Inspiritus is a nonprofit organization created by a coalition of Lutheran churches in Georgia to provide social services in the southeast United States. ¹ It provides housing, travel, and assimilation assistance to immigrants as well as foster care and disaster relief services. ^{2 3 4}

Inspiritus has provided services for immigrants and refugees since its inception. It solicits funding to pay for housing and living costs of refugees and other immigrants and advocates for community members to offer to house immigrants in their own homes. ⁵

Background

Inspiritus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides immigration assistance and other social services. It was founded in 1981 as Lutheran Ministries of Georgia. Based in Atlanta and consisting of 18 Lutheran churches, the group sought to provide “social ministry” services in the Sunbelt region. In 2003, it changed its name to Lutheran Services of Georgia before eventually changing its name to Inspiritus in 2019 after combining with Lutheran Services in Tennessee. ¹

In 2022, Inspiritus claimed to assist over 5,800 victims of natural disasters, soliciting volunteers to help rebuild homes affected by tornados in Western Kentucky, flooding in Eastern Kentucky, and Hurricane Ian in Florida. ³

Inspiritus partners with Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) as a State of Hope site to provide foster care services. It provides training to prospective foster parents and specializes in providing foster care services for children with “significant medical and behavioral challenges.” ⁴

Immigrant Services

Inspiritus offers its refugee services through its Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, and Savannah locations. According to its website, Inspiritus provides social services to “hundreds” of refugees, asylees, and immigrants each year and is an affiliate organization of Lutheran Refugee and Immigration Service (LIRS). ²

Inspiritus provides immigrants with low-cost legal services, assistance with moving, and assistance with integrating into American society. It claims to offer what it describes as “cultural orientation” for immigrants and solicits volunteers to assist immigrants with assimilation. Inspiritus states that it provides up to one year cash assistance for refugees and other immigrants, employment and business development assistance, and after-school programs for youths. ²

Inspiritus also helps find temporary guardians for accompanied minors until they can be reunited with their parents. It states that it uses the required federal fingerprint background check when recruiting guardians. Inspiritus also states that it provides care programs for immigrant victims of human trafficking. ²

Leadership

John Moeller has worked as CEO of Inspiritus since 2017. Previously, he was CEO of Action Ministries in Atlanta. He is a United Methodist Church ordained minister. ⁶

Financials

In 2022, Inspiritus reported $17.9 million in total revenue, according to its tax returns. ⁷ It also reported spending $6.0 million on grants and $6.3 million on salaries and compensation for its employees and having $16.1 million in total expenditures. ⁸ Inspiritus’ grantmaking for 2022 included $2.98 million in cash grants to 906 individuals, which were reported as “client benefits,” and $2.97 million in contributions to 121 recipients that were reported as “client per diem[s].” ⁹

1. “History.” Inspiritus. Accessed February 11, 2024. https://weinspirit.org/our-history.
2. “Refugee & Immigrant Services.” Inspiritus. Accessed February 11, 2024. https://weinspirit.org/refugees
3. “DISASTER RELIEF: 2022 INSPIRITUS PROGRAM REPORT.” Inspiritus, 2022. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/560c061ce4b0fbc485952198/t/64c3e929e58f380676511a91/1690560817686/DR+Annual+Report+2022+FINAL.pdf
4. “Children & Family Services.” Inspiritus. Accessed February 11, 2024. https://weinspirit.org/childrenfamilyservices.
5. Jackson, Alyssa. “Nonprofit Expecting to Welcome around 80,000 Afghan Refugees in Us over the next Couple Years.” https://www.wtoc.com, August 23, 2021. https://www.wtoc.com/2021/08/23/nonprofit-expecting-welcome-around-80000-afghanistan-refugees-over-next-couple-years/.
6. “Leadership.” Inspiritus. Accessed February 11, 2024. https://weinspirit.org/our-leadership.
7. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). Inspiritus Inc. 2022. Part I, Line 12.
8. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). Inspiritus Inc. 2022. Part I, Lines 13-18.
9. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). Inspiritus Inc. 2022. Schedule I, Part III.