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Mercer Street Friends Center

EIN 21-0733990 · Trenton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A MULTI-FACETED HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, MERCER STREET FRIENDS (MSF) DEDICATED TO "NOURISHING MINDS AND BODIES; EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES," WORKS TO REDUCE HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY, CLOSE EDUCATION GAPS, IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF AT-RISK POPULATIONS, AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN TRENTON AND MERCER COUNTY. MSF HAS IDENTIFIED THREE AREAS THAT ARE CORE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY POVERTY: FOOD, FAMILY, AND EDUCATION. AS THE FOOD BANK OF MERCER COUNTY AND ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN NEW JERSEY LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MOVEMENT, MERCER STREET FRIENDS OFFERS FAMILIES SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AWAY FROM A LIFE OF POVERTY, INTO A LIFE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE GREATER TRENTON AREA AND THROUGHOUT MERCER COUNTY.

Income
$21.9 million
Spending
$21.7 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
182
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$158,248, coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 June 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)
  1. $3.4 million spent. EDUCATION- MERCER STREET FRIENDS HAS SERVED AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN MERCER COUNTY SINCE 2015. WE'RE WORKING WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS, CASE MANAGERS, THE TRENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND HELP THEM THRIVE NOT JUST IN ACADEMICS, BUT ALL ASPECTS OF A HEALTHY LIFE.MERCER STREET FRIENDS PRESCHOOL LOCATED AT 1201 WEST STATE STREET IN TRENTON HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING PARENTS PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN TO TRANSITION FROM PRESCHOOL TO KINDERGARTEN FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. EACH YEAR, 90 CHILDREN RECEIVE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION (INCLUDING EARLY READING ACTIVITIES) AND LEARN SOCIAL SKILLS HELPING THEM FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO DO NEW THINGS.OUR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED WITH THE GOAL OF EARNING A NEW JERSEY STATE DIPLOMA. WE FOCUS ON STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, TEST PREPARATION, AND MEASURABLE ACADEMIC PROGRESS. ALONG THE JOURNEY, WE PROUDLY CELEBRATE EACH MILESTONE AND EVERY SUCCESS OUR ADULT STUDENTS ACCOMPLISH. EXPANDED SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN TRENTON, AND HOW WE'RE WORKING EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE WAY THEY NEED US TO.
  2. $15.4 million spent. FOOD- AS THE FEEDING AMERICA FOOD BANK OF MERCER COUNTY, MERCER STREET FRIENDS IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATELY DONATED FOOD TARGETED FOR HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE FOOD BANK CHANNELS MILLIONS OF MEALS TO A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 150+ FOOD PANTRIES, SHELTERS, SOUP KITCHENS, MEAL SITES, SENIOR CENTERS, PROGRAMS FOR THE DISABLED, AND LOW-INCOME HOUSING SITES THROUGH A ROBUST NETWORK OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. UPDATED OUR NEW 42,000 SQ FOOT FOOD BANK AT 3 GRAPHICS DRIVE IN EWING, WHICH ALLOWS US TO BETTER SERVE OUR 150+ PANTRY PARTNERS, PROVIDING NEARLY 7 MILLION MEALS TO OVER 140,000 MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. FAMILY- OUR FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAMS GIVE PARENTS THE GUIDANCE, RESOURCES, AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN GROW AND THRIVE DURING THE IMPORTANT EARLY YEARS OF LIFE. OUR TWO HOME VISITING PROGRAMS - TRENTON HEALTHY FAMILIES TIP AND PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) PROGRAM - ARE PART OF A FULL RANGE OF SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
  4. $231,082 spent. YOUTH SERVICES AND OTHER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1960.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.