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Friends in Action

EIN 26-3890685 · Durham, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY CREATING INCLUSIVE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Income
$443,517
Spending
$371,639
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
18
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$88,560, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $255,318 spent. FRIENDS IN ACTION IS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP, LAUGHTER, COMPANIONSHIP, FUN, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. EVERYTHING THAT WE ALL WANT IN OUR LIVES TO MAKE US HAPPY. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE VERY ISOLATED HAVE REAL, MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS, PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO AND PEOPLE TO MEET. TO HAVE SOMETHING AND SOMEONE TO LOOK FORWARD TO. FRIENDS IN ACTION CURRENTLY SERVES ABOUT 180 PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. OVER 200 PEOPLE VOLUNTEER DURING THE YEAR. FRIENDS IN ACTION ADDED A NEW PROGRAM IN 2015. ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, PARTICIPANTS VOLUNTEER AT ECHO THRIFT SHOP ALONGSIDE UNH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. PARTICIPANTS LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT IS VERY SOCIAL WHILE VOLUNTEERING IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT WITH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. PROGRAMS:ZOOM PROGRAMS: WEEKLY ZOOM PROGRAM ARE OFFERED INCLUDING DISNEY SING-A-LONG, TRIVIA AND MOVEMENT.WILDCAT FRIENDS WILDCAT FRIENDS GIVES YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES A COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. THE GOAL IS FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES TO EXPERIENCE COLLEGE IN A MEANINGFUL AND STIMULATING WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO INTERACT AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, DISCOVER A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING, AND TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS TYPICAL OF THEIR PEERS. A TYPICAL DAY AT WILDCAT FRIENDS INCLUDES A THEATER CLASS, A RECREATION ACTIVITY, A MEAL AT A DINING HALL, AND AN EDUCATIONAL CLASS GEARED TOWARDS THE SPECIFIC INTERESTS OF PARTICIPANTS. EACH SEMESTER, OVER 100 STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND DORMS VOLUNTEER, MAKING THIS AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLABORATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.THEATER CLASSTHE END OF THE SEMESTER THEATER PRODUCTION IS A HIGHLIGHT OF EACH SEMESTER AT WILDCAT FRIENDS. AFTER THREE MONTHS OF PRACTICE, PARTICIPANTS PUT ON A SHOW FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND UNH STUDENTS. EACH SHOW IS UNIQUE, WITH PARTICIPANTS PICKING THEIR FAVORITE SONGS TO WORK WITH. THEATER IS MORE THAN JUST ACTING, SONG AND DANCE, HOWEVER. THEATER HELPS PARTICIPANTS WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE, SPEECH AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. SOME PARTICIPANTS ARE MORE TALKATIVE AND INTERACTIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS SINCE BECOMING INVOLVED IN THEATER.BASKETBALL CLUB BASKETBALL CLUB WAS THE FIRST PROGRAM STARTED BY FRIENDS IN ACTION IN 2000. IT IS A FAVORITE FOR MANY AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 17 YEARS. NO MATTER WHAT ABILITIES PARTICIPANTS BRING TO THE COURT, THE GAMES ARE ALL ABOUT PASSING, TEAMWORK AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER FOR FUN PICK-UP STYLE GAMES.BOWLING CLUBBOWLING CLUB MEETS TWICE PER MONTH ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY. PARTICIPANTS BOWL, SOCIALIZE AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER. BOWLING TAKES PLACE AT BOWL-O-RAMA IN PORTSMOUTH FROM 6:00-7:30. PARTICIPANTS BOWL AS MANY GAMES AS POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME.FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIALFRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL IS A GATHERING OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MANY DIFFERENT AREA TOWNS. PARTICIPANTS PLAY BASKETBALL, DANCE TO MUSIC PROVIDED BY A DJ, MAKE CRAFT PROJECTS, PLAY GAMES, EAT PIZZA AND SOCIALIZE. UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STUDENTS VOLUNTEER REGULARLY. FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL IS FRIENDS IN ACTION'S MOST POPULAR PROGRAM, WITH 60-80 PEOPLE PARTICIPATING REGULARLY.MOVIE CLUBEVERYONE ENJOYS LAUGHING, CRYING, GETTING SCARED, BEING INSPIRED AND BEING ENTERTAINED TOGETHER. MOVIE CLUB IS JUST THE PLACE. TWICE A MONTH A GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS MEET AT THE LOCAL MOVIE THEATER ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAY TO ENJOY A GOOD MOVIE AND SOME POPCORN TOGETHER. ECHO THRIFT SHOPON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, FRIENDS IN ACTION IS IN CHARGE OF RUNNING ECHO THRIFT SHOP, A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNED AND RUN BY THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DURHAM. ALMOST 40 PARTICIPANTS VOLUNTEER EACH WEEK ALONGSIDE UNH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS AND HAVE A SOCIAL EXPERIENCE.ARTS AND GAMES CLUBEVERY TUESDAY PARTICIPANTS COME TO EITHER PLAY BOARD OR CARD GAMES OR THEY COME TO MAKE ART PROJECTS. THERE ARE ABOUT 30 PARTICIPANTS WHO TAKE PART IN THIS CLUB EVERY WEEK. MUSIC EXPRESSIONEVERY THURSDAY A GROUP OF 30-35 PARTICIPANTS COMES AND MOVES TO MUSIC IN THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 March 2009.

    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 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.