Lutheran World Relief 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/29/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
At Lutheran World Relief, we envision a future where all people, in every corner of the world can live full, dignified lives.
Founded by Lutherans in the United States at the end of World War II, grounded in Lutheran theology and building on decades of experience, Lutheran World Relief tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to the challenges that threaten their livelihoods and well-being. We work with people based on need, regardless of race, religion or nationality and we do not evangelize.
We provide aid in emergencies and help families restore their lives. We partner with communities to build and grow rural economies. We break the cycle of poverty, so families and communities can thrive.
Our goal is to help people build selfsufficiency and create new communityowned approaches to problemsolving that will last long after our projects end.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lutheran World Relief
PO Box 17061
Baltimore , MD 21297-1061
Website: www.lwr.org
Phone: 800-597-5972
Email: lwr@lwr.org
Organization details
EIN: 132574963
CEO/President: Daniel V. Speckhard
Chairman: Jean Hanson
Board size: 15
Founder: U.S. Lutherans
Ruling year: 1945
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Empowered by God's unconditional love in Jesus Christ, we envision a world in which each person, every community and all generations live in justice, dignity and peace.
Mission statement
Affirming God's love for all people, we work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.
Statement of faith
Our Lutheran Identity:
We love, because God first loved us. Lutheran World Relief's work is a labor of love. We love, because God first loved us. God's grace calls us and sends us out into the world to help our brothers and sisters living in poverty.
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We serve our neighbor with impact and integrity. We uphold the Fifth and Seventh Commandments by working for resilient communities and just economies.
God works through human institutions. While other organizations are called to preach the gospel, our call to serve our neighbor is equally important.
All people possess dignity and self-worth. Lutheran World Relief brings aid and resources to others with the knowledge that every person we work with is holy, created in the image of God to be joyful and flourish. We realize that we need others as much as they need us. We need their experience, their knowledge, and their vision, and so we commit to walking alongside them in times of hardship rather than trying to lead or dominate.
All people have a vocation (calling). Lutherans believe that God has a calling for every human being that allows us the opportunity to better serve both God and neighbor. It is Lutheran World Relief's vocation to help people use their calling to the fullest extent.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 875 of 1022 | 67 of 85 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 581 of 1024 | 50 of 85 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 746 of 1024 | 64 of 85 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 859 of 1022 | 69 of 85 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 9% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 97% | 96% | 93% | 96% | 95% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 9% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 3% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 5% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 78% | 81% | 84% | 85% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 78% | 109% | 107% | 95% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 61% | 88% | 90% | 81% | 84% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 22% | -9% | -7% | 5% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 28% | -14% | -11% | 7% | 1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 7% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.62 | 0.75 | 1.31 | 1.09 | 0.99 | 1.15 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 1.60 | 1.37 | 1.53 | 1.26 | 1.26 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.36 | 1.20 | 1.80 | 1.66 | 1.25 | 1.45 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 3.33 | 8.46 | 7.60 | 8.31 | 8.37 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.12 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.15 | 6.99 | 5.88 | 6.27 | 8.45 | 7.30 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 26% | 24% | 31% | 25% | 18% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 51% | 99% | 58% | 64% | 75% | 71% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $16,040,788 | $3,814,875 | $4,142,085 | $10,275,352 | $6,139,400 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $10,321,667 | $7,401,505 | $8,687,294 | $8,086,931 | $8,833,545 |
| Short-term investments | $7,466,370 | $18,170,167 | $19,778,321 | $22,860,826 | $18,292,139 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $33,828,825 | $29,386,547 | $32,607,700 | $41,223,109 | $33,265,084 |
| Long-term investments | $6,620,498 | $6,462,950 | $7,411,796 | $7,097,505 | $5,056,047 |
| Fixed assets | $183,380 | $306,352 | $404,239 | $484,547 | $894,818 |
| Other long-term assets | $13,402,360 | $4,081,124 | $9,519,279 | $3,026,134 | $2,818,378 |
| Total long-term assets | $20,206,238 | $10,850,426 | $17,335,314 | $10,608,186 | $8,769,243 |
