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Lutheran World Relief
Lutheran World Relief reported $71.7 million in revenue and $49.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.59 went to program services, $4.28 to management and general costs and $18.13 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.3% of the total. Government grants made up 16.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $602,578 (PRESIDENT & CEO). Revenue rose 38% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $50MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $72MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.6% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 18.1% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.3% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 16.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $602,578 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.21% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.7 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEmergencies and material resources: Lutheran World Relief responds to natural disasters and conflict-driven emergencies, especially those that affect the world's poorest communities and work with vulnerable communities to help them rebuild after disaster strikes and prepare for future disasters.during the year, we engaged in emergency response and the distribution of mission quilts, school supply kits and baby care kits
Food security/agriculture: Lutheran World Relief works with poor, rural communities around the world to help farmers improve their crops, learn new techniques and tools to increase their yield and attract buyers who will pay more for their products, help rural communities develop productive, resilient and stable economies through an enterprise-based approach that engages the private sector at multiple levels to create profitable partnerships that benefit families and promote rural livelihoods. Lutheran World Relief also helps communities protect their agricultural assets in the face of…
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Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 2.0 hrs/week | $0 | $562,570 | $40,008 | $602,578 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 2.0 hrs/week | $0 | $367,803 | $56,291 | $424,094 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR/IHSD COP Highest compensated employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $337,921 | $41,922 | $379,843 |
| VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS RESOURCES Key employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $265,720 | $49,156 | $314,876 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER Key employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $271,020 | $33,466 | $304,486 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $259,150 | $42,754 | $301,904 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE Key employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $241,110 | $46,941 | $288,051 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR, MIHR Highest compensated employee, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $230,126 | $40,118 | $270,244 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lutheran World Relief (Part VII, line 2).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 50
- Volunteers Part I, line 615
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MIDWEST WAREHOUSE INC Warehouse storage | $638,712 |
| CDRCREATIVE DIRECT RESPONSE INC Marketing | $544,638 |
| RPX CONSULTING GROUP INC Consulting | $459,467 |
| BRETHREN SERVICE CENTER Warehouse storage | $447,930 |
| SOUTHWEST PUBLISHING & MAILING CORP Marketing | $315,656 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
62 private foundations reported grants to Lutheran World Relief totaling $2.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Lutheran World Relief's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Lutheran World Relief, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Lutheran World Relief spent in FY2025, $77.59 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Institute in TaiwanArlington, VA · revenue $70M · programs 77.5% · FY2025
- Good Neighbors Global Partnership CenterTustin, CA · revenue $72M · programs 96.8% · 2025
- CnfaWashington, DC · revenue $70M · programs 82.4% · 2024
- The American School Foundation AcMexico, · revenue $73M · programs 66.1% · FY2025
- Atlantic Council of the United StatesWashington, DC · revenue $70M · programs 83.4% · 2024
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of Lutheran World Relief's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Lutheran World Relief reported that 77.6% of its $49.7 million in expenses went to program services, 4.3% to management and general and 18.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lutheran World Relief pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lutheran World Relief reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $602,578, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lutheran World Relief get its money?
Of $71.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 97.3% came from contributions and grants (including 16.1% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lutheran World Relief a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-2574963 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202612309349302426 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502659349300965 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023 (amended), object 202432359349301418 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202320899349300432 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202230839349301523 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202100649349301750 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-2574963: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.