Lutheran Social Service of MN

What Lutheran Social Service of MN does

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) is the largest statewide non-profit social service organization in Minnesota, founded in 1865 and headquartered at 2485 Como Avenue in Saint Paul. The organization employs approximately 2,300 people and serves roughly one in every 63 Minnesotans through a comprehensive, vertically integrated portfolio of services spanning behavioral health, housing and shelter, family support and foster care/adoption, older-adult services, disability services, youth homelessness, refugee resettlement, military and veteran programs, and financial/employment counseling. Service delivery is organized through direct staffing across a multi-region footprint (Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, Willmar, Virginia, Alexandria, Fergus Falls), two multi-service hubs (Center for Changing Lives Minneapolis and Duluth), owned affordable housing properties managed in partnership with Halvorson and Blaiser Group, and proprietary programs including Camp Knutson, LSS Meals, Freedom School Minneapolis, NuVantage Employee Assistance Program, and the Host Homes model (which LSS pioneered in Minnesota).

The underlying technology and platform are not documented in the source material, and there are no disclosed AI/ML, SDK, or API capabilities; the operating model is service-delivery and case-management intensive rather than software-defined. Sub-brands include Camp Knutson, NuVantage, Empower What's Possible, LSS Meals, CORE (for Veterans), and Freedom School Minneapolis. Revenue mechanics are typical of large U.S. human-services non-profits: government contracts (including housing support, behavioral health reimbursements, and refugee resettlement), foundation grants (e.g., 2024 ECMC Foundation grant), individual and congregational donations, fees-for-service (notably behavioral health and NuVantage EAP), and income from owned affordable housing assets. Strategic partnerships — Minnesota Heading Home, MN Housing, AmeriCorps Seniors, and church networks — underpin referral pipelines and credentialed provider status. The organization publishes annual reports and consolidated financial statements (most recent in 2025) and was named a Star Tribune Top Workplace Minnesota in 2026.

Name

Lutheran Social Service of MN

Legal name

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Website

https://lssmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is the largest statewide non-profit social service organization in Minnesota, employing about 2,300 people and delivering behavioral health, housing, family, disability, older-adult, youth, refugee, and veteran services across a multi-region footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Social services
• Behavioral health
• Homeless services
• Foster care
• Affordable housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Paul

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) is a statewide nonprofit social services organization delivering a comprehensive continuum of care across behavioral health, housing and homelessness, family support, older adult services, disability services, youth services, refugee resettlement, and veteran programs. Services are delivered directly through LSS staff, program locations, and dedicated facilities including youth shelters, affordable housing properties, crisis nurseries, the Center for Changing Lives campuses, and Camp Knutson. The organization operates under contract and fee-for-service arrangements with government agencies, partner employers, and community-based referral networks across Minnesota.

Product overview

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota operates as a comprehensive social services organization offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The organization provides a broad continuum of care spanning behavioral health services, housing assistance, family support, older adult services, youth services, refugee resettlement, and employment services. Core programs include Behavioral Health Services with therapy and psychiatric assessments, Housing & Assistance Services offering affordable housing properties and rental assistance, Youth Homelessness Services with shelters and transitional housing across multiple regions, and People with Identified Needs Services providing residential and community supports for individuals with disabilities. The organization also operates Camp Knutson for recreational therapy, the Center for Changing Lives facilities in Minneapolis and Duluth, and the Host Homes program which pioneered this care model in Minnesota. Services are delivered through a coordinated entry system and case management approach, with operations spanning the entire state of Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Knutson: Camps, retreats, and event centers operated by LSS for youth and families
• NuVantage
• Empower What's Possible
• LSS Meals
• CORE (for Veterans)
• Freedom School Minneapolis

