Lutheran Services Florida

What it reported doing in 2024

Head start and early head start services are vital to children and families across Florida, as they provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning and development. These programs offer high-quality early childhood education during the first five years of a child's life, a critical period for growth that helps break the cycle of poverty and places children on a path toward long-term success. Through a comprehensive, family-centered approach, head start ensures that children are not only academically prepared but also emotionally and socially supported, currently serving 2,538 head start children and 798 early head start children across 238 classrooms statewide. In addition to educational services, head start plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity by providing healthy meals and snacks that promote proper nutrition and reduce financial strain on families. During the past year, head start and early head start programs provided 862,117 meals to enrolled children. Additionally, the child care food program supported childcare facilities by providing 2,240,785 meals, ensuring that children across the state have access to nutritious food essential for healthy growth and school readiness. Overall, head start services are instrumental in leveling the educational playing field, fostering family stability, and enhancing the overall well-being of children and families throughout Florida.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96.1%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 97%; rating input score 97
• Fundraising efficiency: $649.43 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 89.5%; rating input score 89; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.4%; rating input score 99; 40th 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; 77th 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: 0.9%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.3; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.74; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.8%; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.9% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.8% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings