True Friends
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
- Income
- $10.1 million
- Spending
- $8.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 48%
- Employees
- 385
- Volunteers
- 219
- Highest pay
- $169,800, president & ceo
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 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)
- $2.8 million spent. RESIDENTIAL CAMPPROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO ENJOY THE BENEFIT FROM YEAR-ROUND, OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES OFFERED AT CAMP FRIENDSHIP, CAMP EDEN WOOD AND CAMP COURAGE. TRADITIONAL CAMP, RESORT ACTIVITIES AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS HELP CREATE NEW SKILLS, BUILD CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE, AND APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSITY IN HUMAN BEINGS. DAY CAMP AND WINTER CAMP PROGRAMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.
- $2.0 million spent. EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICESPROGRAM PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS, YOUTH AT RISK, AND OTHER NONPROFIT GROUPS AND TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND WORK RELATED TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES. HIGH AND LOW ROPES COURSES, ZIP LINES AND CLIMBING TOWERS ARE UTILIZED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP TEAM DYNAMICS.
- $902,033 spent. THERAPY AND ADAPTIVE RIDINGPROGRAM PROVIDES HIPPOTHERAPY, THERAPEUTIC RIDING, AND HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE RIDING THERAPY TAKES PLACE AT CAMP COURAGE. THERAPY AND ADAPTIVE RIDING PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES TO EXPERIENCE EXCEPTIONAL EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES BY FACILITATING THE HORSE CAMP PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL RESPITE PROGRAMMING.
- $1.6 million spent. RESPITE AND FAMILY SERVICESPROGRAM PROVIDES A BREAK FROM THE DAILY DEMANDS OF CARING FOR A CHILD OR ADULT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND WEEKDAY RESPITE CARE PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS CHILDREN AND ADULTS A HOME-LIKE SETTING TO RELAX AND RE-ENERGIZE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.