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Mental health therapy, psychiatric assessments, children's therapeutic services, early childhood behavioral health, group services, intensive in-home treatment, and military/veteran behavioral health support delivered to individuals of all ages across Minnesota.
• Housing and Assistance Services Affordable housing properties (Courtyard Townhomes, Park Avenue Apartments, Rolling Hills Apartments), supportive housing, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, rental assistance, eviction prevention, and energy assistance for adults, families, and veterans experiencing housing instability.
• Families Services Adoption and pregnancy services, crisis nurseries, foster care, kinship family support, early learning centers, financial counseling, housing assistance, and parenting education and support for Minnesota families.
• Older Adults Services Caregiver support and respite, companion services, LSS Meals, guardianship options, personal finances and estate planning, pooled trust services, and the LSS Home Matching Service for older adults seeking to remain independent.
• People with Identified Needs Services Residential and community services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including host homes, tech homes, customized community supports, intensive community residential services, financial and legal services, care coordination, camp programs, and employment services.
• Youth and Young Adults Services Education and groups, foster youth transitions, school success programs, healthy youth development, anti-trafficking services, youth camps, and financial counseling for youth and young adults.
• Youth Homelessness Services Coordinated entry, street outreach, youth shelters, transitional housing programs, host homes for youth, resource centers, and safe harbor anti-trafficking services across multiple Minnesota regions.
• Military and Veteran Services CORE supportive housing program, caregiver support and respite, financial counseling, housing assistance, behavioral health services, and LSS Meals for veterans and military families.
• Refugee Services Refugee resettlement services including employment assistance, legal services, and community integration programs through the Circle of Welcome initiative for refugees and asylees resettling in Minnesota.
• Financial and Employment Services Financial counseling, employment services for people with identified needs, career development, energy assistance, and the NuVantage Employee Assistance Program.
• Camp Knutson Camps, retreats, and event centers providing recreational and therapeutic camp experiences for individuals with disabilities and their families, as well as retreat facilities for groups and organizations.
• Host Homes A program where host families open their homes to people with disabilities as they gain independence and live more fully in the community. LSS was the first organization to bring this model to Minnesota.
• LSS Meals Meal services for seniors including community dining centers, meals on wheels delivery, and meals to go options with locations across Minnesota.
• NuVantage Employee Assistance Program Employee assistance program providing counseling, wellness resources, and support services to employees of partner organizations.
• Center for Changing Lives Minneapolis Multi-service center providing family services including adoption, foster care, financial counseling, and housing assistance in a centralized Minneapolis location.
• Center for Changing Lives Duluth Youth services hub opened in 2017 bringing all LSS youth services in Duluth under one roof to improve accessibility and service synergies, including youth shelter, transitional housing, and family support services.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Minnesota Heading HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS collaborates with Minnesota Heading Home to end homelessness for Veterans through the LSS CORE program, providing supportive housing with rent subsidies and case management services in the Twin Cities metro area
• Halvorson and Blaiser GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for LSS-owned affordable housing including Park Avenue Apartments and Courtyard Townhomes in Minneapolis, as well as Rolling Hills affordable housing
• MN Housing (Minnesota Housing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS is an approved provider of housing support services by MN Housing, providing family support services and compliance assistance for affordable housing developers serving long-term homeless households
• AmeriCorps SeniorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AmeriCorps Seniors for the Senior Companion Services program, providing volunteer companions to support older adults in Minnesota and North Dakota
• Center for Changing Lives PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious partners supporting the Center for Changing Lives Duluth, opened in 2017 to bring all LSS youth services under one roof and improve accessibility

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of Minnesota: Faith-based statewide social services organization operating in the same Minnesota geography with overlapping services including housing, behavioral health, refugee resettlement, and family support. Most direct comparable given parallel faith-based mission and service mix.
• Salvation Army Northern Division: Faith-based social services nonprofit operating across Minnesota with comparable programs in housing, emergency assistance, behavioral health, and youth services. Similar funding model (donations, government contracts, thrift-store revenue).
• Volunteers of America Minnesota: Faith-affiliated social services organization with significant Minnesota presence offering housing, behavioral health, veterans services, and youth programs. Directly competes for the same government contracts and donor dollars in overlapping service categories.
• Pillsbury United Communities: Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing social services, behavioral health, housing support, and youth programming across the Twin Cities. Direct overlap with LSS's urban service portfolio and client populations.
• Amherst H. Wilder Foundation: Saint Paul-based nonprofit offering mental health, housing, aging services, and community programming in Minnesota. Direct geographic and service-line overlap, including shared Saint Paul operational footprint.
• East Side Neighborhood Services: Minneapolis-based social services nonprofit serving similar populations with comparable programs in family support, youth services, housing, and senior services in overlapping Twin Cities geographies.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Minnesota: Larger, broader-scope community impact organization that funnels donor dollars to many of the same social service providers LSS operates. Acts as both a competitor for fundraising dollars and a potential funding intermediary.
• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities: Large community-services nonprofit with broad programming in youth development, family services, and senior wellness that overlaps with several LSS service lines, particularly youth and older-adult programming.

Emerging players

• Hearth Connection: Minnesota-focused supportive housing organization. Direct overlap with LSS's housing and assistance service line, particularly supportive housing for vulnerable populations across the state.
• Habitat for Humanity Minnesota: Housing-focused nonprofit active across Minnesota that overlaps with LSS's affordable housing and homeownership support services. Operates in adjacent rather than identical service niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LSSofMN
• Facebookfacebook.com/lssmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lssofmn
• Instagraminstagram.com/lssofmn
• Xx.com/LSSofMN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lutheran Social Service of MN