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, churches, schools, and organizations establish and grow endowment funds to support ministries over time.
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $931,503
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $33,268
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,250
- Total assets
- $84,835,040
- +12.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (10 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 31, Paris, IL 61944
Phone: (217) 463-8202
Website: https://lutheranlegacyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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
Deadline not published
Accelerator Grants (Organizations)
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Amount
20% match on future gifts up to $500,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Founding Legacy Match (Organizations)
Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc
Amount
$175,000 total, paid over 3 years
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
LLF describes its service community as Lutheran churches, schools, organizations, and individuals across synods and affiliations. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states, with the largest shares going to 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
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 28 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings report 24 and 23 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,835,040 | $3,532,890 | $1,822,773 | $931,503 | 28 | $2,229,880 |
| 2024 | $75,760,828 | $2,581,586 | $1,466,676 | $838,603 | 24 | $1,310,554 |
| 2023 | $64,156,450 | $126,948 | $1,505,314 | $894,840 | 23 | $-536,131 |
| 2022 | $56,372,398 | $3,118,884 | $1,712,577 | $1,003,926 | 27 | $1,834,326 |
| 2021 | $63,650,016 | $8,500,030 | $1,370,653 | $739,988 | 18 | $7,576,586 |
| 2020 | $47,751,255 | $2,732,259 | $1,003,058 | $505,924 | 23 | $1,545,802 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
LLF’s stated mission is to nurture Christian faith and values for future generations. Its 2024 filing says it is organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes and distributes funds to qualified charitable organizations, subject to restrictions attached to contributions.
LLF’s website describes its work as focused on permanent endowments for the Lutheran community. It serves churches, schools, ministries and other organizations, individuals and families, and professional advisors. Its matching-grant programs support the creation and growth of endowments.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of supported organizations. For the Love of Africa Ministries received $281,000; the organization describes its mission as providing goods and services, education support, health supplies, meals, and shelter to impoverished individuals and children in Uganda. Siberian Lutheran Mission Society received $48,834 and describes its work as assisting churches in Siberia in proclaiming the Gospel. Central Illinois Lutheran Camp received $14,040 and describes its purpose as operating Christian education and fellowship facilities. Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation received $10,000 and describes its mission as empowering urban Lutheran schools to provide innovative, quality education in a Christian environment.
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. The largest reported grants included $281,000 to For the Love of Africa Ministries for general support; $118,510 to Grace Lutheran Child Development Center for operations and general support; $55,817 to Crean Lutheran High School as a matching grant; and $48,834 to Siberian Lutheran Mission Society for a matching grant and operating support. Other notable awards included $45,000 to New Lutheran High School and $39,400 to Grace Lutheran Church.
LLF’s website describes startup and accelerator matches for Lutheran churches, schools, and organizations. Startup grants provide a 50% match on the first $10,000 for a new endowment. Accelerator grants provide a 20% match on future gifts up to $500,000. Its Founding Legacy Match provides $175,000 over three years for qualifying new endowments beginning with contributions of at least $1 million; recipients are not eligible for future Accelerator Grants. Matching funds must be used to build the endowment, not spent directly, and are subject to the withdrawal policy.
The website also describes matching programs for individual designated funds. These are endowment-building matches, rather than grants for outside organizations’ programs. To get started, an applicant completes an application form; LLF says it will then connect personally to discuss goals and questions. The website describes optional annual distributions of up to 5% once a fund is established. LLF’s 2024 filing says it keeps records of grantee thank-you letters specifying the grant and planned use, and that the chairman reviews grant progress with grantees.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas E. Patchett as president, Mark Bluhm as executive director, James Jordan-Wagner as treasurer, and Christopher Eldredge as secretary. Jerry L. Klug and Ingrid Petrich are listed as directors.
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.
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 says it is organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes and distributes funds to qualified charitable organizations, subject to restrictions attached to contributions. 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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
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
Live grants for the work Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lutheran-legacy-foundation-inc-morg_8e6d449432244e19a88d9015cde99578
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203142622_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lutheran-legacy-foundation-inc-morg_8e6d449432244e19a88d9015cde99578},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Lutheran Legacy Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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