Friends of Roots
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF ROOTS OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE ROOTS THAT LINK THEM TO ANCESTRAL BEGINNINGS IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA. IT FURTHERS EDUCATION, RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION AND ARCHIVING OF ASIAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A CLOSE AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS OFFICE OF GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
- Income
- $69,247
- Spending
- $65,240
- Reserves
- 51.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 71%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $36,210 spent. ROOTS SUMMER IS A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGES 18 TO 30. IN 2017, 11 ROOTS INTERNS WERE SELECTED IN JANUARY. IN FEBRUARY, AN INFORMAL MEETING WAS HELD SO THAT THE YEARS INTERNS COULD MEET EACH OTHER. A SERIES OF SATURDAY SEMINARS AND ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE. INTERNS TOURED SAN FRANCISCO CHINATOWN, CONDUCTED RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, AND TOURED ANGEL ISLAND IMMIGRATION STATION. INTERNS ATTENDED SEMINARS ON CHINAS HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY AND THE CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SCHOLARS AND WRITERS SUCH AS JUDY YOUNG AND RUTHANNE LUM MCCUNN SERVED AS GUEST SPEAKERS. THE FINAL PRE-TRIP SEMINAR WAS HELD IN JUNE AND INCLUDED FINAL PREPARATIONS AND A BRIEFING FOR THE TRIP TO CHINA. AFTER EXPLORING THEIR CHINESE ROOTS IN AMERICA THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, PARTICIPANTS EXPLORED THEIR ROOTS IN CHINA THROUGH VISITS TO THEIR ANCESTRAL VILLAGES AND OTHER HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE. UPON THEIR RETURN FROM CHINA, THE INTERNS CONTINUED OUR MISSION AND VALUES. PAULA MADISON, RETIRED NBC EXECUTIVE, WAS THE 2017 KEYNOTE GUEST SPEAKER. SHE WROTE A BOOK, FINDING SAMUEL LOWE: FROM HARLEM TO CHINA, AND MADE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HER SEARCH FOR HER HAKKA CHINESE GRANDFATHERS FAMILY. SHE IS OF JAMAICAN BLACK AND CHINESE ANCESTRY AND GREW UP IN HARLEM.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 2014.
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.
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.