BBB Wise Giving Report for
Lutheran World Relief

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2008
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 2010


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Lutheran World Relief
Address: 700 Light Street
  Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 800-597-5972
410-230-2700
Web Address: www.lwr.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1945, New York
Affiliates: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Stated Purpose: "To help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods and recover from disasters."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

LWR works through partners and global relief and development networks in 35 countries to provide relief for and combat the causes of poverty. The organization advocates for fair trade to enable farming families to earn a better income. LWR also works with individuals to teach them to better care for themselves, their communities and the environment as well as how to be less vulnerable in the case of a natural disaster. In 2007, LWR distributed more than $14 million worth of material resource donations to countries around the world, including quilts, kits, layettes and soap.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, LWR's program expenses were:

  
International programs, relief and development 30,047,533
Faith in Action (education & public policy) 1,914,735
Organizational effectiveness 179,785
Total Program Expenses: $32,142,053
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : John Arthur Nunes, President and CEO
Compensation*:
 $47,468

Highest Paid Executive: Jeffery Whisenant,Vice President, Finance & Administration
Compensation*: $164,656

Chair of the Board: Kirk Howard Betts
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney

Board Size: 13

Paid Staff Size: 95

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Both John Nunes and Katherine Wolford held the position of President of LWR for the October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007 fiscal year. Former President Kathryn Wolford received $29,074 in compensation between October 1, 2006 – November 30, 2006. Current President John Nunes recieved $47,468 in compensation between July 1 - September 30, 2007. Additionally, Jeffery Whisenant served as Acting President between December 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. His total compensation for the October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007 fiscal year, during which time he also served as Vice President of Finance and Administration, was $164,656.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving
Fund raising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $26,261,342, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on LWR's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

Source of Funds  
In-kind donations 12,670,914
Contributions 8,508,783
Church body support 5,996,324
U.S. Government grants 3,332,477
Bequests 797,182
Combined Federal Campaign 459,668
Foods Resource Bank 367,389
Grants from foundations 99,929
Miscellaneous 66,696
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 25,000
Action by Churches Together 21,797
Total Income $32,346,159


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 92%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 5% 

Total income   $32,346,159
  Program expenses $32,142,053
  Fund raising expenses 1,063,871
  Administrative expenses 1,830,398
 
Total expenses   $35,036,322
Expenses in Excess of Income   (2,690,163)
Beginning net assets   42,236,433
Other Changes in Net Assets 2,843,713
Ending net assets   42,389,983
Total liabilities   4,344,840
Total assets   $46,734,823

Note: In the above financial section, other changes in net assets represents $3,137,401 in an investment return and ($293,688) in a loss on early retirement of debt.

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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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