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Friendship Shelter Inc

EIN 33-0219404 · Laguna Woods, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDSHIP SHELTER HELPS HOMELESS ADULTS ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$12.8 million
Spending
$13.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
170
Volunteers
492
Highest pay
$138,732, 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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (3)
  1. $9.1 million spent. HOUSING: FRIENDSHIP SHELTER'S HOUSING PROGRAM IS ITS NEWEST AND FASTEST GROWING PROGRAM, AND IS INTENDED FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS WITH A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. CLIENTS ARE HOUSED IN SCATTERED-SITE AND DESIGNATED-SITE APARTMENTS. ALL CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ONGOING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FROM FRIENDSHIP SHELTER STAFF TO ENSURE THEY REMAIN SAFELY AND STABLY HOUSED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 190 FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAM THROUGHOUT SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY.
  2. $2.4 million spent. SHELTER: LOCATED ON SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY IN LAGUNA BEACH, THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM WORKS WITH HOMELESS ADULTS TO SECURE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER INCOME. AT THIS HOUSING FOCUSED SHELTER, ALL CLIENTS RECEIVE MEALS AND AN ARRAY OF SUPPORT SERVICES. WE EMPHASIZE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT CLIENTS THROUGH A MULTILAYERED APPROACH WITH THE GOAL OF SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING, INCOME, AND INCREASED SELF-SUFFICIENCY. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OBTAINED A HOUSING VOUCHER FROM THE COUNTY OF ORANGE. AND, LOCATED ON LAGUNA CANYON ROAD NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO LAGUNA BEACH, FRIENDSHIP SHELTER OPERATES THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH'S ASL EMERGENCY SHELTER. THERE WE PROVIDE SHELTER, MEALS, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO CONNECT GUESTS TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
  3. $510,793 spent. OUTREACH: FRIENDSHIP SHELTER'S OUTREACH PROGRAM STARTED IN 2017 AND HASSINCE GROWN TO INCLUDE A FULL-TIME TEAM AND IS FUNDED BY GENEROUSPRIVATE DONORS AND CALAIM. FRIENDSHIP SHELTER OUTREACH WORKERS QUITE LITERALLY MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, EITHER AT THE BEACH, ON THE STREET, OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. OUR GOAL IS TO ASSESS EACH PERSON WE MEET AND CONNECT THEM TO WHAT THEY NEED: SHELTER, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE, APPROPRIATE PERMANENT HOUSING.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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