Friends Program Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FRIENDS PROGRAM BUILDS POSITIVE CONNECTIONS AND SOLUTIONS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH, FAMILIES AND SENIORS.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 475
- Highest pay
- $65,748, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $440,910 spent. FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM - THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEEDY CHILDREN AND LOVING RETIRED ADULTS WHO HAVE ALL BEEN DEEPLY ENRICHED BY NEW RELATIONSHIPS. WE TRAIN AND PLACE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT CHILDCARE CENTERS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SET CHILDREN ON THE PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM PAYS A TAX-FREE STIPEND TO INCOME ELIGIBLE RETIREES TO HELP THEM AFFORD TO VOLUNTEER AND MAKE ENDS MEET.THE PROGRAM IS BUILT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY EDUCATE AND HELP CHILDREN FLOURISH, AND THE NEEDS AND CHOICES OF RETIRED VOLUNTEERS. PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE THE AGE OF CHILDREN THEY ENJOY MOST AND THE TIMES THEY PREFER TO SERVE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE OTHER INTERESTS AS WELL.
- $327,105 spent. EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, PROVIDING 24-HOUR, 7 DAYS A WEEK STAFFING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING, AFTERCARE AND OUTREACH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AT RISK OF FUTURE HOMELESSNESS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ASSIST THEM IN ACQUIRING LONG-TERM SKILLS AND ACCESSING RESOURCES TO FIND AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS FOR FAMILIES. FOUNDED ON ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF SAFETY, SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO HELP RESIDENTS FIND A SAFE, CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE, AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER AS A UNIT SETS THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS AT ACHIEVING INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS.
- $217,339 spent. RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS RSVP PROVIDES ABOUT 300 VOLUNTEERS TO OVER 130 NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM SERVE THEIR CLIENTS AND MEET THEIR MISSIONS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 32,000 HOURS EACH YEAR TO HELP MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS IN MERRIMACK, ROCKINGHAM, BELKNAP, AND STRAFFORD COUNTIES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED IN MORE THAN 200 DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS, BASED UPON THEIR OWN INTERESTS, TALENTS AND TIME AVAILABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HELP OLDER ADULTS LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY BY DRIVING THEM TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND THE GROCERY STORE. THEY PROVIDE ISOLATION-REDUCING COMPANIONSHIP TO THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED. OTHERS SERVE AS TUTORS AND MENTORS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND BLOOD DRIVES. MANY VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE OR MANAGE LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS AND FOOD BANKS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THEY PREPARE AND DELIVER THOUSANDS OF MEALS EACH YEAR. THEY PROVIDE CLERICAL AND OTHER OFFICE ASSISTANCE. THEY PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION AND ASSIST WITH STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE MUSEUM DOCENTS AND CULTURAL EVENT USHERS, ORGANIZERS AND FUNDRAISERS. VOLUNTEERS VISIT VETERANS HOMES AND VISIT HOSPICES TO EASE THE PAIN AND LONELINESS AT THE END OF LIFE. MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, AND NEW ONES CAN BE CREATED TO MEET NEW NEEDS.
- $88,493 spent. YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM USES DIFFERENT MENTORING MODELS TO WORK WITH A BROAD RANGE OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS IN NEED OF A MENTOR BY RERERRAL SOURCE. YOUTH MENTORS ARE VOLUNTEERS, AGE 16 AND UP, THAT ARE SELECTIVELY MATCHED WITH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH IN A ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP THAT HELPS MENTEES GAIN CONFIDENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY.THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH A SUPPORTIVE, NON-JUDGMENTAL MENTOR WHO CAN SERVE AS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL, WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEIR PROBLEMS, AND WHO WILL PROVIDE THEM A WINDOW TO THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. YOUTH MENTORS HELP CHILDREN REALIZE THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL, HAVE POTENTIAL, AND CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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