Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
LSSNCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1917 that delivers foster care, refugee resettlement, immigration legal aid, and behavioral health services to refugees, immigrants, and unaccompanied children across the Washington DC metro area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area does
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1917 that delivers wraparound human services to refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, and unaccompanied children across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Its program portfolio comprises Foster Care Services (including a 50-year-old Unaccompanied Refugee Minors foster care program launched in 1974), Refugee and Immigrant Services with housing and Welcome Afghan Allies initiatives, Dignity Immigration Legal, Dignity Behavioral Health, the Trafficking Victim Assistance Program, Child/Youth/Family well-being services, and two social enterprises (Dignity Thrift and ReFiber textile recycling). LSSNCA served 4,300+ individuals from 48+ countries and welcomed 1,808 refugee families in FY24, delivered through six offices across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with multilingual staff spanning Spanish, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, and Urdu.
The organization operates without a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is case-management-based and supported by an ecosystem of faith-community, civic, and volunteer partners via the Good Neighbor Partners program. Its revenue model is anchored in cooperative agreements with the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the Department of Health and Human Services / Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which require upfront expenditure before reimbursement. Secondary revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, United Way of the National Capital Area contributions ($8146 designation), corporate support from Accenture and Starbucks, and accessible client fees ($90 immigration legal consultation) that are well below private-market rates.
LSSNCA holds COA accreditation, a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency, and a Charity Navigator four-star rating, and is governed by a Board of Directors with new leadership installed in 2024-2025 under Chair Marie Martinez Israelite. In January 2025 a federal stop-work order and ~$4M in unpaid reimbursements forced 75 layoffs and 7 furloughs, exposing concentration risk on federal funding. Subsequent strategic moves — expansion of immigration legal services to the broader community, senior fundraising hires, and a board refresh with former USRAP director Larry Bartlett — indicate a deliberate pivot toward revenue diversification and reduced dependency on a single federal payer.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
- Legal name
- Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
- Website
- https://lssnca.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LSSNCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1917 that delivers foster care, refugee resettlement, immigration legal aid, and behavioral health services to refugees, immigrants, and unaccompanied children across the Washington DC metro area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refugee and Immigrant Social Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)
Keywords
Where Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Government Contracts: Primary revenue from federal agencies including the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), Department of Health and Human Services, and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). LSSNCA operates under cooperative agreements requiring upfront expenditure with subsequent reimbursement.
- Client Service Fees: Immigration legal services charged at $90 consultation fee. Fees kept accessible to serve broader community while maintaining professional standards.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations, corporate donations, and congregation contributions support wraparound services, emergency assistance, and programs beyond what government contracts cover.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Immigration Legal Consultation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LSSNCA provides refugee resettlement, immigration legal representation, foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors, trauma-informed behavioral health, and social enterprise programs (Dignity Thrift, ReFiber) to refugees, immigrants, forced migrants, and underserved communities across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area. Services span housing placement, employment assistance, language learning, cultural orientation, legal aid, mental health counseling, and youth/family well-being programs.
Product overview
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is a human services and immigration relief agency that operates as a multi-service organization with distinct programs. The portfolio includes Foster Care Services (encompassing Unaccompanied Refugee Minors foster care and Traditional Foster Care), Refugee and Immigrant Services (with housing stability and Welcome Afghan Allies programs), Dignity Immigration Legal (providing comprehensive immigration legal representation), Dignity Behavioral Health (trauma-informed mental health services), Dignity Thrift (social enterprise retail), ReFiber (textile recycling social enterprise), Child/Youth/Family Well-being programs, and Youth Development and Wellness. LSSNCA also offers the Trafficking Victim Assistance Program and Social Enterprise Services including nonprofit evaluation. Since 1917, LSSNCA has served the D.C. metro area across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dignity Immigration Legal: Immigration legal services offering representation in removal proceedings, employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, and humanitarian-based immigration including asylum, TPS, DACA, U-visas, and T-visas.
- Dignity Behavioral Health
- Dignity Thrift
- ReFiber
Products and services
- Foster Care Services Foster care programs providing supportive homes for children and youth, including Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) foster care and Traditional Foster Care services across Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.
- Refugee and Immigrant Services Comprehensive support for refugees and immigrants including client services, housing stability services, and the Welcome Afghan Allies initiative.
- Dignity Immigration Legal Immigration legal services providing high-quality, affordable legal representation including citizenship applications, court defense, employment-based immigration, family-based petitions, adjustment of status, and humanitarian-based immigration relief (asylum, SIJS, TPS, DACA, VAWA, U-visas, T-visas).
- Dignity Behavioral Health Trauma-informed mental health support services for program participants and community members, providing counseling and behavioral health care.
- Dignity Thrift Thrift store providing affordable goods while supporting the organization's mission and generating revenue for services.
- ReFiber Textile recycling social enterprise providing workforce development opportunities focused on textile recycling and sustainable practices.
- Child, Youth, and Family Well-being Programs Programs including Break the Seal Services, Foster Care Services, and Maternal Health support for families and children in the D.C. metro area.
