Is Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service Legit?
Quick charity verification for Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service (EIN: 132574854)
Verdict: Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service appears trustworthy
92/100Mission Score
$304.3MRevenue
$111.9MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported on 990s for a large organization, which may indicate a reporting anomaly or a highly unusual compensation structure that needs clarification.
Strengths
Exceptional revenue growth, demonstrating strong support and capacity to scale operations (e.g., from $63M in 2020 to $232M in 2023).
Strong program spending efficiency, with an estimated 90% of expenses directed towards mission-related activities.
Healthy and growing asset base, providing financial stability and capacity for future operations (assets grew from $34M in 2020 to $107M in 2023).
Consistent positive net income (revenue exceeding expenses) in recent years, indicating financial sustainability (e.g., $2.6M surplus in 2023, $20.7M surplus in 2022).
Spending Breakdown
How Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
7%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
3%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service
Is Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service (EIN: 132574854) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service a good charity to donate to?
Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $304.3M. Assets: $111.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service is 132574854. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service spend its money?
Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service allocates 90% to programs, 7% to administration, and 3% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service's tax-exempt status using EIN 132574854 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service (LIRS) demonstrates robust financial health and significant growth over the past several years. Their revenue has surged dramatically, from $63 million in 2020 to over $232 million in 2023, indicating strong donor support and/or increased grant funding. The organization consistently spends a high proportion of its expenses on program services, as evidenced by the efficient spending ratios. For instance, in 2023, with expenses of $230,219,977, a substantial majority would be directed towards their mission, reflecting good spending efficiency.
LIRS maintains a healthy asset base, growing from $34 million in 2020 to $107 million in 2023, which provides financial stability. Their liabilities are manageable relative to their assets, suggesting responsible financial management. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is a notable point regarding transparency and executive pay, though it's important to verify if this means no compensation or if it's reported differently on the 990. Overall, LIRS appears to be a financially sound and efficiently run organization, effectively scaling its operations to meet its mission.