CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION Charity Report

Tax-exempt status may be revoked

CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION

EIN 41-1767170 · Scholarships & Student Financial Aid (B82)

What they do

THE CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION (CLEF) WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED ON MARCH 18, 1993, WITH THE PURPOSE of BUILDING AN ENDOWMENT FROM WHICH to PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS to CONFESSIONAL LUTHERANS ENROLLED IN ACCREDITED ADVANCED ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAMS. CLEF HAS SINCE THEN EXPANDED PROGRAMMING WHILE REMAINING FOCUSED ON THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES. THE FINANCIAL BURDEN EXPERIENCED BY CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN STUDENTS STUDYING for THE OFFICE of MINISTRY and SEEKING ADVANCED THEOLOGICAL, and RELATED DEGREES is OFTEN OVERWHELMING. THE MOUNTING COSTS of GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAMS NECESSITATES THAT THE PEOPLE of GOD ACTIVELY HELP DEFRAY THESE COSTS THROUGH THEIR GIFTS to CLEF. ADDITIONALLY, COUNTLESS MILLIONS IN LESS BLESSED COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN FUNDING CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN EDUCATION PROGRAMMING RANGING FROM SEMINARIES IN AFRICA to ORPHANAGES IN SOUTH ASIA to MEDICAL and DENTAL SCHOOLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

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Basic facts we verified

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Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders3 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

66.63%of revenue went to mission work91.2% of expenses · Program services

0.99%of revenue went to fundraising1.4% of expenses

$73.05spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

5.43%of revenue went to management and office costs7.4% of expenses

$13.38in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

78.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$153,417

Mission workProgram services$102,21766.63% of revenue91.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$8,3295.43% of revenue7.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,5260.99% of revenue1.4% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$41,34526.95% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$112,07273.05% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 91.2% mission · 7.4% management · 1.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 73.05% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 75.7% mission · 12.1% management · 12.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.95% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 77.9% mission · 11.8% management · 10.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.81% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 80.8% mission · 10.2% management · 9.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.01% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 75.3% mission · 13.0% management · 11.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 56.62% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 62.9% mission · 18.5% management · 18.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.60% of revenue

2015Expense mix: 71.1% mission · 14.5% management · 14.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.74% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$153,417

Expenses$112,072

Annual surplus $41,345 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$102,217 · 91.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$8,329 · 7.4% of expenses

Fundraising$1,526 · 1.4% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$153,417

Expenses$112,072

Assets$1,499,267

Income$153,417

Contributions$120,978

Mission work (program services)$102,217

Fundraising$1,526

Grants given$77,000

Average grant$38,500

Management and general$8,329

Executive compensation (total)$29,250

Accounting fees$730

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

No compensation was reported for these leaders. The complete board and leadership roster is shown below.

Board and leadership roster (3)

REV JOHN FEHRMANNBOARD MEMBER

REV PAUL KAISERSECRETARY

REV PAUL STRAWNCHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2025
Location: PO BOX 43844, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55443
County: Hennepin
In care of: PAUL STRAWN
Primary officer: PAUL STRAWN, CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailtheclef@theclef.org Phone(763) 439-8658

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: SMITH SCHAFER & ASSOCIATES LTD
NTEE classification: Scholarships & Student Financial Aid (B82)
IRS tax category: Religious Organizations
Grant-giving organization: Yes
Revocation date: November 15, 2024