Dear Lutheran Settlement House Friends and Supporters,
When people visit Lutheran Settlement House, they’re often surprised by how much happens here every day. Maybe you will be, too, when you read this report.
At Lutheran Settlement House, we serve people at every stage of life, walking alongside older adults, families experiencing homelessness, victims and survivors of domestic violence, and neighbors working hard to put food on the table. We accompany people from 40 different zip codes in Philadelphia, and our clients range in age from newborn babies to adults in their 90s. Every day, we provide comprehensive counseling, education, housing, food, and health services through collaborations with more than 70 partners, because together, we can do so much more.
What ties our work together, though, is how we do it. LSH is client centered. That means we meet people where they are, we reveal options when they feel optionless, and we remind people of their strength.
This report offers a glimpse into what’s possible when we come together and put our compassion into action. You’ll read stories of children healing through therapy, older adults volunteering to make sure their neighbors have enough healthy food, and parents who once faced homelessness preparing to move into their own home. Even in the most difficult times, our work creates community and joy.
You are an essential part of our community. As you read this report, we hope you feel the joy of knowing that you are part of a movement that is transforming lives.
Sincerely,
David Chiles
Executive Director
Sarah Engel
Board President
Client Voices
The community at Lutheran Settlement House, the change that’s possible, and the compassion at the heart of our work is because of the people we serve. Their dreams, their joy, and their future are what drive our work forward.
Impact by the Numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
For adults 55 and over, the Center offers a range of programming for right now and for what’s next. Members can explore fitness and dance classes, personalized health coaching, volunteering to help others, creative arts, trips and excursions, digital literacy, healthy cooking, and more. Members learn new skills, meet new friends, and plan for the future.
Jane Addams Place, our family shelter, helps families entangled in the housing crisis to heal from trauma they have experienced, to explore housing and employment options, and to plan for the future they want and deserve.
Our food pantry provides fresh food and nutritional support to food-insecure families, teens, domestic violence survivors, and older adults. Open five days a week and six hours a day, our pantry is among the most accessible and responsive in Philadelphia.
Education is woven throughout our different programs. At LSH, and through our various partners across the city, children, teens, and adults grow their skills and knowledge to live the lives they want and deserve.
Established nearly 50 years ago, our BDVP provides lifesaving services to nearly 4,000 women, men, children, and non-binary people each year, including counseling, housing support, hospital-based advocacy and training, and violence prevention education.
LSH Highlights
FY25 was a year filled with community, compassion, and change. We felt the power of community among older adults building friendships and memories in the Center, and in how they gave back by volunteering in our pantry. We put compassion into action caring for children who witnessed domestic violence and helping families prepare for life after shelter. And most of all, we witnessed the power of people to change themselves, and their communities. These highlights showcase the power of community, the necessity of compassion, and the magic of change.
Financial Summary
Lutheran Settlement House is committed to high quality fiscal management. We ensure that all contributions are used ethically and with transparency. We are thrilled to have a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), which is the highest possible rating a nonprofit organization can achieve. To take a deeper dive into our finances, download our FY25 Audit.
| REVENUE | 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Government Contracts | $4,583,012 | 69% |
| Foundations & Corporate | $580,412 | 9% |
| Non-Government | $433,134 | 6% |
| Contributions | $403,215 | 6% |
| Other | $177,558 | 3% |
| Investment Income | $167,939 | 3% |
| Events | $156,976 | 2% |
| In-Kind | $125,620 | 2% |
| TOTAL REVENUE: | $6,627,866 |
| EXPENSES | 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Program Services | $5,197,784 | 84% |
| Management and General | $729,002 | 12% |
| Fundraising | $280,982 | 5% |
| TOTAL EXPENSES: | $6,207,768 |
Donor Honor Roll
We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the people, companies, churches, foundations, and government entities that made our work possible this past year. We could not provide life-saving services to over 6,000 children, adults, and families without you.
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers make our work possible. In FY25, 461 people volunteered 8,045 hours of their time to stock our pantry, provide companionship to older adults, sort and organize donations in our family shelter, and beautify our spaces so that everyone who walks through our doors feels welcomed and cared for. Over 100 of the hours donated last year came from Ekram, an amazing volunteer who lives near our Fishtown location. Ekram volunteers in the pantry every week, welcoming people by name and making sure they receive nourishing food. If you’ve been to our Fishtown site in the last year, you most likely were greeted by Ekram. Thank you for everything you do, Ekram!
“ I volunteer to make a difference, because even a small act of showing care can change someone’s day. It may even put a smile on their face. Showing up to volunteer is my way of giving back and trying to make a meaningful difference.”
– Ekram
Get Involved
Make a Gift
Give today and help someone begin a journey that will change their life.
Volunteer
Volunteers help make our work possible.
Come for a Tour
Stop by to see our work in action and to learn more.
Invite Us to Speak
We’d love to speak to your group about the work we do and how you can get involved.
