Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc (LLF) is a public charity based in Paris, Illinois. It serves the Lutheran community by helping individuals and organizations establish and grow endowment funds, with the aim of providing lasting support for Lutheran ministries.
Key facts about Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
In short: Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc gave $932K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), top state Indiana. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 20-3142622
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $931,503
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- Average grant
- $33,268
- Median grant
- $15,250
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (10 of 28, 2025)
- Total assets
- $84,835,040
- Primary geography
- Indiana (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$84.8M
+12.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$932K
+11.1% YoY
Grant Count
28
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-4.8% YoY
Is Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 28 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
LLF’s stated mission is to nurture Christian faith and values for future generations. Its 2024 filing describes its charitable purpose as making distributions to qualified charitable organizations, subject to any donor-imposed limitations or restrictions.
The foundation supports Lutheran churches, schools, and organizations, primarily through matching grants that help establish or grow endowments. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of Lutheran institutions. For example, Siberian Lutheran Mission Society Inc, a 2025 recipient, describes its mission as assisting American Lutheran churches in Siberia to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Siberia.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, LLF reported 28 grants totaling $931,503. Grant amounts ranged from $5,019 to $281,000, with a median of $15,250. Among the largest were $281,000 to For the Love of Africa Ministries for general support; $118,510 to Grace Lutheran Child Development CE for operations and general support; and $55,817 to Crean Lutheran High School as a matching grant.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Accelerator Grants (Individuals)
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Amount
$1,000 bonus for each $5,000 gift (up to 5 times per fund, $5,000 maximum match)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Accelerator Grants (Organizations)
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Amount
20% match on future gifts up to $500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Founding Legacy Match (Organizations)
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Amount
$175,000 total, paid over 3 years
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
LLF says it serves Lutheran organizations and individuals nationwide and welcomes partnerships across Lutheran synods and affiliations. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Indiana (38%), Illinois (27%), Missouri (13%), Wisconsin (9%), and California (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $506K (2020) to $1.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $932K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was For the Love of Africa Ministires ($281K). Together the top 10 received $720K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 120 (78%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| For the Love of Africa Ministires Evansville, IN | General Support | $281,000 |
| Grace Lutheran Child Development Ce Paris, IL | Operations & General | $118,510 |
| Crean Luthern High School Irvine, CA | Matching Grant | $55,817 |
| Siberian Lutheran Mission Society Fort Wayne, IN | Matching Grant & Ope | $48,834 |
| New Lutheran High School Green Bay, WI | Matching Grant | $45,000 |
| Grace Lutheran Church Paris, IL | Scholarship & Genera | $39,400 |
| Lesa Green Park, MO | Matching & Support | $37,192 |
| Bethlehem Lutheran Church St. Louis, MO | Ministerial & Genera | $35,000 |
| Mt Olive Lutheran Church Rockford, IL | Matching Grant | $30,000 |
| Evergreen Lutheran High School Tacoma, WA | Matching Support | $29,282 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,835,040 | $3,532,890 | $1,822,773 | $931,503 |
| 2024 | $75,760,828 | $2,581,586 | $1,466,676 | $838,603 |
| 2023 | $64,156,450 | $126,948 | $1,505,314 | $894,840 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $84,835,040 | $75,760,828 | $64,156,450 |
| Revenue | $3,532,890 | $2,581,586 | $126,948 |
| Expenses | $1,822,773 | $1,466,676 | $1,505,314 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,229,880 | $1,310,554 | $-536,131 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jerry L Klug and Ingrid Petrich as directors; Mark Bluhm as executive officer (listed as “EXECUTIVE DI”); Christopher Eldredge as secretary; James Jordan-Wagner as treasurer; and Thomas E Patchett as president.
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc is led by Thomas E. Patchett, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas E. Patchett
President
Vice President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Jerry L. Klug
Director
Chairman → Executive Di, 2022
Executive Di → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$59K (2020) → $82K (2025)
Ingrid Petrich
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$13K (2022) → $15K (2025)
Christopher Eldredge
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $15K (2025)
James Jordan-Wagner
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Mark Bluhm
Executive Di
Director → Executive Di, 2025
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$13K (2022) → $61K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dean Wachholz (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $82K, to Jerry L Klug (Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 31, Paris, IL 61944
Phone: (217) 463-8202
Website: https://lutheranlegacyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
How much does Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc give each year?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc gave $932K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $839K across 24 grants.
What is Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,250, and its average grant was $33,268, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc that year got $21K on average.
Where does Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc give grants?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's top state is Indiana, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (27%) and Missouri (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Paris, IL (3 grants), St. Louis, MO (3 grants), Ft Wayne, IN (2 grants) and Milwalkee, WI (2 grants).
Does Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Matching Support" (4 grants) and "Matching Grant" (4 grants).
Who are Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include For the Love of Africa Ministires ($281,000), Grace Lutheran Child Development Ce ($118,510) and Crean Luthern High School ($55,817), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc reported $84.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What does Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc fund?
LLF’s stated mission is to nurture Christian faith and values for future generations. Its 2024 filing describes its charitable purpose as making distributions to qualified charitable organizations, subject to any donor-imposed limitations or restrictions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lutheranlegacyfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3142622. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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