Lutheran World Relief Inc
Lutheran World Relief Inc is a Baltimore, Maryland-based public charity, incorporated in 1945. It works with communities and partners around the world to address poverty and provide emergency aid; its 2024 filing identifies it as a subsidiary of Corus International.
Lutheran World Relief Inc at a glance
In short: Lutheran World Relief Inc gave $1.1M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $90K), top state Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,082,073
- +1095.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +500.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $90,173
- +99.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $71,189
- Total assets
- $157,305,358
- +26.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Lutheran World Relief Inc
- Review Cycle
- The page listed a Communications and Positioning Consultant request for quotes released June 2, 2026, with proposals due June 16, 2026. This deadline has passed and concerns a consulting opportunity.
- Deadline
- The page listed a Communications and Positioning Consultant request for quotes released June 2, 2026, with proposals…
- Contact
Mailing address: 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230-3850
Phone: (202) 888-6200
Website: https://lwr.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lutheran World Relief Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Catholic Charities USA ($283K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 17 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Lutheran World Relief describes its work as taking place around the world. In the 2025 grant list, recipients were located in multiple U.S. states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Virginia (26%), California (15%), New York (15%) and Georgia (15%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2024) to $17.8M (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $1.1M.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities USA Alexandria, VA | Emergency Assistance | $282,500 |
| Church World Service New York, NY | Emergency Assistance | $165,016 |
| Inspiritus Atlanta, GA | Emergency Assistance | $162,500 |
| LFS of the Carolinas Salisbury, CA | Emergency Assistance | $87,376 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | Emergency Assistance | $73,002 |
| Lutheran Services Florida Tampa, FL | Emergency Assistance | $72,377 |
| Abccm Asheville, NC | Emergency Assistance | $70,000 |
| Scselca- Southwest California Synod Glendale, CA | Emergency Assistance | $42,000 |
| La Regional Food Bank Los Angeles, CA | Emergency Assistance | $37,500 |
| Southwestern Texas Synod Seguin, TX | Emergency Assistance | $37,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $157,305,358 | $71,718,541 | $49,735,714 | $1,082,073 | 12 | $1,948,965 |
| 2024 | $124,202,513 | $72,103,558 | $56,299,305 | $90,533 | 2 | $1,618,832 |
| 2023 | $91,180,951 | $61,383,371 | $49,951,215 | $396,128 | 3 | $521,671 |
| 2022 | $72,287,667 | $69,634,457 | $43,430,701 | $8,700,415 | Total only | $425,907 |
| 2021 | $43,253,500 | $56,180,897 | $37,173,709 | $5,845,552 | Total only | $290,259 |
| 2020 | $54,035,063 | $52,023,478 | $40,631,724 | $17,784,936 | Total only | $1,608,940 |
| 2019 | $40,236,973 | $48,618,066 | $52,908,607 | $101,892 | 3 | $891,333 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Lutheran World Relief’s mission is: “Affirming God’s love for all people, we work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.”
Its 2024 filing describes work in emergency response and material assistance, including disaster recovery and distribution of mission quilts, school supply kits and baby care kits. It also describes food security and agriculture programs that help farmers improve crops and yields, build rural livelihoods, and strengthen resilience to climate conditions and natural hazards. The filing further describes Ground Up Investing, which uses debt and equity funding for enterprises intended to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits in rural markets.
The 2025 grants listed in its filing were all designated for emergency assistance. Among the recipients, Inspiritus Inc. describes its mission as guiding individuals and families from surviving to thriving and accompanying people whose lives have been disrupted as they contribute to their communities. Lutheran Services Florida Inc. describes its mission as bringing healing, hope and help to people in need in the name of Jesus Christ.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Lutheran World Relief reported 12 grants totaling $1,082,073. Grants ranged from $18,233 to $282,500, with a median of $71,188. Each listed grant was for emergency assistance.
The largest awards included $282,500 to Catholic Charities USA, $165,016 to Church World Service, and $162,500 to Inspiritus. Other recipients included Lutheran Services Florida ($72,377), Catholic Relief Services ($73,002) and ABCCM ($70,000).
The organization’s contracting opportunities page lists requests for proposals, solicitations, requests for quotes and grant announcements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these directors: Abagail Nelson, Cathy Petti, David Lose, Hilda Arellano, Jean Hanson, Katherine Tunheim, Kenneth Jones, Kurt Newman, Marcelino Ford-Livene and Muna Bhanji.
