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Fish Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut Inc

EIN 06-0878637 · Torrington, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FISH/FRIENDS IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY OF NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE THE MOST BASIC OF HUMAN NEEDS - FOOD, SHELTER, AND HOPE TO FAMILIES, VETERANS AND INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$917,139
Spending
$827,439
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$109,563, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $464,085 spent. FISH NWCT HOMELESS SHELTER FOR FAMILIES, VETERANS AND INDIVIDUALS (35 BEDS, 10 OF WHICH ARE DESIGNATED FOR VETS) WHICH LAST YEAR HAD 11,710 BED NIGHTS USED. THIS REPRESENTED 84 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS 59 ADULTS, 11 CHILDREN AND 14 VETERANS. ALSO PROVIDED: CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, GED AND COMPUTER CLASSES, JOB COACHING, AA MEETINGS, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS IN A SAFE AND SECURE, FAMILY FRIENDLY, COMMUNAL SETTING.
  2. $124,959 spent. FISH NWCT FOOD PANTRY FISH DISTRIBUTED ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE OVER 60,000 MEALS TO APPROXIMATELY 1,000 AREA FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED THIS LAST YEAR.
  3. $118,407 spent. VETERANS PROGRAM AT THE FISH NWCT HOMELESS SHELTER VETS FOR LIFE. FISH NWCT PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS THROUGH A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.