Lutheran Social Services of New York

What it reported doing in 2024

Lutheran social services of New York (lssny) aims to create vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities where everyone is valued and can achieve their full potential. It does this by transforming communities through collaborations with individuals, families, and leaders to dismantle the causes and effects of persistent poverty and social injustice. With five key program areas: early childhood education/child care, housing, immigration, foster care/family support, and food security, lssny now is one of New York city's leading social service agencies reaching 7,000 people every day.the enhanced family foster care program out performed several other foster care agencies at 97%, which is well above the nyc average in the domains of permanency and safety. The roc (restoring our communities family enrichment center), a new program outreached to four underserved communities in the south bronx providing school supplies, social, recreational, and parenting supports. The new life clinic doubled the number of physical exams and clinical assessments for children in foster care and is developing a whole child health model. The early life family child care network program participated with yale university to train its providers in the yale child initiative child (climate of healthy interactions for learning & development) represents a targeted investment in practice-level quality improvement.- 50 providers completed an 8-week coaching model.- focus areas included:- smooth and predictable transitions- social-emotional development- language-rich environments- strengthened adult-child interactionsagencywide implementation of the sanctuary model is in process with 87% of the staff trained. The training has also been given in spanish language to support the needs of staff. The sanctuary model is an organizational framework that helps organizations create trauma-informed, safe, and emotionally intelligent environments. Its implementation involves adopting shared practices, language, and leadership approaches that promote safety, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and collaborative problem-solving across the entire organization.our residential programs provide emergency and supportive housing for vulnerable individuals and families in the bronx, brooklyn, and queens. We delivered case management, crisis intervention, life skills training, and referral services to promote stability and independence. We maintained high-quality operations through staff development, compliance monitoring, and strong community partnerships, while helping residents achieve goals related to housing stability, wellness, employment, education, and community integration. We also received a department of homeless services commissioner's commendation for successfully transitioning an emergency family shelter to an adult men's shelter within 72 hours.our immigration legal services program provided immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families seeking safety, stability, and lawful immigration status. We assisted clients with applications for citizenship, permanent residency, family reunification, employment authorization, asylum, and humanitarian relief. Offered legal consultations, case management, advocacy, and referrals to support immigrants navigating complex legal processes. Promoted access to justice by delivering culturally responsive and trauma-informed legal services to underserved populations.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.3%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 89%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $1,745.39 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th 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: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -2.6%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.66; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.2; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.4%; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.8% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.8% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings