Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

Name

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

Legal name

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

Website

https://lsswis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE)

Keywords

• Human social services
• Affordable housing programs
• Mental health counseling
• Child welfare services
• Refugee resettlement

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Programs: Funding from federal, state, county, and local government programs including Medicaid waivers, HUD programs, and justice system initiatives.
2. Business Partners and Philanthropic Foundations: Support from business organizations through LSS Businesses for Good program and grants from philanthropic foundations including United Way chapters.
3. Private Donors and Community Organizations: Individual donations, monthly giving programs, bequests, donor-advised funds, stock gifts, IRA charitable distributions, and support from community organizations and congregations.
4. LSS Foundation Annual Distributions: Annual distributions from the LSS Foundation provide ongoing support for programs and operations.
5. Housing Rental Income: Subsidized housing rents set at 30% of gross adjusted income for eligible residents. LSS owns and manages more than 30 subsidized communities totaling more than 425 units.
6. Client Fees and Insurance: Accepts Medicaid, Medicaid HMO, CCS, and many private health insurance plans for counseling and therapy services. Also accepts self-pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

LSS is a nonprofit social services agency that delivers community-based programs across five service domains: Housing Services, Children & Families Services, Mental Health & Substance Use, Connections to Community Resources, and Skills for Life & Work. Its offerings include subsidized and affordable housing, rapid rehousing, refugee resettlement, foster care and adoption, outpatient counseling and therapy, adult residential substance use treatment, and self-directed long-term care. Services are funded through government contracts, foundation grants, individual and corporate donations, client fees, and housing rental income.

Product overview

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan is a social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings span five service domains: (1) Housing Services including Affordable Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Refugee Resettlement, Service Coordination, Skill Building, Veterans Housing, and Subsidized Housing; (2) Children and Families Services including Public Adoption, Foster Care, Care Coordination, Birth to Three, CLTS, CCS, Counseling and Therapies, Family Centered Treatment (FCT), and School-Centered Mental Health (SCMH); (3) Mental Health and Substance Use including Adult Residential treatment and the L.E. Phillips Center; (4) Connections to Community including LSS Connections and Make The Ride Happen transportation; and (5) Skills for Life and Work. These programs are delivered through staff-based service delivery with government funding, private donations, and foundation support, not through a software platform or digital product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LSS Businesses for Good: An exclusive community of business leaders committed to strengthening individuals, families, and communities through partnership with LSS.
• LSS Connections
• Make The Ride Happen
• Love Big
• LSS Foundation

