Passes our checks

Friends in Sonoma Helping

EIN 23-7441289 · Sonoma, CA

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

What it says it does

Helping neighbors within Sonoma Valley by providing critical safety net services.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 67.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$450,666 spent. Emergency response to meet the immediate basic needs of the financially-distressed, most particularly with food, used clothing, infant diapers, rent payments, utility payments, prescription drugs, medical transportation and other basic needs. During 2024, 2,307 families were provided with food either through the food pantry, home delivery, or the Holiday Food Basket program. 290 families received rental assistance. 287 families received assistance with utility bills. 1,086 rides were given to medical appointments with more than 300 of these for dialysis treatment. 42 grants of gasoline assistance given to help clients drive to out-of-town medical appointments. 349 individuals received durable medical equipment like walkers and rollators. 3000 visited our Clothes Closet for gently used clothing and small housewares.
$17,390 spent. Providing holiday assistance to low income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, foster and emancipated foster children, the homeless and others in the community who would otherwise be unable to celebrate the holiday season.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 2024.
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 February 1975.
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.

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.