Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

What Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest does

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that operates as the pan-Lutheran social service arm of both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). The organization delivers human services across four Arizona counties (Maricopa, Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz) through four core program areas: Aging & Disability Services, Family & Community Services, Refugee & Immigration Services (since 1975), and Partners in Action (advocacy, donations, and volunteering). Its portfolio spans roughly 15 service modules including home care, foster care licensing for individuals with developmental disabilities, food pantries, Family Resource Centers, women's empowerment and K-12 refugee education programs, a Refugee Youth Mentorship Program, and a Pet Care Project for older adults. Operating technology is limited to standard nonprofit SaaS: Better Impact for volunteer hour tracking and Social Solutions Portal for program intake, with no proprietary platform or AI/ML components.

Revenue is assembled from four streams: government contracts and grants from Arizona DES, ALTCS, Area Agencies on Aging, DCS, and DDD; individual, congregational, and corporate donations including a multi-year Creating Community Society giving program; fee-for-service home care at $22/hour with a two-hour minimum across Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties; and Arizona Charitable Tax Credit donations (QCO #20277). The most recently disclosed annual budget is $18 million (up from approximately $15 million in an earlier statement), funded by roughly 400 staff who deliver 382,738 home care hours and 78,377 meals to older adults per year and serve between 1,000 and 5,000 Arizonans monthly depending on measurement period and program counted. Distribution is anchored in eight physical offices supplemented by congregational, school, and community co-location partnerships, plus a Co-Sponsor Teams model that pairs small volunteer groups with refugee families for six-month commitments. The organization holds a Candid Platinum Seal 2026 and a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating, reflecting strong nonprofit governance and transparency.

Name

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

Legal name

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

Website

https://lss-sw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that delivers aging/disability home care, refugee resettlement, family resource, and foster care services across four Arizona counties through roughly 400 staff and an $18 million annual budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Refugee resettlement services
• Senior home care
• Foster care services
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Funded from public sources including contracts with Arizona Department of Economic Security, ALTCS, Area Agencies on Aging, DCS and DDD. The organization receives federal and state funding for refugee resettlement, aging services, and family services programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals, congregations, and corporations. The organization maintains a Creating Community Society with pledged giving levels of $1,000-$9,999 (STABILIZE), $10,000-$24,999 (BUILD), and $25,000+ (PRESERVE) annually for 5 years.
3. Fee-for-Service Home Care: Home care services provided at competitive rates ($22/hour) in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties. Services include personal care, housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation, and habilitation.
4. Arizona Charitable Tax Credit: Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO #20277) allowing Arizona taxpayers to claim dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations up to $506 (single) or $1,009 (married filing jointly).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a portfolio of human services across four Arizona counties, organized into Aging & Disability Services, Family & Community Services, Refugee & Immigration Services, and Partners in Action (advocacy/donations/volunteering). Service modules include in-home personal care, foster/adoption placement for individuals with developmental disabilities, food pantries, family resource centers, refugee resettlement case management, K-12 refugee education, youth mentorship, and women's empowerment programs.

Product overview

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs organized into four core service areas: Aging & Disability Services, Family & Community Services, Refugee & Immigration Services, and Partners in Action (advocacy/donations/volunteering). The organization operates multiple service modules including Home Care, Foster Care, Food Pantries, Family Resource Centers, Women's Empowerment Program, K-12 Refugee Education, and Refugee Youth Mentorship Program. Services are delivered across four Arizona counties through nearly 400 staff members serving over 1,000 people monthly, funded by public, private, and charitable sources with an annual budget of $18 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aging & Disability Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 5,000 Arizonans each month
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW is affiliated with ELCA as part of the social service arm of the wider Lutheran Church. ELCA congregations provide volunteer support, donations, and community connections.
• Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW is recognized by LCMS and is a pan-Lutheran organization serving as the social service arm of both major Lutheran denominations. LCMS congregations contribute volunteers and resources.
• First Things FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supports Family Resource Centers serving families with children birth to age five. First Things First provides funding for child and parent workshops, developmental screenings, and parenting education.
• Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW partners with DES for developmental home placement services and is funded in part under contract with the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
• Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW partners with DCS to place children and adults with developmental disabilities in suitable foster homes.
• ALTCS (Arizona Long-Term Care System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW is funded in part under contract with ALTCS for home care and aging services.
• Area Agencies on AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS-SW is funded in part under contract with Area Agencies on Aging as part of the Older Americans Act Program for senior services.
• United Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood pantry receives food truck deliveries from United Food Bank for distribution to food-insecure families.
• Cody's FriendsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pet Care Project providing pet food donations for low-income older adults receiving home care.
• Rescue BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet food donation partner supporting the Pet Care Project for Tucson-area seniors.
• Pima Council on AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pet Care Project supporting pet food delivery to homebound older adults.
• Pima Alliance for Animal WelfareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pet Care Project supporting pet food delivery to homebound older adults.
• Bonnie Kay FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pet Care Project supporting pet food delivery to homebound older adults.
• DoubleTree by Hilton TucsonminorOthersVenue partner for Building Foundations Luncheon scheduled for February 19, 2026.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles: Faith-affiliated comprehensive social services agency offering refugee resettlement, aging services, mental health, and family support. Strong service-portfolio peer but operates exclusively in the Los Angeles region, not Arizona.

Emerging players

• Bridge Refugee Services: Refugee resettlement and social services nonprofit in the Southwest (Tennessee-headquartered with regional expansion). Comparable in mission and refugee services focus; smaller scale but represents the type of regional peer LSS-SW could partner with or compete against in adjacent geographies.

Direct peers

• International Rescue Committee: Leading refugee resettlement agency operating in multiple U.S. cities. Directly comparable to LSS-SW's Refugee & Immigration Services program (case management, employment support, education, women's empowerment), and a co-funder of refugee admissions in Arizona-adjacent markets.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement and immigration services agency with offices across the U.S. Directly competes with LSS-SW for refugee resettlement contracts and offers overlapping employment support, education, and family services to newcomer populations.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based social services organization offering refugee resettlement, foster care, and family services. Directly comparable to LSS-SW's Refugee & Immigration Services and Foster Care programs, particularly around developmental home placement.
• Jewish Family & Children's Services: Arizona-based (JFCS of Southern Arizona and Greater Phoenix) faith-affiliated nonprofit offering refugee resettlement, aging services, behavioral health, and family support. Closest geographic and service-portfolio peer to LSS-SW operating in the same Arizona counties.

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Services in America: National network of 300+ Lutheran social service organizations. LSS-SW is an affiliate member; the network provides peer benchmarking, advocacy, and shared services. Most directly comparable as a federated peer operating in the same faith-based social service category.
• Catholic Charities USA (affiliated agencies): National network of faith-based social service agencies offering refugee resettlement, family services, aging services, and immigration support. Comparable to LSS-SW across virtually all program lines but at vastly larger scale; represents the dominant faith-based peer in the same service categories.
• Salvation Army Southwest Division: Faith-based social services organization operating in Arizona with overlapping services including family support, food assistance, and community programs. Comparable broad scope but generally focuses on emergency/humanitarian services rather than refugee resettlement.

Others

• Arizona Department of Economic Security contracted providers: Other community-based organizations holding DES/DDD/DCS contracts in Arizona for developmental home placement, foster care, and aging services. Indirect competitors for the same government contract pool that funds much of LSS-SW's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lsssw
• Xx.com/lssofsouthwest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lss-sw

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Services of the Southwest