Good Friend Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Only 24% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 70 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO CREATE AUTISM AWARENESS, TEACH ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENCES AND FOSTER EMPATHY FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE SUTISM SPECTRUM, WE USE OUR ORIGINAL SHORT FILMS AND DOCUMENTARY AND PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM TO ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF ACCEPTANCE IN SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES AND THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $101,412
- Spending
- $140,303
- Spent on programs
- 24%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 5
- Highest pay
- $23,565, executive director
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
Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 171% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1524% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 70 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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 (4)
- $12,769 spent. Neurodiversity at Work (NaW) program is a comprehensive initiative designed to help employers and employees better understand, support, and include neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. Grounded in Good Friend, Inc.s longstanding mission of fostering empathy, acceptance, and meaningful inclusion for people on the autism spectrum and with other neurodivergent identities, Neurodiversity at Work brings a modern, multimedia approach to organizational learning by combining documentary-style storytelling with practical, action-oriented training modules. The program centers around Good Friend, Inc.s documentary, which features the lived experiences of neurodivergent adults and amplifies authentic voices to challenge stereotypes and increase awareness. The film is paired with a series of interactive e-learning modules, each of which translates real-world scenarios into actionable guidance for supervisors, managers, teams, and human resources professionals. These modules explore key concepts such as sensory considerations, communication differences, executive functioning, psychological safety, accommodations, strengths-based management, and the creation of supportive workplace structures. Through this blended learning model, participants not only gain knowledge but also develop the empathy and practical tools needed to apply inclusive practices in their daily work. During the tax year, Good Friend, Inc. completed a major program milestone by conducting a successful pilot implementation of Neurodiversity at Work with more than 30 employers and employee stakeholder groups across multiple sectors, including corporate offices, manufacturing, health and human services, higher education, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations. This pilot represented a strategic effort to test the programs relevance, accessibility, and effectiveness within a diverse range of professional environments. Employers of varying sizesfrom small businesses to large multi-site corporationsparticipated in the full film-and-module experience and provided detailed feedback through surveys, facilitated discussions, and post-session evaluations. The pilot confirmed a strong demand for structured neurodiversity education in the workplace. Participating employers reported that the program helped them identify previously overlooked barriers that neurodivergent employees may encounter, improved communication practices among teams, and increased organizational readiness to discuss accommodations, support strategies, and inclusive culture-building. Many employee participants expressed that they felt more confident engaging in conversations about neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and peer support after completing the program. For neurodivergent participants specifically, the pilot offered an affirming platform that validated lived experiences and improved feelings of belonging and psychological safety within their workplaces. The qualitative and quantitative results from the pilot supported several significant program enhancements. Based on stakeholder input, Good Friend, Inc. refined module content, updated accessibility features, added clearer examples of inclusive supervisory practices, and tailored scenarios to better address the needs of both frontline employees and leadership teams. Furthermore, the organization expanded supplemental resourcesincluding reflection guides, discussion prompts, and implementation planning worksheetsto ensure employers could continue the learning experience beyond the training session. Through this pilot, Good Friend, Inc. not only advanced its mission of promoting empathy and understanding but also strengthened its capacity to serve employers seeking to attract, support, and retain neurodivergent talent. Many participating organizations requested ongoing access to the program, expressed interest in additional modules, or invited Good Friend, Inc. to provide follow-up sessions for managerial teams and employee resource groups. These requests validated the relevance and effectiveness of the program and helped inform strategic planning for broader rollout. In addition to direct employer training, the Neurodiversity at Work program contributed to broader community awareness. Good Friend, Inc. presented insights from the pilot in conversations with local business associations, workforce development groups, DEI committees, and community partners, helping expand regional understanding of inclusive employment practices. By highlighting both the strengths and challenges experienced by neurodivergent workers, the program played an important role in shaping more informed community conversations about equity and belonging in the workplace. Throughout the year, Neurodiversity at Work aligned closely with Good Friend, Inc.s organizational values by upholding the importance of representation, dignity, and genuine inclusion. As a nonprofit dedicated to improving social, educational, and professional outcomes for neurodivergent individuals, Good Friend, Inc. intentionally designed the program to center lived experience, reduce stigma, and build bridges between neurodivergent and neurotypical colleagues. The positive outcomes of the pilot reinforced the transformative potential of empathy-driven programming in supporting individuals, strengthening teams, and creating healthier organizational cultures. Through the Neurodiversity at Work program and the accomplishments achieved during its pilot year, Good Friend, Inc. made significant progress toward creating workplaces where neurodivergent individuals can thrive. The organizations work in this area continues to elevate the importance of awareness, accessibility, and inclusion across industries and demonstrates Good Friend, Inc.s commitment to fostering environments where differences are respected, supported, and valued.
- $2,031 spent. Good Friend Academy: Online program that includes three courses for educators- one for those working with 5-8 year old, one for 8-11 year old, and one for 11-14 year old. Each have all the multimedia tools educators need to provide Autism awareness, acceptance and empathy training to k-8th grade students. This enables any educator anywhere (with internet access) to help students be more inclusive of their peers with brain-based differences.
- $2,270 spent. Sibshops: Sibshops engage participants who have siblings with brain-based disabilities, such as Autism, youth ages 8-12 and tees ages 13-17 participate in team building exercise, arts and crafts and group discussion activities to facilitate bonding. The program creates a safe space where kids ma share the unique experiences as a sibling to someone with special needs. We are fortunate to have 3 first generation facilitators planning and coordinating the program. Participants return year after year proving that their interaction with peers in similar situations is valued and not replicated by other social experiences or programs. Sibshops run from September to May, serving 12 siblings.
- OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE RELATED TO GOOD FRIEND, INC.'S STAFF DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMS AND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS.
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 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 December 2024.
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 January 2008.
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.