Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry 
The information on this page was last updated 5/17/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Metro Lutheran Ministry offers emergency food and housing assistance to homeless and needy families
Contact information
Mailing address:
Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry
3031 Holmes Street
Kansas City, MO 64109
Website: mlmkc.org
Phone: (816) 931-0027
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 430970991
CEO/President: Scott Cooper
Chairman: Philip Kernen
Board size: 12
Founder:
Ruling year: 1975
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
To be a community that acts justly, loves mercy and walks humbly with God. (Inspired by Micah 6:8)
Mission statement
With dignity and respect, Metro Lutheran Ministry helps families and individuals break the cycle of poverty, supporting them in achieving housing and personal stability, food security, and self-sufficiency.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 5/29/2026 | Reformation Bible College Receives 'Withhold Giving' Donor Confidence Score |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 135 of 1420 | 15 of 159 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 281 of 1420 | 21 of 159 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 208 of 1420 | 20 of 159 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 445 of 1421 | 46 of 159 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $5,482,887 in government grants in 2024.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 97% | 98% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 10% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 91% | 91% | 94% | 88% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 88% | 90% | 92% | 85% | 76% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 80% | 82% | 87% | 75% | 60% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 12% | 10% | 8% | 15% | 24% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 16% | 40% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 9% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 1.01 | 1.11 | 1.71 | 0.83 | 1.24 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.07 | 1.38 | 1.66 | 1.36 | 1.49 | 1.66 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.05 | 1.40 | 1.84 | 2.32 | 1.24 | 2.06 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.24 | 33.54 | 57.39 | 38.67 | 30.02 | 23.29 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.18 | 8.34 | 6.41 | 5.03 | 9.35 | 5.57 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 8% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 97% | 89% | 57% | 111% | 78% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $5,244,720 | $4,019,706 | $3,374,434 | $2,323,965 | $1,403,929 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $938,448 | $303,817 | $1,237,943 | $465,502 | $707,318 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $6,183,168 | $4,323,523 | $4,612,377 | $2,789,467 | $2,111,247 |
| Long-term investments | $1,119,985 | $1,915,228 | $668,154 | $300,852 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $962,991 | $683,583 | $750,181 | $854,277 | $1,169,590 |
| Other long-term assets | $262,021 | $244,899 | $219,763 | $224,072 | $224,159 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,344,997 | $2,843,710 | $1,638,098 | $1,379,201 | $1,393,749 |
| Total assets | $8,528,165 | $7,167,233 | $6,250,475 | $4,168,668 | $3,504,996 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $184,364 | $75,337 | $119,260 | $92,924 | $90,641 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $184,364 | $75,337 | $119,260 | $92,924 | $90,641 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $221,200 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $221,200 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $184,364 | $75,337 | $119,260 | $314,124 | $90,641 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $7,585,301 | $5,633,094 | $4,613,864 | $3,630,472 | $1,256,724 |
| With donor restrictions | $758,500 | $1,458,802 | $1,517,351 | $224,072 | $2,157,631 |
| Net assets | $8,343,801 | $7,091,896 | $6,131,215 | $3,854,544 | $3,414,355 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $9,484,211 | $8,672,225 | $11,527,257 | $4,055,956 | $5,647,170 |
| Program service revenue | $31,113 | $23,955 | $55,976 | $8,261 | $34,804 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $311,107 | $168,546 | $36,365 | $23,001 | $41,303 |
| Other revenue | ($12,975) | ($31,877) | ($26,393) | ($4,703) | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $329,245 | $160,624 | $65,948 | $26,559 | $76,107 |
| Total revenue | $9,813,456 | $8,832,849 | $11,593,205 | $4,082,515 | $5,723,277 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $7,840,194 | $7,255,223 | $10,105,050 | $3,047,889 | $3,444,017 |
| Management and general | $495,055 | $424,539 | $415,502 | $314,484 | $615,826 |
| Fundraising | $294,823 | $269,063 | $196,609 | $98,247 | $295,706 |
| Total expenses | $8,630,072 | $7,948,825 | $10,717,161 | $3,460,620 | $4,355,549 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,183,384 | $884,024 | $876,044 | $621,895 | $1,367,728 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,183,384 | $884,024 | $876,044 | $621,895 | $1,367,728 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Scott Cooper | Executive Director | $199,366 |
| Becky Poitras | VP/Asst. Executive Director | $127,917 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 5/17/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Roots of the Kansas City Metro Lutheran Ministry can be traced to the 1960s. Pastors and lay member of the (then) Lutheran Church of America (LCA) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in metropolitan Kansas City began to explore how their churches could serve and support mission work in a changing urban climate.
After several years of discernment and planning, the Kansas City Metro Lutheran Ministry became a reality on December 5, 1971 with the primary purpose to serve Jesus Christ more effectively in the metropolitan area. Dr. Walter Kloetzli, former director of the Lutheran Church-USA, Department of Urban Planning was the first Council President. Luther Johnson became the first Executive Director.
Local congregations continued to join in the efforts until a total of 48 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Lutheran churches are partners of MLM today. MLM serves clients from community assistance center locations in Jackson, and Clay Counties, Missouri, and Wyandotte County, Kansas.