We are in a time when change, challenge, and opportunity are all converging across our network. The unique strength of Lutheran Services in America comes from aligning around purpose, partnership, and shared action. As we look ahead, we are putting this mission into action by growing leadership, catalyzing collaboration and innovation, and amplifying a united faith-based voice that shares solutions.

— Alesia Frerichs, President & CEO

LEADING TOGETHER

2026: Catalyzing Innovation and Collaboration, and Driving Impact

As we continue to move through the year ahead, our focus aims to build on our core organizational objectives: catalyze innovation and collaboration, grow our collective capacity to lead, and strengthen our united faith-based voice. From celebrating 10 years of the Results Innovation Lab, new partnerships, and collaboration to expanding access to affordable housing with services, improving understanding about the impacts of private equity, and elevating our shared faith-based voice to strengthen advocacy, together, we will shape what comes next.

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YOUR NETWORK AT WORK

Leadership Awards

We celebrated the 2026 recipients of our Leadership Awards at the Summit for their exceptional work over the past year:

• Innovator Award: Grace Araya, Concordia Place

• Micah Award: Sven Schumacher, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana/Kentucky

• Paragon Award: The Ken Daly Award for Excellence in Mentorship: Mark Stutrud, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

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Private Equity in Healthcare: Balancing Capital and Care

Our new brief aims to outline the key distinctions between nonprofits and for-profit private equity organizations and why they matter, including a focus on the rapid rise of private equity in healthcare since the mid 2000s—and what’s driving the trend.

Read the brief

Partnering for Impact in a Shifting Medicaid Landscape

Join us: On March 26 we will release our new “Partnering for Impact Guide” with a special webinar to discuss and explore strengthening partnerships as we navigate a changing Medicaid landscape. We will be joined by thought leaders and experts including Stuart Butler from the Brookings Institution, Ji Im from CommonSpirit Health, and Enrique Vidal-Martinez from the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, as well as Lutheran Services in America network leaders.

Know Before You Go:

• ICYMI: Case studies on member organizations Genacross Lutheran Services, Aurora Family Services and Family Health Centers at NYU Langone, as well as a recent issue brief on this topic of strengthening partnerships

• ICYMI: Learnings from Results Innovation Lab demonstration sites shape how we strengthen practice across our network, with a focus on organizational readiness for Medicaid-aligned partnerships, stronger cross-sector relationships with health plans and states, and other ways to ground policy aspirations in practical learning

The Disability Network and the Dragonfly's Journey

Leaders from the Disability Network gathered to reflect, connect, and plan for the challenges and opportunities ahead amidst a changing landscape for providers of home- and community-based services and long-term supports.

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New Features on Member Collaboration Hub

The LSA CommUnity Hub, our collaborative learning and networking platform for members, now features an updated Newsroom featuring our newsletters and an Advocacy page to find your lawmakers, see which bills we’re tracking and take action. Visit lsacommunity.lutheranservices.org or scan the QR code to explore. Don’t have a profile yet? Fill out the sign-up form to join us!

Complete the form and learn more

VIEW FROM THE HILL

Redistricting and Competitive House Races Ahead of the Midterms

Redistricting fights are reshaping the House map, adding uncertainty to key races that will determine control of Congress after the 2026 midterms.

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Stay current on our public policy efforts by subscribing to our Capitol Communications newsletter.

EVENTS

• Capitol Conversations: How Nonprofits Can Engage in Advocacy: March 19 (Virtual) — Register (Capitol Conversations is held on the third Thursday of each month.)

• Strength & Service Series: Leading with Intelligence: A CEO’s Roadmap to AI Readiness & Co-design: March 18 (Virtual) — Register

• Policy & Advocacy Committee and Disability Network Advocacy Meeting: April 23–24 (Washington, D.C.) — Learn more

View all events

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

McAllister & Quinn is a grants and government relations consulting firm that partners with nonprofit leaders to secure funding and advance policy priorities aligned with their mission. Based in Washington, DC, their work spans a variety of organizations including national associations to local service providers across human services, housing, workforce, health, and education. Services range from strategic funding planning; curated funding pipelines of federal, state, local, and foundation opportunities aligned with mission and likelihood of success; expert grant development support; government relations and earmark support led by former Congressional and executive branch staff; and capacity-building services. For more information, contact Ellen Riddleberger.

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