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Subsidized and affordable housing programs delivered through Low Income Housing Tax Credit partnerships, serving families, persons with disabilities, and veterans via property development and service coordination.
• Subsidized Housing HUD subsidized housing program with over 30 communities and 425+ units providing safe, decent affordable housing for older adults and persons with developmental disabilities, chronic mental illness, or physical disabilities, with rent set at 30% of gross adjusted income.
• Rapid Rehousing Housing First Approach program providing rapid rehousing and tenant-based rental assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Wisconsin and Michigan counties, connecting people to permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety or treatment.
• Refugee Resettlement Refugee resettlement services that help legally admitted individuals and families integrate into new homes, neighborhoods, and communities through housing placement, employment support, English language learning, and community integration, operated by LSS since 1974.
• Veterans Housing (HSFV) Housing Services for Veterans Program (HSFV) at the Union Grove location providing temporary housing, training, and supportive services to homeless or at-risk military veterans across Wisconsin in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Service Coordination Service coordination program delivered in residential communities since 1989 that promotes self-sufficiency and independence for elderly residents and individuals with disabilities through partnerships with property management companies.
• Skill Building Skill-building and training services including recovery support, mental health supports, in-home recovery services, Family Partnerships Initiative, Youth Enterprise for Success, Community Supported Living, Support Broker, and Crisis Services for adults seeking independence.
• Foster Care Foster care services that provide safe homes and support for children who cannot remain with their birth families, working toward reunification or permanency in partnership with Wisconsin counties.
• Public Adoption Public adoption program partnering with the State of Wisconsin to provide adoption preparation and finalizations for children coming out of the foster care system.
• Birth to Three Early Intervention Birth to Three early intervention services for children from birth to age three with identified disabilities or developmental delays, providing family-centered support in Waukesha County.
• Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Service coordination for children with developmental disabilities, severe emotional disturbances, or physical disabilities delivered through Wisconsin Department of Health Services and county partnerships.
• Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Comprehensive Community Services array including DBT skills, motivational interviewing, service facilitation, family psychoeducation, and psychotherapy for individuals with mental health and substance use needs.
• Counseling and Therapies Outpatient behavioral health services including individual, couples, group, and family therapy; alcohol and drug assessments; trauma services; and TF-CBT, DBT, and EMDR specialized counseling, accepting Medicaid, Medicaid HMO, CCS, and many private health insurance plans and self-pay.
• Family Centered Treatment (FCT) Evidence-based, trauma-informed in-home therapy model for the entire family system, typically lasting 6-8 months and designed to keep families together in their homes; includes Family Centered Treatment-Recovery (FCT-R) combining FCT with substance use treatment best practices including Certified Peer Support Specialist services, contingency management, and random drug screens.
• School-Centered Mental Health (SCMH) School-Centered Mental Health program delivering comprehensive mental health services by utilizing schools as hubs for well-being, connecting students and families with therapists, family coaches, and community resources in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools and Marquette University.
• Care Coordination (Conditional Release/OARS) Care coordination services including the Conditional Release Program and OARS (Opening Avenues to Reentry Success) for individuals with mental health needs who are involved with the judicial system.
• Adult Residential Treatment Adult residential substance use disorder treatment program provided at the 50-bed LSS L.E. Phillips Center in Chippewa Falls, offering evidence-based treatment, peer support, and recovery planning for adult men.
• LSS L.E. Phillips Center 50-bed transitional residential treatment center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, providing substance use disorder treatment, individual and group counseling, recovery education, and life skills programming for adult men; opened in June 2026 at the site of the former Libertas facility.
• LSS Connections (IRIS Consultant Agency) LSS Connections is an IRIS Consultant Agency providing self-directed long-term care options, helping individuals plan and direct support services to reach self-directed goals for independent living.
• Make The Ride Happen Transportation services helping individuals access community resources, employment, and healthcare appointments to maintain independence, in partnership with United Way Fox Cities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% client satisfaction rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Northpointe Development II CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Development partner for Argus Apartments in Verona, WI - 60 affordable housing units with 9 designated for Permanent Supportive Housing
• Selassie DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Development partner for Argus Apartments in Verona, WI - 60 affordable housing units
• Cordon DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Development partner for Argus Apartments in Verona, WI - 60 affordable housing units
• United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Spring City Corner Clubhouse community resources program
• United Way of the Greater Chippewa ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Gaining Ground and Contingency Management programs in Chippewa Valley
• United Way Fox CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Make the Ride Happen transportation program
• United Way Dane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for Dane County services
• United Way Marquette CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Welcome Home Marquette program
• CARF InternationalcoreOthersIndependent, nonprofit accrediting body for health and human services providers; LSS received three-year accreditation for Homme Youth and Family programs
• Wisconsin Department of Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for aging services, CLTS waivers, CCS programs, and behavioral health services; QRTP certification through DCF
• Wisconsin Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to provide housing and services to veterans across Wisconsin through Housing Services For Veterans Program (HSFV) in Union Grove
• Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ADRCs across Wisconsin to provide unbiased information and resources for aging or living with a disability
• Marquette UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for MPS Success Center School-Centered Mental Health initiative with Milwaukee Public Schools
• Milwaukee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for School-Centered Mental Health (SCMH) initiative utilizing Milwaukee schools as health and wellness hubs
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS is the social ministry partner of ELCA; collaborates with over 600 ELCA congregations throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
• Lutheran Services of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that champions Lutheran social ministry; LSS is a proud member
• Herman and Kittle PropertiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing through Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs with WHEDA
• TW Sather CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing projects
• Gorman and CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing through LIHTC programs
• Commonwealth DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing through LIHTC programs
• Crown Court PropertiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing through LIHTC programs
• Astar ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Cardinal Capital ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Dominium, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• HOMZ ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• ACC Management Group, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Quality Development Corporation, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Reilly-Joseph CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Stonewood ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Wisconsin Management Company, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Commonweal Management CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management partner for service coordination program
• Impact Seven, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuality Assurance partner for service coordination program

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Faith-based multi-service social services nonprofit serving the same Milwaukee/Wisconsin region. Offers overlapping programs in adoption, refugee resettlement, behavioral health, and housing services, competing for similar government contracts and donor dollars.
• The Salvation Army of Wisconsin: Faith-affiliated social services organization providing housing, addiction recovery, and emergency assistance across Wisconsin. Overlaps directly with LSS's adult residential, rapid rehousing, and case management programs.
• Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin: Community-based nonprofit providing skills training, employment support, and housing services in Wisconsin. Comparable mission focus on independence for vulnerable populations and operates the same revenue mix of government contracts, retail, and donations.
• Bethesda Lutheran Communities: Lutheran-affiliated nonprofit providing disability services, community supported living, and residential programs across multiple states. Directly competes with LSS's CLTS, CCS, and IRIS consultant services lines.
• Volunteers of America Wisconsin: Faith-affiliated national nonprofit (VoA) operating in Wisconsin with housing, behavioral health, corrections, and veteran services. Direct peer in Housing First, veterans housing (HSFV-equivalent), and adult residential treatment.
• Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin: Regional social services nonprofit offering outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, and family services in Wisconsin. Comparable outpatient behavioral health footprint in Appleton/Green Bay region where LSS also operates.

Regional players

• Children's Wisconsin (Children's Hospital and Health System): Wisconsin-based pediatric care and child welfare organization offering foster care, mental health, and family services — directly competing with LSS in Birth to Three, child welfare, and behavioral health across the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Services of America: National umbrella organization of Lutheran social ministry agencies — LSS is a member. Comparable faith-based multi-service model and serves as a coordinating/best-practice layer across LSS and ~300 sister agencies.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies providing housing, refugee resettlement, behavioral health, and family services. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same faith-based social services space that LSS occupies at state level.

Others

• Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA): State housing finance agency that administers LIHTC allocations and partners with LSS on affordable housing developments. Functions as a financing partner/enabler rather than a competitor, but its allocation decisions directly gate LSS's housing pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LSSWis
• Xx.com/lsswis

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Wisconsin and Upper Michigan