Lutheran World Relief Inc is led by Daniel Speckhard, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; none of the 28 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Speckhard
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$522K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Jeremy Bauman
Executive Director & Ground Up Investing
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
George Hanna
Managing Director & Mihr
Managing Director → Managing Director & Mihr, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Paul Auxila
Managing Director & Ihsd Cop
Chief of Party & Haiti Program → Managing Director & Ihsd Cop, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Abagail Nelson
Director
Officer at Large → Officer-At-Large & Board of Director, 2023
Officer-At-Large & Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilda Bambi Arellano
Director
Director → Director & Board of Directors, 2023
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Hanson
Director
Board Chair → Chair & Board of Directors, 2023
Chair & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Jones II
Director
Director → Director & Board of Directors, 2023
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip Atkins-Pattenson
Director
Director → Vice Chair & Board of Directors, 2023
Vice Chair & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamron Keith
Director
Director → Director & Board of Directors, 2023
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William J. Craft
Director
Director → Director & Board of Directors, 2023
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Petti
Director
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Ramirez
Senior Technical Director - Mnc
Senior Technical Director → Senior Technical Director - Mnc, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Katherine Tunheim
Director
Secretary & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Newman
Director
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcelino Ford-Livene
Director
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Muna Bhanji
Director
Director & Board of Directors → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Lose
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonya Funna
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Runtsch
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dorothy Owuor Kiburi
Mihr Director of Finance & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Timothy McCully
Executive Vice President
Officer - Executive Vice President Internal Rel → Executive Vice President Impact & Partnership, 2021
Executive Vice President Impact & Partnership → Executive Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
$189K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Edward Byrd
Vice President Global Relationships Resources
Vice President External Relations → Vice President of Global Operations, 2024
Vice President of Global Operations → Vice President Global Relationships Resources, 2025
On filings since 2020
$143K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Andrea M. Wilson
Vice President, Legal & Compliance
General Counsel, Vice President & Compliance → General Counsel & Vice President of Compliance, 2024
General Counsel & Vice President of Compliance → Vice President, Legal & Compliance, 2025
On filings since 2022
$177K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Frances Woodard
Chief People & Culture Officer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Mahmoud Bah
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francois Willy Staco
Deputy Chief of Party & Ihsd
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Robert Mooney
Cfao
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (44)
- Former: Frederick Kellett (2019–2024) — Managing Director
- Former: JoAnn Theys (2019–2024) — Senior Vice President Finance & Administration
- Former: Michael Watt (2019–2024) — Vice President of Global Operations
- Former: Cheri Kase (2020–2024) — Chief Information Officer
- Former: Mary Linehan (2020–2024) — Senior Tech & Infectious Diseases
- Former: Shelly Talcott (2020–2024) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Lali Chania (2021–2024) — Managing Director
- Former: Tim McCully (2022–2024) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Mark Moyer (2024) — Interim CFO
- Former: Sonya Funna Evelyn (2019–2023) — Director & Board of Directors
- Former: The Rev Dr David Lose (2019–2023) — Director & Board of Directors
- Former: The Rev Timothy Runtsch (2019–2023) — Director & Board of Directors
- Former: Derek Reynolds (2021–2023) — Former Vice President Business Development
- Former: Lawrence Sthreshley (2022–2023) — Senior Advisor & Innovation
- Former: Dennis Cherian (2023) — Assistant Vice President Global Health & Nutrition
- Former: Kristin Cooney (2023) — Associate Vice President Int'l Programs
- Former: Elise Marie Spears (2021–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: William Clemmer (2021–2022) — Senior Reg. Tech Advisor & Health
- Former: Elena Kanevsky (2022) — Senior Director & Finance
- Former: Eveline Tavares (2022) — Chief People Officer
- Former: Kellett Frederick (2022) — Managing Director & Imact Investing
- Former: Tamar Chitashvili (2022) — Tech. Director, Maternal & Neonatal
- Former: Amb Daniel V. Speckhard Rt (2019–2021) — President & CEO
- Former: Emily Sollie (2019–2021) — Officer - Senior Director Executive Committee
- Former: Allyson P. Bear (2020–2021) — Vice President International Programs
- Former: Anna McCrerey (2021) — Senior Reg. Director & Ecs Africa
- Former: James Eric Shaeffer (2021) — Assistant Vice President of Finance & Accounting
- Former: Nancy Griffith (2021) — Vice President & Human Resources
- Former: Gregg Sylvester (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jeff Jordan (2019–2020) — Director ? Left March
- Former: Kathi Tunheim (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Louise P. Evenson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Martine Polycarpe (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Amb Daniel V. Speckha (2020) — Officer - President & CEO
- Former: Dawn Butcher (2020) — Associate Vice President Human Resources
- Former: James Cox (2020) — Chief Ops Officer
- Former: Phillip Atkins-Pattens (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Richard Santos (2020) — Senior Advisor
- Former: Roberto Flores (2020) — Chief Finance Officer
- Former: The Rev Dr David Los (2020) — Director
- Former: The Rev Timothy Runts (2020) — Director
- Former: Geraldine Sicola (2019) — Vice President, Strategic Pships & Ext Rel
- Former: Laura Morales (2019) — Assistant Vice President of Finance & Administrator
- Former: Wendy Rothenberger (2019) — Vice President & President's Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $522K, to Daniel Speckhard (President & CEO). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lutheran World Relief Inc
How much does Lutheran World Relief Inc give each year?
Lutheran World Relief Inc gave $1.1M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $91K across 2 grants.
What is Lutheran World Relief Inc's typical grant size?
Lutheran World Relief Inc's median grant in 2025 was $71,189, and its average grant was $90,173, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Lutheran World Relief Inc give grants?
Lutheran World Relief Inc's top state is Virginia, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (15%) and New York (15%).
Does Lutheran World Relief Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Lutheran World Relief Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Emergency Assistance" (12 grants).
Who are Lutheran World Relief Inc's largest grantees?
Lutheran World Relief Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Catholic Charities USA ($282,500), Church World Service ($165,016) and Inspiritus ($162,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lutheran World Relief Inc?
Lutheran World Relief Inc reported $157.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $71.7M.
What does Lutheran World Relief Inc fund?
Lutheran World Relief’s mission is: “Affirming God’s love for all people, we work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lutheran World Relief Inc?
Lutheran World Relief Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lwr.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lutheran World Relief Inc's EIN?
Lutheran World Relief Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2574963. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 30, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lutheran World Relief Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lutheran-world-relief-inc-morg_f76fe77a705748df94982fe4305a23b9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132574963_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lutheran World Relief Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lutheran-world-relief-inc-morg_f76fe77a705748df94982fe4305a23b9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 World Relief 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.
Lutheran World Relief Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?