Friends of Larche Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF L'ARCHE ATLANTA IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF L'ARCHE.L'ARCHE (A FRENCH WORD MEANING "THE ARK") BUILDS INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES OF FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP WHERE PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES SHARE LIFE TOGETHER, MAKING EXPLICIT THE DIGNITY OF EVERY HUMAN BEING.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 93
- Highest pay
- $144,735, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% 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
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 February 28, 2026, 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)
- $1.5 million spent. During the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026, FOLA operated the following programs:(i) LArche Home in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur:LArche Atlantas first home, established in 2012, embodies two complementary identities. First and foremost, it is a home where core members and assistants live together in intentional community, sharing daily life and building meaningful relationships. At the same time, it operates as a licensed Community Residential Alternative under the State of Georgias Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, providing professional residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. (ii) LArche Home on Clairemont Avenue in Decatur:LArche Atlantas long-planned second home opened in June 2022 on Clairemont Avenue in Decatur, near Woodlands Garden. Like our founding home in Oakhurst, the Clairemont home is a place where core members and assistants share daily life in intentional community. At the same time, Clairemont also serves as a professional provider of residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. As a licensed Community Residential Alternative under the State of Georgias Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the home operates within the states Medicaid waiver system. (iii) Outreach - Building Community through Social Events:Since January 2010, initially in partnership with several local faith communities, and now through a variety of community partnerships, FOLA has been hosting social events for people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through our in-person and virtual gatherings, we bring the celebration, spirituality, and connection found in the LArche home into the broader community.?At Community Events, people with and without disabilities come together in a place of belonging and welcome. These are monthly events, such as an Open Mic Night, Painting in the Park, or our Holiday Party. The purpose of the events is to come together to have fun, to celebrate the unique value of each person, and build relationships of friendship and support.?At our virtual group meet-ups, smaller groups of people with and without disabilities meet consistently around shared interests in virtual spaces. In FY25-26, LArche hosted trivia, cooking, and faith/prayer CONNEXIONS groups.?In FY25-26, LArche partnered with Holy Trinity Parish to bring together members of both communities for a series of weekly dinners. Each meal was followed by an activity designed to build social connections among church members and LArche core members. In FY25-26, 501 unique individuals joined LArche for virtual and in-person events. LArche connected with 74 people with disabilities (40 people with disabilities joined us three or more times). Collectively, we accounted for 1,651 touchpoints, representing the total number of times people engaged across all programs. These touchpoints reflect more than just attendancethey represent meaningful opportunities for connection, helping to reduce isolation, foster a sense of belonging, and build inclusive community for people with and without disabilities.LArche in the World:LArche began in a small town in France in 1964. Three mentwo with developmental disabilities and one withoutcalled the home LArche (pronounced larsh), which is the French word for The Ark. The men developed a profound friendship and sense of community. Inspired by the beauty of this simple life together, others have gone on to begin LArche communities throughout the world.The International Federation of LArche now encompasses 160+ member communities established as independent entities in 38 countries, on 6 continents. LArche creates community for people of all abilities, placing mutual relationships at the heart of the journey together. LArches primary means of doing so is through homes where people with and without developmental disabilities share life together and create relationships with the larger community.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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 February 2026.
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 November 2005.
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.
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.