Quick Facts on Ecumen

History

• Ecumen is one of the country's largest non-profit senior housing and services companies. We operate a variety of housing options from senior independent living communities to assisted living and long- term care. We provide senior housing development and senior housing management services for other organizations. While we serve people in senior housing communities through home care, we are also focused on innovating in technology and services that don't rely on bricks and mortar..
  
  
• Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Ecumen’s roots extend to 1862, when through the Lutheran Church, foster care services were provided to children. Today Ecumen is one of the country's largest non-profit senior housing, services and development and management companies.
  
  
• Over the years the organization has been known by several different names: Board of the Society of Mercy (1876), Board of Christian Service (1923), Board of Social Ministry (1962), and Ecumen (2004). 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.

Leadership

• Ecumen is a 501(c)(3) organization that is led by a 16-member board of trustees. Its 2006-2007 officers are Loanne Thrane, chair; David Karsnia, vice chair; Keith Halleland, secretary; and John Byom, treasurer.
  
  
• 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. Although affiliated with the ELCA, Ecumen does not receive financial support from the Lutheran Church and raises money through operations and fund development.

Annual Revenues and Operations

• Ecumen’s 2007 revenues were $106 million.
  
  
• Ecumen currently operates 73 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota. Of those 73 communities, Ecumen operates 55 independent living and/or assisted living communities (35 owned, 20 managed) and 18 health care centers (9 owned, 9 managed).  Ecumen also is developing Luther Park at Sandpoint, Idaho.  This community will be owned by First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint and managed by Ecumen.

Total Employees and Customers

• Ecumen-owned and -managed communities employ approximately 4,000 employees and serve 10,000 people annually through housing, community services and consulting services.

Awards

• The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Ecumen as one of Minnesota’s “2005  and 2006, and 2007, Best  Places to Work.”
  
  
• The Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance named Ecumen’s “Innovation Station” as its “2006 Innovation of the Year.