Lutheran Family Services

What Lutheran Family Services does

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. (LFS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1892 and headquartered at the Coyner and Donna Smith Center in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the largest human care organization in Nebraska and Western Iowa, operating 40+ programs across four service lines: behavioral health (mental health, substance use disorder treatment, ACT teams, CCBHC, Spravato, FEP, crisis response, Veterans Services, Older Adult Services); children, teens, and family services (foster care, adoption, pregnancy counseling, Parents as Teachers, Family Centered Treatment®, Wendy's Wonderful Kids); refugee and immigrant services (Program for Initial Resettlement, Preferred Communities, immigration legal services, employment and education services, Global Roots); and supportive housing, including Dana Village on the former Dana College campus and Josiah Place for severe and persistent mental illness. The organization serves 20,000+ clients annually through a network of 9+ physical offices in Nebraska and Western Iowa, supplemented by telehealth, mobile therapy vans deploying in 2026, ACT in-community visits within a 75-mile radius of Fremont, and digital intake (text, call, online forms). LFS holds a CCBHC designation from Nebraska DHHS (September 2025), COA accreditation, HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 compliance, and integrates with Health Information Exchanges; it also runs the Smart Gen Society digital safety program following its June 2025 integration.

LFS's business model is a hybrid nonprofit model: revenue is generated from Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurance reimbursement, and HSAs for clinical services; from a sliding-fee self-pay scale for uninsured/underinsured clients; from individual donations (monthly Sustained Giving, one-time gifts, Gift of Grain, planned giving via the 1892 Legacy Society, in-kind donations); from corporate sponsorships and partnerships (Corporate Impact Partners, Golf Tournament with tiers from $500 to $10,000, Raise for LFS gala); and from state and federal grants (including a $2M Nebraska state grant for Dana Village gym renovation and emergency relief distributions such as the $595K Lexington Emergency Fund Phase 1). Pricing is not posted publicly; cost varies by service, insurance coverage, and household income under the sliding-fee scale. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer for clinical and refugee services, with an enterprise-facing employer partnership channel that runs multi-employer job fairs (16+ employers at recent events) placing refugee and immigrant candidates into roles at Fiserv, FedEx, Quality Pork International, Conagra, and others. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors led by Chair Andrea "Annie" K. Adams (Olsson) and Treasurer Tiffany Henn (FNBO), with executive leadership under President & CEO Chris Tonniges.

Name

Lutheran Family Services

Legal name

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.

Website

https://onelfs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lutheran Family Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1892 and the largest human care organization in Nebraska and Western Iowa, serving 20,000+ clients annually across behavioral health, foster care/adoption, refugee resettlement, and supportive housing through 40+ programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Behavioral Health and Human Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child Care Services (6244), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL), Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC), Maternal, Child & Family Health Departments (HLAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Substance use treatment
• Foster care adoption
• Refugee resettlement services
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, most commercial insurance plans, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for behavioral health, substance use, and mental health services. Payment is due at time of service.
2. Self-Pay with Sliding Fee Scale: Out-of-pocket client payments via cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards; sliding fee scale available based on household income for uninsured or underinsured clients.
3. Online Payment Processing Fees: Secure online bill pay portal at onelfs.org/make-a-payment supporting credit card payments for client accounts.
4. Individual Donations and Sustained Giving: Monthly recurring donations, one-time gifts, Gift of Grain program, planned giving/bequests/endowments/beneficiary designations, and Amazon wish list in-kind donations supporting 40+ programs.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate Impact Partners program providing brand exposure, employee engagement, and strategic giving; event sponsorships for Golf Tournament (Presenting $10K, Ace $5K, Eagle $3K, Par $2K, Hole $500 tiers) and Raise for LFS event.
6. Government Grants and Emergency Relief Funding: State and federal grants including $2M Nebraska state grant for Dana Village gym renovation; emergency relief distributions (e.g., $595K Lexington Emergency Fund distributed March–April 2026).
7. Planned Giving / 1892 Legacy Society: Bequests, endowment support, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance, and gifts of assets (real estate, stocks, grain) for long-term sustainability of mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lutheran Family Services is the largest human care organization in Nebraska and Western Iowa, delivering 40+ programs across behavioral health (mental health, substance use disorder treatment, ACT, FEP, Spravato), children and family services (foster care, adoption, family counseling), refugee and immigrant resettlement, veterans services, and supportive housing. It operates from 9+ regional offices with mobile therapy vans and telehealth, and was certified as a Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Gen Society: Digital wellness and safety education organization for youth, parents, and seniors that joined LFS in 2025.
• Dana Village
• 1892 Legacy Society
• Health 360 Integrated Care
• PIER (Partners in Empowerment and Recovery)
• TASC (Targeted Adult Service Coordination)

