364 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOS ANGELES INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,320,739 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE SOUTHWEST | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,020,458 | 2026 | ASYLUM SERVICES; CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| CANOPY NORTHWEST ARKANSAS | FAYETTEVILLE, AR | $965,250 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $928,726 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| YOUTH FOR TOMORROW NEW LIFE CENTER | BRISTOW, VA | $722,249 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| THE WOMEN'S BUILDING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $705,723 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR KIDS & FAMILIES | RIVERSIDE, CA | $663,296 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $641,154 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| ETHIOPIAN TEWAHEDO SOCIAL SERVICES | WHITEHALL, OH | $617,087 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| MOHAWK VALLEY RESOURCE CENTER FOR REFUGEES | UTICA, NY | $570,848 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| UPBRING | AUSTIN, TX | $516,591 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| DIAKON CHILD FAMILY & COMMUNITY MINISTRIES | ALLENTOWN, PA | $500,427 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $452,427 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $432,061 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES & EDUCATION | NOEL, MO | $414,913 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $362,762 | 2026 | TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE | BATON ROUGE, LA | $319,656 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| NORTHERN VIRGINIA FAMILY SERVICE | OAKTON, VA | $259,531 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $240,205 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| ST FERDINAND OUTREACH CENTER | SAN FERNANDO, CA | $238,864 | 2026 | REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT |
| MOSAIC FAMILY SERVICES INC | DALLAS, TX | $194,005 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE | LOUISVILLE, KY | $183,590 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $173,011 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| KENNEDY-DONOVAN CENTER INC | FOXBORO, MA | $155,398 | 2026 | TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST OHIO | CINCINNATI, OH | $151,109 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK | NEWARK, NJ | $144,012 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS | DODGE CITY, KS | $138,514 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, DE | $135,024 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| YOUNG WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | COATESVILLE, PA | $69,506 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| REFUGEES HELPING REFUGEES | ROCHESTER, NY | $53,075 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TENNESSEE INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $38,370 | 2026 | CHILDREN SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BALTIMORE ESPERANZA CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $37,933 | 2026 | CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES |
| BISMARCK GLOBAL NEIGHBORS | BISMARCK, ND | $31,691 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
| GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $24,902 | 2026 | RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES |
BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES OF MICHIGAN
$34,600,216CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
LUTHERAN SERVICES NEW ENGLAND
$3,868,940CHILDREN SERVICES
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA
$1,845,598CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF NEBRASKA INC
$1,575,561CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
ASYLUM SERVICES; CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR KIDS & FAMILIES
$663,296CHILDREN SERVICES
RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
DIAKON CHILD FAMILY & COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
$500,427REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
$452,427CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES & EDUCATION
$414,913REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
ST FERDINAND OUTREACH CENTER
$238,864REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON
$135,024CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
YOUNG WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
$69,506CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
BISMARCK GLOBAL NEIGHBORS
$31,691RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION SERVICES