Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Inc Dba Global Refuge
Overview
Mission
Witnessing to god's love for all people, we stand with and advocate for migrants and refugees, transforming communities through ministries of service and justice.
What it reported doing in 2024
Other program services: lirs services travel loans issued by the international organization of migration to transport lirs-sponsored refugees from their original location to their resettlement location in the united states. Collections from these non-interest bearing loans are, in part, used to offset loan servicing expenses of lirs, with 75% of the collections returned to the international organization of migration to replenish the loan fund, which finances transportation for resettlement of future refugees.lirs North Dakota (global refuge nd) state programs refugee support services program (rss): ): rss program delivered comprehensive case management and community connector services to refugees and other office of refugee resettlement (orr) populations in North Dakota. Through community connectors, participants received tailored support in key areas such as family support and integration services, access to health services, school navigation and educational support, and community orientation workshops. These services were designed to promote successful resettlement, foster community integration, and support the long-term well-being of refugee individuals and families. Global refuge nd served 869 rss clients in 2024refuge cash assistance (rca) program: : rca program provided monthly cash assistance to refugees and other orr-eligible populations to help meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and transportation. In addition, supported individuals in achieving self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on welfare services through case management, english language training, and employment referrals. Global refuge nd served 325 rca clients in 2024.services for older refugees (sor): the sor program provided support to eligible refugees aged 60 and older, ensuring they had access to appropriate aging-related services. Sor offerings included case management, transportation, interpretation, referrals to supportive services, connection to community resources, volunteer engagement, social activities, and citizenship and naturalization preparation for eligible refugee elders. The program also aimed to deliver services not otherwise available in the community. Overall, sor services promoted physical and emotional well-being, supported integration into new communities, and encouraged independent living. Global refuge nd served 23 sor clients in 2024. Refugee youth mentoring program (ymp): the ymp program addressed the needs of refugee youth and young adults, ages 15-24, by promoting their civic and social engagement through mentoring. The program recruited, screened and trained mentors to support newcomer youth. Global refuge nd connected 6 youth with mentors in 2024.refugee health promotion: the program provided refugee health navigation services to refugees and other orr-eligible populations in North Dakota. Key services included coordinating refugee medical screenings, facilitating timely communication among state agencies, medical providers, and resettlement staff, offering guidance on health care coverage options, and supporting access to essential medical services. Additionally, the program worked to eliminate transportation barriers for both initial screenings and follow-up medical appointments. Global refuge nd assisted 51 clients through health promotion in 2024. Refugee agricultural partnership program (rapp): the rapp supported refugees and other orr-eligible populations in improving their livelihoods and achieving economic self-sufficiency by increasing their knowledge and skills in agriculture, food systems, nutrition, and access to farmers markets. Global refuge nd served 21 rapp clients in 2024. Employer engagement program (eep): through the eep, global refuge nd strengthened collaboration with employers to support the integration and self-sufficiency of refugees and other orr-eligible populations within the resettlement community. Global refuge nd established formal partnerships with employers to develop training curricula,
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Grant-funded. 96% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
- Distribution model
- Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 76% of its reported program spending out as grants.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 132574854
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2013–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024
- Headquarters
- Baltimore, MD, USA
- Phone
- 4102300700
- Rating
- 85
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Affiliation
- Christianity
The verdict
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 92
- Transparency & Controls: 72
- Accountability: 100
- Sustainability: 34
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 92.7%; rating input score 93
- Program expense ratio: 93.3%; rating input score 93
- Fundraising efficiency: $84.62 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 28th percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
- Compensation committee: Missing
- Independent consultant: Pass
- Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
- Written employment contract: Missing
- Compensation survey or study: Pass
- Board or committee approval: Pass
- Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
- Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
- Requires narrative reports: Fail
- Conducts field audits: Fail
- May suspend future funding: Fail
- Requires financial reports: Pass
- Conducts site visits: Fail
- Requires grant agreements: Fail
- May require repayment: Fail
- Grant itemization coverage: 98.9%; rating input score 99; 36th percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
- Related-party transparency: Limited
Accountability
- Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
- Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
- Whistleblower policy: Pass
- Document-retention policy: Pass
- CEO compensation review process: Pass
- Other executive compensation review process: Pass
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
- Audit committee oversight: Pass
- Independent financial-statement audit: Pass
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 0.7%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.4; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 1%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 19.2% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 18.6% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 18.4% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 92.7% of revenue deployed · 93.3% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 16 of 16 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $281.9M in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $750K · 25 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
- Consistency: 38 of 39 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
- Schedules: 11 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
- Filing history: 10 annual filings from 2013 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 59 filed money-flow records
- Related organizations: 53 filed related-organization links
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
- Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.
Leadership & pay
25 people listed
Highest reported compensation
- KRISH O'MARA VIGNARAJAH (CEO): $749,749 total reported compensation
- LEE WILLIAMS (VICE PRES PROGRAMS): $408,713 total reported compensation
- F ANDREW PEPITO (CFO): $384,439 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.