Lutheran Charities
Lutheran Charities is a ministry of the niagara frontier conference of the upstate New York synod of the evangelical lutheran church in America. It raises and manages funds in support of the lutheran church and other social ministry programs in western New York. Lutheran Charities also provides youth focused services.
Lutheran Charities at a glance
In short: Lutheran Charities gave $14K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,500
- -83.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- -71.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,750
- -40.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,750
- Total assets
- $2,507,865
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Lutheran Charities
- Next open deadline
- April 3, 2027 (Lutheran Charities (WNY) Grant Program)
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Lutheran Charities
Who Lutheran Charities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity ($8K). Together the top 2 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 22 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lutheran Charities gives
- Giving fell 71% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2024) to $128K (2019). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $14K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity Niagara Falls, NY | Bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope | $7,500 |
| Massachusetts Avenue Project Inc Buffalo, NY | Growth of a diverse and equitable community food system and promote local economic opportunities, access to affordable, nutritious food and social change education. | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,507,865 | $134,779 | $207,037 | $13,500 | 2 | $124 |
| 2023 | $2,439,293 | $237,193 | $251,125 | $79,200 | 7 | $18,660 |
| 2022 | $2,257,380 | $107,390 | $164,081 | $50,575 | 4 | — |
| 2021 | $2,575,042 | $468,711 | $178,552 | $46,000 | 5 | $132 |
| 2020 | $2,283,188 | $347,635 | $164,936 | $37,619 | 4 | $278 |
| 2019 | $2,099,989 | $122,371 | $231,500 | $127,649 | Total only | $391 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Lutheran Charities
Based on IRS filings
Lutheran Charities is a public charity, based in Williamsville, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $14K. Net investment income was $124.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lutheran Charities is led by Melanie Rushforth, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melanie Rushforth
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$20K (2022) → $75K (2024)
David Macro
President
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Biegnert
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Kordasiewicz
Vice President
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Storey
Member
Board Member → Director, 2020
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry Kinney
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Bieger
Member
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Aquilina
Member
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allan Simmons
Member
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kinney
Member
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Kristen Murphy (2023) — Member
- Former: Thomas Madden (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Tracy Johnston (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Brenda Maynor (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kathy Konstabel (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Serena Mollenkoph-Grill (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Christopher George (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: David Johnston (2019–2020) — Chair
- Former: Dean Lee Miller II (2019–2020) — Director - Ex-Officio
- Former: Gail Singer (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mike Setlock (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Dan Wilkinson (2019) — Board Member
- Former: David Marco (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $75K, to Melanie Rushforth (Chief Executive Officer).
Frequently asked questions about Lutheran Charities
How much does Lutheran Charities give each year?
Lutheran Charities gave $14K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $79K across 7 grants.
How large is Lutheran Charities?
Lutheran Charities reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $135K.
Where does Lutheran Charities operate?
Lutheran Charities has awarded grants in New York.
What is Lutheran Charities's EIN?
Lutheran Charities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2510574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lutheran Charities funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lutheran Charities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Lutheran Charities down — hundreds of funders to go?