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Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children

EIN 23-1381006 · West Chester, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1822, FRIENDS ASSOCIATION IS A CHESTER COUNTY NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS TO REDUCING AND ENDING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS. FRIENDS STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY HOUSING, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES THAT PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. OUR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FOUR KEY AREAS: PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEIR STABILITY, AND PROMOTING SYSTEMIC CHANGE.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
35
Volunteers
230
Highest pay
$143,207, ceo

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 (6)
  1. $394,033 spent. THE NIA PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE CASE MANAMEMENT WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY INCARCERATION IN CHESTER COUNTY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HOLISTIC REENTRY SERVICES FOR WOMEN RETURNING TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND WORKS TOWARDS RE-ESTABLISHING CRITICAL BONDS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND SECURE LONG-TERM STABLE HOUSING AFTER A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION.
  2. $946,207 spent. THE EVICTION PREVENTION CASE RESOLUTION (EPCR) PROGRAM STABILIZES VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION IN PARTICIPATING COURTS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH FREE LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT ON THE DAY OF THEIR EVICTION HEARING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT EVICTIONS, AND CONNECTIONS TO LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING SUBSIDIES, HOUSING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS, AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS NEEDED TO PREVENT FUTURE HOUSING INSTABILITY. 600 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024 ; 3% WERE SENIOR CITIZENS;10 % WERE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5; AND 81% OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED RESULTED IN A FAVORABLE TENANT OUTCOME WITH PARTICIPATNS MAINTAINING HOUSING. SINCE 2020, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED A COMBINATION OF SERVICES TO OVER 1,443 HOUSEHOLDS REPRESENTING A TOTAL OF 2,699+ INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS[1]. [1] FIGURES PROVIDED ARE AS PER EPCR CLIENTS IN PROGRAMS DATA REPORT FROM THE COUNTY HMIS SYSTEM.
  3. $439,218 spent. THE EMERGENCY HOUSING (FAMILY CENTER) HOUSES FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS REFERRED THROUGH THE COUNTY'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, IN ONE OF SIX APARTMENT UNITS. EACH FAMILY LIVES AUTONOMOUSLY IN AN APARTMENT FOR 90-360 DAYS AS THEY WORK WITH THEIR CASE MANAGER TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING, CREATE A HOUSING STABILITY CASE PLAN, INCREASE INCOME, AND ACCESS MAINSTREAM BENEFITS. PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH INFANTS ARE IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED WITH THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCE CONNECTIONS. TAKING A TWO-GENERATION APPROACH, WE COORDINATE HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING ACCESS (HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START) FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 MAKE UP 23% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION AT THE FAMILY CENTER. FRIENDS' FAMILY CENTER IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY LOW-BARRIEREMERGENCY HOUSING IN THE COUNTY THAT CAN HOUSE ENTIRE FAMILY UNITS TOGETHER THROUGH THEIR TIME OF CRISIS. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024, 77% OF FAMILIES MOVED DIRECTLY TO STABLE HOUSING FROM THE FAMILY CENTER.
  4. $155,504 spent. THE HOUSING STABILITY CASE MANAGEMENT (HSCM) PROGRAM PROVIDES LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT AND IS AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, OR RECENTLY MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING FROM ANY EMERGENCY HOUSING IN THE COUNTY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CONTINUED CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE, AND RESOURCES TO EMPOWER FAMILIES AND REDUCE THE RISK OF A FAMILY'S RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FAMILIES NOT ONLY OBTAIN HOUSING BUT TO KEEP IT.
  5. $31,300 spent. THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM ASSISTS FAMILIES FACING A HOUSING CRISIS. SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS COMBINED WITH LANDLORD MEDIATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION TO KEEP FAMILIES SAFELY HOUSED. SERVICES INCLUDED GENDER-SPECIFIC, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR WOMEN WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
  6. $2,680 spent. SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

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 August 1934.

    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.

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