Concordia Lutheran Ministries

What it reported doing in 2024

Concordia Hospice of Washington (CHOW) is a hospice agency in Washington, Pennsylvania that is dedicated to providing end-of-life quality, compassionate care for patients and their families in our communities who are facing a terminal illness. An interdisciplinary team comprised of volunteers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and medical directors provide individualized care plans that adhere to federal regulations while striving to improve the overall quality of life of those on their end-of-life journey. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, CHOW provided care to 295 patients and their families in their homes over a total of 22,030 days of care in the community. Understanding the difficulty of making the decision to elect hospice, CHOW provides the necessary clinical education and spiritual and emotional support through the CHOW Reflection of Care to help families make an informed decision. Concordia Hospice of Washington (CHOW) works in tandem with home health agencies and hospital systems to create a comprehensive palliative care program. This program focuses on providing compassionate transitions from nursing care to hospice care as illnesses and conditions progress. The organization has a team of hospice doctors and nurses that are up to date on the latest medications for pain and symptom management. Additionally, CHOW recognizes that emotional and spiritual pain is just as real as physical pain and therefore provides clergy and counselors to help patients and families cope with these issues. Bereavement counseling is also offered to both families of those receiving hospice care and those who have not received our services. CHOW is dedicated to providing quality hospice care regardless of whether a patient has health insurance or not. In cases where a patient is uninsured, CHOW takes on the cost and in cases where the patient is insured but has a significant amount of co-pays, CHOW is willing to write off these sums. Over the 2025 fiscal year, we have provided $1,126 worth of benevolent care. CHOW utilizes volunteers to go wherever the client calls their home; that could be a nursing facility, their house, or inpatient unit. These volunteers assist with various tasks and activities throughout the fiscal year. Over the course of this past fiscal year, the volunteers at Concordia Hospice of Washington have provided 706 hours of service with a dollar value of $22,790. This is consistent with the prior fiscal year and a value of $25,017 the prior year. CHOW has targeted specific volunteer needs like companionship, playing music, pet therapy, spiritual support, beautician needs and various other specific needs. Many volunteers donate their sewing and craft making skills to provide items of comfort to patients and families by creating prayer shawls, blankets, lap quilts and rosaries. Volunteers also assist with office functions such as filing, organizing, creating admission packets, processing mail, creating thank you baskets for clinicians, and making condolence calls to those who have lost a loved one. The agency provides education in the local community by discussing hospice care as it relates to a terminal disease. Volunteers help us with marketing and recruiting other volunteers. They help us when we go to health-related functions in the community and are available to discuss hospice services and volunteer opportunities with the public. Total donations and sponsorships made during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 were $5,282. The following organizations have received direct financial support from CHOW through sponsorships of events: South Fayette Township South Fayette Community Day, St. Clair Health Foundation Summer Swing Event Golf Event, Washington Frontier League Baseball, LLC, Washington Health System Foundation Charity Ball, Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation Black Tie for Womens Health Event. CHOW also purchased several

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.7%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 74.6%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 33.3%; rating input score 33; 7th 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: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.7%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings