Family Assistance Ministries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES IS A FAITH-BASED CHARITABLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ASSISTING THOSE IN NEED IN SOUTHERN ORANGE COUNTY WITH RESOURCES FOR FOOD, SHELTER, AND PERSONALIZED COUNSEL AND AID, HELPING CLIENTS BRIDGE THE GAP FROM DEPENDENCY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
- Income
- $8.6 million
- Spending
- $8.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 1,765
- Highest pay
- $239,790, chief executive officer
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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $5.6 million spent. HUNGER PREVENTION FOOD PANTRY: EMERGENCY AND ONGOING NUTRITIOUS FOOD ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HUNGRY. THE FOOD IS PART OF THEIR OVERALL FINANCIAL PLAN TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR 5-DAYS A WEEK, FRESH RESCUES FROM LOCAL GROCERY STORES, USDA FOOD, SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, AND FOOD DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, SCOUTS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IN FY 2024/25, WE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED $3.9M WORTH OF FOOD. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WHILE PROVIDING THIS NOURISHMENT AND HELPING TO MEET FAMILIES' BASIC NEEDS, FAM OFFERS HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, WHICH ENABLES US TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR WEEKLY GROCERY PICK-UPS, ADDING DIAPERS, WIPES, BABY FOOD, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS, KITCHEN SUPPLIES, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS, AS NEEDED. THROUGH OUR INDIVIDUALIZED WORK WITH CLIENTS, WE ALSO CAN ASSIST THEM WITH HOUSEHOLD BUDGETING, HOUSING LINKAGES, RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND CARE COORDINATION TO HELP FAMILIES MOVE FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY.
- $1.0 million spent. HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES: DIVERSION AND PREVENTION ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF FAM'S HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM. CASE MANAGEMENT INCLUDING FINANCIAL COUNSEL, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, CAR REPAIR, CAR REGISTRATION, BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, JOB SEARCH COACHING, SENIOR-SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE ARE EXAMPLES OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS SEEKING A HAND-UP. ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AS A PART OF AN OVERALL FINANCIAL STABILIZING PLAN. BILLS ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO SERVICE PROVIDERS. FAM EXPANDED ITS OUTREACH BY OPENING A SECOND RESOURCE CENTER THAT WILL ALLOW FOR CLIENTS TO RECEIVE SERVICES CLOSER TO HOME. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CLIENTS CAN NOW ACCESS SERVICES AT FAM'S TWO RESOURCE CENTERS AND THREE SATELLITE LOCATIONS. ALSO NEW FOR FAM ARE THE SERVICES WE NOW PROVIDE TO ASSIST MEDICAL CLIENTS WITH SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING NAVIGATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND SEEKING PERMANENT HOUSING, HOUSING DEPOSITS TO HELP WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS, FIRST MONTHS RENT AND HOUSEHOLD SET-UP, HOUSING SUSTAINABILITY TO HELP WITH LANDLORD RELATIONS AND REFERRALS FOR OTHER SERVICES NEEDED, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TO HELP WITH BUDGETING, BANKING AND MUCH MORE.
- $436,612 spent. FAM PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (PSH) FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE A DIAGNOSED MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY. FAM IS THE MASTER LEASE HOLDER ON THESE SCATTERED SITE APARTMENTS. CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED FOOD, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, TENANT EDUCATION, CONNECTION TO A HEALTH HOME, A SUPPORT TEAM THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
- $272,880 spent. FAMILY HOUSE: FAMILY HOUSE SERVES A CRITICAL ROLE AS THE ONLY EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED FAMILIES IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM SAFELY HOUSES SINGLE DADS, SINGLE MOMS, DUAL PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, THEIR CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN, OFFERING THEM HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND CONNECTING THEM TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND A HEALTH HOME. DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS WERE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER. FINANCIAL COUNSELING, JOB SEARCH COACHING, AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS CLASSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, CLOTHING, DIAPERS, BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HOLIDAY GIFTS, AN AFTER-SCHOOL HOMEWORK PROGRAM THAT FOLLOWS THEM WHEN THEY MOVE TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND REFERRALS FOR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDED ARE ALSO PROVIDED. FAM INSTITUTED A FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM TO ASSIST CLIENTS AS THEY TRANSITION TO THEIR NEXT HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. THE GOAL IS TO HELP CLIENTS GRADUATE INTO THEIR OWN STABLE HOUSING AS QUICKY AS POSSIBLE.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 2000.
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 October 21, 2026.
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