| Total assets | $54,035,063 | $40,236,973 | $49,943,014 | $51,831,295 | $42,034,327 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $4,510,843 | $3,474,688 | $4,289,850 | $4,962,440 | $3,975,002 |
| Other current liabilities | $5,633,624 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $10,144,467 | $3,474,688 | $4,289,850 | $4,962,440 | $3,975,002 |
| Debt | $3,819,072 | $1,679,026 | $1,801,979 | $1,919,934 | $2,030,387 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $4,645,661 | $9,372,652 | $6,318,381 | $1,696,532 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,819,072 | $6,324,687 | $11,174,631 | $8,238,315 | $3,726,919 |
| Total liabilities | $13,963,539 | $9,799,375 | $15,464,481 | $13,200,755 | $7,701,921 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $26,515,714 | $23,450,781 | $27,339,133 | $30,266,101 | $26,212,158 |
| With donor restrictions | $13,555,810 | $6,986,817 | $7,139,400 | $8,364,439 | $8,120,248 |
| Net assets | $40,071,524 | $30,437,598 | $34,478,533 | $38,630,540 | $34,332,406 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $50,427,370 | $46,842,067 | $46,984,589 | $51,779,744 | $46,181,220 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $383,661 | $789,053 | $1,271,701 | $987,709 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,608,940 | $891,333 | $2,688,988 | $871,575 | $1,259,714 |
| Other revenue | ($12,832) | $501,005 | $50,654 | $69,496 | $112,492 |
| Total other revenue | $1,596,108 | $1,775,999 | $3,528,695 | $2,212,772 | $2,359,915 |
| Total revenue | $52,023,478 | $48,618,066 | $50,513,284 | $53,992,516 | $48,541,135 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $31,719,178 | $42,611,542 | $45,283,002 | $43,880,351 | $40,943,034 |
| Management and general | $5,371,374 | $6,773,355 | $5,743,404 | $3,389,219 | $3,120,552 |
| Fundraising | $3,541,172 | $3,523,710 | $3,195,617 | $4,202,542 | $4,086,954 |
| Total expenses | $40,631,724 | $52,908,607 | $54,222,023 | $51,472,112 | $48,150,540 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $11,391,754 | ($4,290,541) | ($3,708,739) | $2,520,404 | $390,595 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $11,391,754 | ($4,290,541) | ($3,708,739) | $2,520,404 | $390,595 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Amb Daniel V Speckha | Officer - President & CEO | $403,535 |
| Richard Santos | Senior Advisor (former) | $246,066 |
| Timothy McCully | Officer - Exec VP Internal Rel | $243,543 |
| Joann Theys | Officer - Sr VP, Fin., CFO/Tre | $219,087 |
| James Cox | Chief Ops Officer | $215,743 |
| Mary Linehan | Sr Tech, Infectious Diseases | $200,603 |
| Michael Watt | VP Internal Operations | $188,194 |
| Edward Byrd | VP External Relate & Engag | $187,833 |
| Roberto Flores | Chief Fin. Officer | $180,894 |
| Allyson P Bear | VP International Programs | $180,211 |
| Frederick Kellett | Managing Director, Impact Inve | $179,661 |
| Dawn Butcher | Associate VP Human Resources | $168,855 |
| Shelly Talcott | Sr Dir, Trans & Sp Initiatives | $146,579 |
| Emily Sollie | Officer - Sr Dir Exec Comm | $143,188 |
| Cheri Kase | Chief Information Officer | $130,618 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2020
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/29/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
In 1945, World War II left an estimated one-fifth of the world's Lutherans homeless. Here in the United States, Lutheran churches in at least 20 states mobilized to help in Europe through a new agency called Lutheran World Relief.
Much has changed in nearly 75 years. But in thousands of congregations, in millions of offerings and in uncounted prayers, U.S. Lutherans continue to support Lutheran World Relief's work. Lutheran World Relief was there in the late 1940s, when 800,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes by the creation of the state of Israel ... in the early 1950s when Hong Kong, Korea and Bangladesh and much of Asia was mired in strife ... during the 1970s and '80s, when civil wars and drought plagued Africa.
Today, Lutheran World Relief operates in East and West Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, helping some of the world's poorest communities build the resilience they need to thrive.
Program accomplishments
Lutheran World Relief program accomplishments are:
Latin America program supports efforts in six countries:El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia.
- Small farmers' access to land and local, regional and international markets
- Agro-ecological production methods
- Disaster prevention
- Collaboration with municipal governments
- Promotion of peace and conflict resolution
- Rights based work: (social, economic, cultural and political, embracing justice, inequality and discrimination)
- Food and water security (incorporating land/water access, trade and environmental issues)
- Conflict management and resolution (including peace building and reconciliation, reducing violence and trauma counseling)
- Vulnerability reduction of marginalized affected by emergencies and are living in the Crisis Zones
- HIV/AIDS prevention (which includes behavior-change communication) and strengthening community capacity to support people living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by it
- Food security from both farm-based and off-farm activities
- Empowerment of communities and social equity for all, particularly women
Needs
LWR express the ministry's needs as follows:
- Quilts
- Layettes: used as gifts for newborns and their mothers.
- Health Kits
- School Kits
- Sewing kits
- Donations