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Friends Against Abuse

EIN 41-1454505 · Intl Falls, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS AGAINST ABUSE SUPPORTS VICTIMS OF CRIME THROUGH ADVOCACY, DIRECT SERVICES, AND EDUCATION. WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, FOSTERING HEALING FOR ALL.

Income
$456,512
Spending
$398,226
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
10
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$79,059, 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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 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 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $227,854 spent. THE MAJORITY OF WORK DONE BY FRIENDS AGAINST ABUSE IS ADVOCACY - CRIME VICTIM ADVOCACY. IN 2025 THERE WERE THREE ADVOCATES COVERING KOOCHICHING AND LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTIES. THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS. THE ADVOCATES ASSIST VICTIMS WITH FILING COURT DOCUMENTS. THE ADVOCATES ATTEND COURT ON BEHALF OF THEIR CLIENTS. THE WORK OF FRIENDS AGAINST ABUSE IS CENTERED AROUND THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE AND THEIR WORK. THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES ACCOUNT FOR THE GREATEST EXPENSE AND THEY HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE. IN 2025, THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES SERVED 248 VICTIMS OF CRIME. DURING THAT TIME THERE WERE 107 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 85 VICTIMS GENERAL CRIMES AND 26 VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT (25 OF THE VICTIMS WERE CHILDREN).
  2. $34,548 spent. THE 24/7 CRISIS LINE IS ANSWERED BY VOLUNTEER PHONE ADVOCATES WHO ANSWER CALLS OUTSIDE OF THE BUSINESS DAY. IN 2025 THEY ANSWERED 52 CALLS. NORMALLY, THE NUMBER OF CALLS INTO THE CRISIS LINE RANGE FROM 170 TO 270 CALLS PER YEAR. THE PHONE ADVOCATES RECEIVE A SMALL STIPEND WHICH IS LESS THAN FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, SO THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE UNITED WAY OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND DONATIONS FROM LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS.
  3. $18,590 spent. THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES PROVIDE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES TO VICTIMS OF CRIME. WE CALL THAT DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES. DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES INCLUDES SAFE HOUSING, RENT, STORAGE UNIT RENTAL, PHONE, PHONE REPLACEMENT, CELLULAR MINUTES, GAS CARDS, FOOD CARDS, LOCAL BUS TICKETS, LOCK RE-KEY/LOCK REPLACEMENT, MOTION LIGHTS, RING CAMERA OR A BUS TICKET TO ST. CLOUD. IN 2025, FRIENDS AGAINST ABUSE PROVIDED $8,571 IN DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN KOOCHICHING AND LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTIES.
  4. $15,995 spent. SUPERVISED VISITATION ALLOWS CHILDREN TO VISIT WITH THEIR NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT IN A SAFE AND SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT. IN 2025, FRIENDS AGAINST ABUSE PROVIDED 216 HOURS OF SUPERVISED VISITATION SERVICES.
  5. $4,323 spent. IN 2025, THERE WERE 26 SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ASSAULTS (25) HAPPENED TO CHILDREN. OUR RESPONSE TO THIS CONCERN WAS TO OBTAIN TRAINING THROUGH THE FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER. THE TRAINING, SAFE AND STRONG CHILD, IS A CURRICULUM ABOUT BODY SAFETY THAT IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR GRADES K-6. IN 2025, THE SAFE AND STRONG CHILD CURRICULUM WAS PRESENTED TO 42 CLASSROOMS AND 416 STUDENTS.

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 1985.

    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.