Highly Trusted

Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation

Plymouth, MN

Education: Graduate and Seminary Education: College and University

About Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation

The Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corp. operates the Association Free Lutheran Seminary and Bible College. These two Higher Education Institutions function to provide religious and Biblical education designed to help students know and understand God’s Word and apply it to their lives. As students study the Bible, they grow in their relationship with God, develop life-long friendships, and learn to serve God with their lives.

What “Highly Trusted” Means

Highly Trusted reflects a ministry's commitment to operating transparently and accountably beyond Christian-specific stewardship standards alone. This ministry has been verified against fourteen of fifteen criteria of The Most Trusted Standard — demonstrating biblical financial integrity, sound governance, and a complete framework of governance policies.

What distinguishes Highly Trusted is the additional commitment to public transparency. This ministry has made its financial records, governance information, and program reporting accessible to the public, putting its operations in the open where any donor can examine them.

What We've Verified

This ministry has been verified against 14 of 15 criteria in The Most Trusted Standard.

Faith Foundation

Christian Statement of Faith Affirms a clear, public statement of faith aligned with historic orthodox Christian doctrine. Verified
Biblical Mission and Stewardship Operates with a mission explicitly grounded in Christian principles and biblical stewardship of resources entrusted to it. Verified
Christian Accountability Maintains accountability to recognized standards of Christian financial integrity and ministry stewardship. Verified

Financial Integrity

Independent Financial Review Undergoes annual independent financial audit, review, or compilation appropriate to organizational size and complexity. Verified
Reasonable Compensation Practices Discloses executive compensation and demonstrates compensation practices appropriate to the organization's size, scope, and sector. Verified
Donor Intent Honored Honors donor intent on designated and restricted gifts, ensuring contributions are used as donors directed. Verified

Governance and Leadership

Independent Governing Board Operates under an independent governing board with a majority of members who are not staff, related to staff, or otherwise compromised in independence. Verified
Documented Conflict-of-Interest Policies Maintains and follows documented conflict-of-interest policies to protect the organization and those it serves. Verified
No Outstanding Concerns Shows no unresolved regulatory, legal, or accountability concerns that would compromise donor trust. Verified

Transparency and Effectiveness

Truthful Communications Communicates truthfully and accurately in fundraising appeals, public communications, and donor reporting. Verified
Active Program Activity Consistent with Mission Demonstrates active program activity consistent with the organization's stated mission and purpose. Verified
Comprehensive Public Financial Disclosure Makes complete financial records and Form 990 (or applicable equivalent) accessible to the public through recognized third-party platforms. Verified
Public Governance and Program Reporting Publicly discloses board composition, key leadership, and detailed program information so donors can see how the organization is run and what it does. Verified
Full Suite of Governance Policies Maintains and discloses a complete framework of governance policies, including whistleblower and document-retention policies in addition to conflict-of-interest protections. Verified
Independent Performance Evaluation Has undergone independent evaluation of financial efficiency, program spending, and operational performance against rigorous sector benchmarks, with results confirming performance at the highest standard. Not verified at this tier

Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation meets our Highly Trusted tier standards. Most Trusted ministries additionally demonstrate independently evaluated performance against sector benchmarks.