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Professional therapy and treatment for individuals and families across all life stages, including substance use disorder treatment, medication assisted treatment, outpatient mental health, dialectical behavior therapy, EMDR, integrated care, and community support.
• Children and Family Services Foster care, adoption (including Wendy's Wonderful Kids and post-adoption), pregnancy counseling, Kinship Navigation, Family Centered Treatment, Parents as Teachers, the Fatherhood Initiative, and classes/education for caregivers.
• Refugee and Immigrant (New Populations) Services Program for Initial Resettlement, Preferred Communities, Extended Case Management, Employment and Education Services, Global Roots, Women's Driving Classes, Immigration Legal Services, and Services to Afghan Survivors.
• Veterans Services Confidential counseling, peer support, and care/service coordination for active military, veterans, and their families across Nebraska.
• Healthy Housing and Dana Village Affordable supportive housing and holistic support on the former Dana College campus in Blair, Nebraska for young people aging out of foster care and others needing support; includes the Healthy Housing program and Josiah Place transitional housing in North Platte.
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program Evidence-based, multidisciplinary, team-based mental health program for adults 19+ with serious mental illness (bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, major depressive disorder) using a shared caseload model with daily team coordination.
• Spravato (esketamine) Treatment Program Nasal spray ketamine-derivative treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depression, offered at the LFS Lincoln office with REMS-regulated monitoring protocols and planned expansion to Fremont and Omaha.
• Navigate First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Program Evidence-based early intervention model supporting individuals experiencing first episode of psychosis including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and daily functioning disruptions, using multidisciplinary wraparound services.
• Youth Community Treatment Aid (CTA) Program Community-based skill-building (emotional regulation, coping, behavioral management, de-escalation, social/daily living skills) delivered in schools, homes, and community settings in coordination with outpatient therapy.
• Smart Gen Society Digital Safety Programming Digital wellness education, workshops, and one-to-one family support addressing smartphone addiction, social media risks, AI chatbot dangers (e.g., Character AI), and online child safety.
• Health 360 Integrated Care Clinic Integrated behavioral health clinic providing whole-person care combining primary care, mental health, and substance use services under one roof.
• Mobile Behavioral-Health Therapy Vans Two mobile vans deployed to deliver therapy services in rural and underserved locations across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa where services currently do not exist, complementing offices and telehealth.
• Lexington Emergency Relief Fund Multi-phase emergency cash assistance and wraparound response program for households affected by the Tyson Foods Lexington plant closure (January 20, 2026), including direct cash assistance, job fair coordination, computer lab access, and mental health referrals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1 Lexington Emergency Fund processed 1,190 applications, impacted 4,292 individuals, distributed $595,000 in March–April 2026
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ThriventflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrivent Action Teams program allows Thrivent clients to lead fundraising/educational/service projects benefiting LFS; 50 Action Teams benefited LFS in prior year. LFS has partnered with Thrivent to allow supporters to back one of eight initiatives serving 20,000+ clients. Each team can receive up to $250 in seed money. Chris Leaver of Thrivent Advisor Network also serves on LFS Foundation Board.
• Urban League of NebraskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual Future of Human Care Symposium with LFS and McGrath North Law; founded the symposium three years ago. Symposium focuses on building community safety net, AI, housing crisis, and philanthropy.
• McGrath North Mullin & Kratz, PC LLOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the Future of Human Care Symposium; provides legal expertise including presentations on Nebraska Paid Sick Leave Law and Housing Panel moderation. Ruth Horvatich (attorney at McGrath North) serves on LFS Board. McGrath North was also a sponsor of the Angels Share Vintner's Dinner.
• Council on Accreditation (COA) / Social CurrentcoreOthersCOA accredits Lutheran Family Services; serves as regulatory body where clients may file complaints (212-797-3000, [email protected]). COA accreditation seal is displayed on LFS website.
• The Furniture ProjectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization to which LFS refers Omaha donors who want to donate furniture (Lincoln LFS location accepts furniture directly); The Furniture Project supports LFS refugee clients with furniture needs. LFS encourages donors to 'mention LFS referred you'.
• Corporal Daegan Page FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProudly sponsors the annual LFS Golf Tournament at Iron Horse Golf Club, supporting LFS's 40+ programs including vital services for veterans, refugees, children, and families across Nebraska. Event held Sept 11, 2025 and Sept 10, 2026.
• Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services Regulation and LicensureOthers

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Boys Town: National nonprofit headquartered in Boys Town, Nebraska providing child and family services, behavioral health, foster care, and residential youth programs. Directly comparable to LFS on the youth services, foster care, behavioral health, and Nebraska footprint dimensions, with significantly larger national scale.
• Centerstone: Large national nonprofit behavioral health provider offering mental health, substance use, and community-based services across multiple states. Comparable to LFS on the CCBHC service model, ACT team structure, and scale of behavioral health operations.
• CenterPointe: Lincoln, Nebraska-based nonprofit behavioral health provider offering mental health, substance use, and housing services. Direct peer in the Nebraska CCBHC and behavioral health ecosystem, with overlapping service lines in mental health, addiction, and supportive housing.
• Heartland Family Service: Omaha-based human services nonprofit serving Nebraska and Iowa with behavioral health, refugee resettlement, and family services. Direct peer in geography, mission, and service mix, with a comparable multi-office regional model.
• Omni Inventive Care: Nebraska community-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, child welfare, and family services in Omaha and surrounding areas. Direct peer in community-based behavioral health, in-home services, and the Nebraska human services ecosystem.
• Saint Francis Ministries: Kansas-based nonprofit child and family services organization offering foster care, adoption, residential, and behavioral health services across multiple states. Comparable to LFS on children's services, foster care/adoption, and the multi-state faith-informed nonprofit model.
• HopeSpoke: Lincoln, Nebraska-based child and family behavioral health nonprofit providing outpatient therapy, prevention, and youth mental health services. Direct regional peer in child/youth behavioral health, the Lincoln CCBHC ecosystem, and the family-centered treatment model.

Regional players

• Ponca Health Services: Tribal health and human services organization serving the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. Regional peer in Nebraska human services delivery with comparable behavioral health and family support offerings, though serving a distinct tribal constituency.

Broad incumbents

• CHI Health / CommonSpirit Health: Regional Catholic health system operating hospitals and behavioral health services across Nebraska and Iowa. Broad incumbent offering overlapping behavioral health and integrated care capabilities, but as part of a wider acute-care portfolio rather than a human services specialist.
• Nebraska Methodist Health System: Omaha-based regional health system operating hospitals, behavioral health, and community services. Comparable incumbent with overlapping behavioral health and integrated care offerings, though LFS's CCBHC-anchored, faith-rooted community services model is distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lutheranfamilyservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lfsneb
• Xx.com/LFSNEB

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Family Services