BBB Wise Giving Report for
Lutheran World Relief

BBB Wise Giving Report issued October 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires October 2012


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: 410-230-2700
Web Address: www.lwr.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1945, New York
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "to end poverty, injustice and human suffering."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

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

               

LWR reports working 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.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, LWR's program expenses were:

  
International programs, relief and development 30,805,188
Faith in action 2,498,208
Organizational effectiveness 2,510
Total Program Expenses: $33,305,906
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : John Arthur Nunes, President & CEO
Compensation*:
 $196,842

Chair of the Board: Reverend Richard A. Nelson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Senior Pastor

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size: 117

*October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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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 $28,686,203, 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, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Inventories of donated materials for distribution 10,782,813
Contributions 9,414,467
Church body support 5,166,210
Foundation grants 3,687,380
Relief and other programs 1,872,596
Bequests 1,504,287
Combined Federal Campaign 634,994
Foods Resource Bank 579,202
Action by Churches Together 148,614
Ocean freight reimbursement 61,850
Miscellaneous 29,118
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 1,815
Total Income $33,883,346


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 91%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $33,883,346
  Program expenses $33,305,906
  Fund raising expenses 1,122,476
  Administrative expenses 2,112,161
 
Total expenses   $36,540,543
Expenses in Excess of Income   (2,657,197)
Beginning net assets   39,559,032
Other Changes in Net Assets 1,094,021
Ending net assets   37,995,856
Total liabilities   3,891,196
Total assets   $41,887,052

Note 1: According to LWR, for the year ended September 30, 2009, the organization received in-kind income in the amount of $11,183,663 which consisted of quilts, health kits, layettes, and sewing kits.
Note 2: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to an investment return net of amounts designated for current operations.

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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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