Founded in 1865 by volunteers with a focus on orphan children, Lutheran Social Service is a Minnesota-based, nonprofit social services agency. It is owned and operated by the six Minnesota synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The agency offers customized services for children and youth, families and adults, and seniors and people with disabilities. Lutheran Social Service employs more than 2,200 individuals who serve over 300 communities. The agencys funding sources include fees from clients, church support, service contracts, private grants, and individual contributions and bequests. It has partnerships with Journey Homes, Life Haven and Rezek. Lutheran Social Service maintains an office in Waterloo, Iowa.