Travelers Aid Society of Philadelphia
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INCORPORATED IN 1915 AS TRAVELERS AID SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, ADVICE, GUIDANCE, PROTECTION, AND SHELTER TO TRAVELERS, FAMILIES FORWARD PHILADELPHIA CONTINUES THIS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 91%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $167,400, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2515 of 15 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 December 31, 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 (6)
- $3.0 million spent. THE FAMILY RESIDENCE, A LARGE RESIDENTIAL FACILITY LOCATED IN WEST PHILADELPHIA, HAS 65 PRIVATE ROOMS FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 500 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR, 60% OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN. WE SPECIALIZE IN ACCOMMODATING LARGER FAMILIES AND ALL FAMILY CONFIGURATIONS, INCLUDING FEMALE AND MALE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD, TWO PARENT FAMILIES, AND FAMILIES WITH MALE CHILDREN OVER AGE 12. ALONG WITH A WELCOMING, CLEAN-LIVING SPACE, WE PROVIDE MEALS, FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT, ACCESS TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE, AND JOB TRAINING AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN INCLUDES TUTORING AND HOMEWORK HELP, AND GRADE AND ATTENDANCE TRACKING.
- $1.8 million spent. THE COMMUNITY HOUSING PROGRAM (CHP) PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL, RAPID AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. STARTED APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS AGO, THE CHP HAS GROWN FROM 20 TO 73 UNITS OF LEASED AND OWNED APARTMENTS AND HOUSES. 64% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE CHILDREN. EIGHT FAMILIES LIVE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNITS FOR 12 TO 18 MONTHS WHILE RECEIVING FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE WITH LOCATING AND MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. FIFTY FAMILIES LIVE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS AND RECEIVE COORDINATED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHILE PAYING A SMALL MONTHLY FEE BASED ON THEIR INCOME. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- $97,333 spent. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO COORDINATE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE LEARNING SUPPORTS TO ALL CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAMS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF HOME VISITS, ONLINE MONITORING OF GRADES AND ATTENDANCE, AND SPONSORING PROGRAMS ON SITE AT OUR FACILITY DURING WHICH FAMILIES CAN INTERACT WITH SCHOOL STAFF AND FAMILIES FORWARD EDUCATION STAFF. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO TRACKS CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES DATA AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INFORMATION ON EACH FAMILY AND CHILD IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM IN ACHIEVING THEIR SERVICE AND EDUCATIONAL PLAN GOALS.
- $3,627 spent. THE 30TH STREET STATION PROJECT IS A PASSENGER ASSISTANCE BOOTH AT 30TH STREET AMTRAK/SEPTA STATION IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. THE BOOTH IS THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF TRAVELERS AID SOCIETY, AND IS LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL CONCOURSE OF THE STATION. IT IS STAFFED DAILY BY VOLUNTEERS. THE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE VISITORS INFORMATION AND TRAVELER ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 90,000 TRAVELERS EACH YEAR.
- PART III, LINE 1 - BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION (CONTINUED): LEGACY TODAY BY PROVIDING FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY SHELTER, COMMUNITY/TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND AN ARRAY OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. ALTHOUGH OUR MISSION HAS PIVOTED TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE STILL AFFILIATED WITH TRAVELERS AID INTERNATIONAL AND OPERATE A VOLUNTEER-LED KIOSK AT 30TH STREET STATION IN PHILADELPHIA AND INFORMATION DESKS AT PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO ASSIST TRAVELERS WITH INFORMATION, MAPS, AND OTHER GUIDANCE. PART III STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LINE 4B (CONTINUED): THREE YEARS AGO, FFP STARTED PROVIDING 15 UNITS OF RAPID-REHOUSING TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. THE FAMILIES RECEIVE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
- THE 30TH STREET STATION PROJECT IS A PASSENGER ASSISTANCE BOOTH AT 30TH STREET AMTRAK/SEPTA STATION IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. THE BOOTH IS THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF TRAVELERS AID SOCIETY, AND IS LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL CONCOURSE OF THE STATION. IT IS STAFFED DAILY BY VOLUNTEERS. THE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE VISITORS INFORMATION AND TRAVELER ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 90,000 TRAVELERS EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1920.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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