Network for Better Futures
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BETTER FUTURES FUELS A MAN'S DESIRE TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND AND WALK A NEW PATH TOWARD BETTER HEALTH AND SUCCESS. IT ALSO AIMS TO CHANGE THE COSTLY PRACTICES THAT PRODUCE POOR RESULTS AND PERPETUATE CYCLES OF DEPENDENCY.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 101
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $167,271, 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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 85% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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 (1)
- $3.0 million spent. OUR INTEGRATED CARE TEAM (ICT) UNDERSTANDS REINTEGRATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR PARTICIPANT SUCCESS. WE STRIVE TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY WALKING ALONGSIDE PARTICIPANTS TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND COMMUNITY/FAMILY REUNIFICATION. OUR MENTORSHIP AND COACHING MODEL IS CENTERED AROUND A PARTICIPANT'S INDIVIDUALIZE PROSPERITY PLAN. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2007, BETTER FUTURES MN (BFM) HAS SERVED OVER 1,300 MEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS. THE POPULATION WE SERVE IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DUE TO THE STIGMA OF HAVING A CRIMINAL RECORD. WE EMBRACE THESE MEN AND HELP THEM FIND A BETTER PATH FORWARD. ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC POVERTY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IS WOVEN INTO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONBY PROVIDING ACCESS TO TRAINING, ON THE JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AND A VIBRANT, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR AT-RISK BLACK MEN, BFM HOPES TO PRODUCE BENEFICIAL LONG-TERM OUTCOMES NOT ONLY FOR THE MEN, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL. THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DIVISION OF BFM LEADS ALL TRAININGS, CERTIFICATION, ON-THE JOB-TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE MEN WE SERVE. BFM IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT CELEBRATING GROWTH AS MEN ACHIEVE GOALS, COMPLETE CERTIFICATIONS, AND TRAININGS, AND DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENCY AND DEDICATION AT WORK. THE MEN ALSO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS TWICE A WEEK, WHERE THEY BOND WITH OTHER MEN, DISCUSS ISSUES THEY MIGHT BE FACING AND LEARN FROM GUEST SPEAKERS WHO HELP FACILITATE GROWTH, HEALING, AND SUPPORT.
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 2007.
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.