# Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) ## Basic Info **Name:** Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) **What is it:** A restorationist Christian church founded in the United States in the 19th century, also known as the Mormon Church. **Who is involved:** **Location:** Global presence; headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. **Link:** [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org) --- ## Entries **The Widow’s Mite Report**: A volunteer-led initiative created by anonymous contributors to promote financial transparency within the LDS Church using publicly accessible data. The project does not accept external donations and does not publish anonymously leaked or confidential documents. Its financial oversight extends beyond the Church itself to include its various affiliated entities, such as [[LDS Charities]] (social outreach), [[Deseret Management Corporation]] (administration), [[Ensign Peak (LDS Endowment Fund)]] (investment management), [[Brigham Young University (BYU)]] (education), and religious operations. **Deseret Management Corporation (DMC)**: A global for-profit holding company owned by the LDS Church, DMC consolidates the Church’s commercial activities, including insurance services (used by missionaries worldwide), radio stations, book publishers, print media, and real estate holdings—particularly in downtown Salt Lake City. As of April 2025, the company employs approximately 1,000 individuals across North America, with estimated annual revenues ranging between $100 million and $250 million. ​ **Ensign Peak Advisors**: The primary investment management firm for the LDS Church, handling its endowment and financial reserves. As of December 2024, the firm manages assets totaling approximately $56.27 billion USD. **LDS Charities**: The humanitarian arm of the LDS Church, LDS Charities (formerly _LDS Humanitarian Services_), is responsible for the Church’s charitable outreach to non-members. In 2023, the Church reported $1.36 billion in expenditures across 4,119 humanitarian projects in 191 countries and territories. Social programs designed specifically for members are funded through LDS Philanthropies. **Deseret Industries (DI)**: A nonprofit social enterprise operated by the LDS Church as part of its welfare program. DI provides temporary employment, job training, and rehabilitation opportunities to church members experiencing social or economic hardship. It operates thrift stores across the western United States, where individuals gain work experience while receiving support for long-term self-reliance. **LDS Philanthropies**: The branch of the LDS Church responsible for organizing social investments aimed primarily at church members. It oversees internal welfare programs and funds institutions such as Mormon-run schools, [[Perpetual Education Fund (PEF)]], [[Brigham Young University (BYU)]] and the [[FamilySearch Foundation]]. **Perpetual Education Fund (PEF)**: Established in 2001, PEF is a private fund of the LDS Church that provides subsidized loans to its members to support access to higher education, especially in developing countries. As of November 2024, the program has assisted approximately 113,000 individuals in over 80 countries. PEF loans average about $800, with repayment terms typically spanning 2–6 years at a 3–4% interest rate. **Brigham Young University (BYU)**: a private research university located in Provo, Utah, operated by the LDS. As of Fall 2024, BYU enrolls approximately 35,743 daytime students, offering 198 undergraduate majors and 96 master's programs. The university's endowment (3.12 billion USD) provides a spendable income at a rate of 4.5% for the 2025 budget year. **FamilySearch Foundation**: a nonprofit organization affiliated with the LDS dedicated to providing free genealogical records and services worldwide.