Facts

What We Do

Ecumen operates a variety of senior housing options and services from senior independent living communities to assisted living and long- term care and at-home and community-based services. In addition to our consumer services, we provide senior housing development, clinical consulting and senior housing management services for organizations outside of Ecumen.

Ecumen’s roots extend to the early 1860s, when through the Lutheran Church, we provided foster care services to children. In the early 1900s, Ecumen’s predecessor organizations began providing senior housing and services. Ecumen is today affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Before becoming Ecumen in 2004, the organization has been known by several different names: Board of the Society of Mercy (1876), Board of Christian Service (1923), and the Board of Social Ministry (1962).
The name Ecumen comes from the Greek word for home: “oikos.” It underscores our mission to create “Home” for older adults wherever they choose to live.

Ecumen is a 501(c)(3) organization that is led by a 17-member board of trustees. Its 2010 officers are Keith Halleland, chair; John Byom, vice chair; Lynn Anderson, treasurer; and Loanne Thrane, secretary.
Trustees are elected by the Members Assembly, which are representatives of each of the six Minnesota synods of the ELCA. Kathryn Roberts was appointed as Ecumen’s chief executive officer and president in 2003. Ecumen does not receive financial support from the ELCA and raises money through operations and fund development.

Ecumen’s 2009 revenues were $125.8 million
Ecumen currently operates 70 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and Idaho. Of those 70 communities, Ecumen operates 54 independent living and/or assisted living communities (37 owned, 17 managed) and 16 health care centers (8 owned, 8 managed).

Ecumen-owned and -managed communities employ approximately 4,000 employees and serve more than 10,000 people.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Ecumen as one of Minnesota’s “Best Places to Work” in 2005 through 2009.