Columbia Lutheran Charities

Analysis

Columbia Lutheran Charities is a registered charity in United States, based in Astoria, OR. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 1976, 50 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a hospital or medical research organisation under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Columbia Lutheran Charities reported income of $213.0m and spending of $192.4m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $148.3m to $213.0m (+44%), an average of +9.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 88% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Columbia Lutheran Charities sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile, and in the 100th percentile within OR. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc ($208.6m), The Clear Fund ($219.6m) and Anne Ray Foundation ($198.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 1.7% and program service revenue 95% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $2.8m (1.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $51.8m. At year end it held assets of $283.0m against liabilities of $79.4m, net assets of $203.7m. It reported 851 employees.