- Youth Development and Wellness Youth development programming supporting the well-being of young people in the community, including educational support and mentorship.
- Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP) Services for new Americans who are victims of trafficking, providing assistance and support for recovery.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,300+ individuals served from 48 countries in FY24
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lutheran Services AmericacoreNational affiliation with Lutheran Services America network of Lutheran social service agencies. LSSNCA operates under this umbrella organization providing regional services while benefiting from national resources and coordination.
- St. John's Norwood Episcopal ChurchcoreLong-standing faith community partner through the Good Neighbor Partners program. Church has mobilized over 100 volunteers to support refugee families, providing housing setup, furnishings, and ongoing companionship. Partnered since 2018.
- McLean Islamic CentercoreCommunity partner hosting World Refugee Day events and supporting Afghan refugee integration. Provides venue and community engagement for newly arrived Muslim families.
- Church World ServicecoreCo-sponsor of World Refugee Day rally and fellow refugee resettlement agency. Collaborates on advocacy and national resettlement efforts.
- Afghan EvaccoreCoalition focused on evacuating and supporting Afghan allies. Coordinates with LSSNCA on Special Immigrant Visa holder support and resettlement.
- Refugees InternationalminorAdvocacy organization supporting refugee rights and resettlement policy.
- AyudaminorLegal services organization serving immigrants in the D.C. area. Potential referral and collaboration partner.
- Refugee Physicians Advocacy CoalitionminorCoalition working to help foreign-trained medical professionals re-enter practice. LSSNCA partnered on Virginia House Bill 995 to open doors for refugee doctors.
- Upwardly GlobalminorOrganization helping immigrants rebuild professional careers in the U.S. Partnership supports refugee employment and professional integration.
- Welcome With Dignity CampaigncoreCoalition of immigration organizations advocating for dignified treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. LSSNCA joined coalition to decry attacks on humanitarian parole programs.
- Interfaith Immigration CoalitioncoreCoalition of faith-based organizations advocating for just immigration policies. LSSNCA joins in statements on reconciliation bills and immigration reform.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HIAS: Faith-based (Jewish) refugee resettlement agency founded over 130 years ago, operating nationwide with the same federal PRM/ORR contract structure as LSSNCA. Direct functional peer in resettlement, immigration legal services, and case management; LSSNCA's new CDO Nikki Salzman previously held a senior fundraising role at HIAS.
- Church World Service: Faith-based refugee resettlement agency explicitly listed as an LSSNCA partner and co-sponsor of World Refugee Day. Operates the same federal cooperative-agreement model for refugee reception and placement, making it a near-identical service-line peer.
- US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National refugee resettlement and immigration services agency operating the same federal contract-based model in multiple states. Directly comparable in programming (resettlement, case management, immigration legal aid) and funding mix.
- Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based (Christian) nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, foster care for unaccompanied minors, and family services. Direct peer particularly relevant to LSSNCA's 50-year URM foster care program, as both operate unaccompanied refugee minor programs under federal contracts.
Broad incumbents
- International Rescue Committee: Largest US refugee resettlement nonprofit, operating across 30+ offices with resettlement, immigration legal, and economic empowerment programs. Functions as the broad incumbent that LSSNCA competes against for federal cooperative agreements and foundation funding.
Regional players
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: DC-metro faith-based social services umbrella running refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and family support across the same DC/MD/VA catchment. Operates as LSSNCA's most direct in-region competitor for the same federal refugee allocation in the National Capital Area.
- Ayuda: DC-area legal services organization serving low-income immigrants with immigration legal aid, language access, and social services. Already identified as an LSSNCA collaboration/referral partner and is the most direct in-region peer for Dignity Immigration Legal's expanded practice.
- Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): Ethiopian-led national refugee resettlement agency operating the same federal PRM cooperative agreement model. Partial overlap with LSSNCA as both serve African-origin refugee populations through resettlement and employment programs.
- Northern Virginia Family Service: Multi-service regional nonprofit serving Northern Virginia immigrants, refugees, and low-income residents with housing, workforce, and behavioral health programming. Overlaps with LSSNCA in geographic catchment and immigrant-services programming but focuses more on general anti-poverty services.
Emerging players
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children. Overlaps with LSSNCA's Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program and Special Immigrant Visa / asylum casework, particularly for Afghan and Central American minors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area social profiles
Digital presenceLutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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 National Capital Area
What does Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area do?
LSSNCA provides refugee resettlement, immigration legal representation, foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors, trauma-informed behavioral health, and social enterprise programs (Dignity Thrift, ReFiber) to refugees, immigrants, forced migrants, and underserved communities across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area. Services span housing placement, employment assistance, language learning, cultural orientation, legal aid, mental health counseling, and youth/family well-being programs.
Is Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area a public or private company?
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area founded?
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area was founded in 1917. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area based?
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are client Service Fees and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HIAS, Church World Service, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and Bethany Christian Services. International Rescue Committee is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Ayuda, Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) and Northern Virginia Family Service. Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area.
What industry is Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area in?
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area's product category is Refugee and Immigrant Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAHAI, Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment), with a secondary code of BPADAHAE, Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.