Families Thrive Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
FAMILIES THRIVE, INC. IS DEDICATED TO FINDING LOVING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN WAITING IN FOSTER CARE. ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION CHILDREN IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM UNSAFE HOMES, AND OF THESE, 120,000 ARE FREE FOR ADOPTION. THE ORGANIZATIONS SEEKS TO FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR AMERICA'S HARDEST TO PLACE CHILDREN.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $93,374, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 85% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 31, 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. A FULL SERVICE FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AGENCY PLACING CHILDREN WAITING FOR A FOREVER FAMILY OR IN NEED OF A TEMPORARY FOSTER HOME. FAMILIES THRIVE, INC. EDUCATES, TRAINS AND RECRUITS PROSPECTIVE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. STATE REQUIRED FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN HOMES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. CONTRACTING WITH NUMEROUS NYS COUNTIES FOR SERVICES, UNDER NYS OFFICE OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAM FOR FOSTER YOUTH.THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT GROUPS AND TRAININGS SUCH AS MODEL APPROACH TO PARENTING PARTNERSHIPS (MAPPII/GPS) MAPP TRAINING GUIDES FAMILIES SEEKING FOSTERING AND ADOPTION TO ASSIST IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EMOTIONAL, ATTACHMENT, BEHAVIOR AND LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ARE PROVIDED.FAMILIES THRIVE ALSO OFFERS A FULL PROCESS FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES THAT INCLUDE TRAINING, MATCHING/PLACEMENT PRACTICE, AND HOME MONITORING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of March 31, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 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.