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Friends of Mascoma Foundation

EIN 47-2098479 · Canaan, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To establish and maintain a philanthropic organization to benefit the Mascoma Valley Regional School District. The purpose is to provide support to the Mascoma Valley Regional School District on short-term and long-term initiatives that foster educational development and nutritional well-being for our students and their families. The beneficiaries of the foundation are the school facilities, faculty, students, and their families within the district.

Income
$333,540
Spending
$378,840
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
6
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$59,135, executive director end 9/2025

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 (3)
  1. $260,791 spent. Friends Feeding Friends addresses food insecurity, nutritional well-being, and food waste across the Mascoma Valley region. As an agent of the New Hampshire Food Bank and a registered USDA food pantry serving Enfield and Canaan, NH, we operate three community-based pantry sites, including an in-school pantry at Mascoma Valley Regional High School, and provide supplemental food support to all four schools in the district. In 2025, we distributed over 117,000 pounds of food and personal care items, equating to approximately 97,500 meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity. Using an estimated value of $1.85 per pound, this represents more than $216,000 in direct food assistance delivered to our community. Our programs are designed to meet both immediate and long-term needs. We provide weekly access to two public pantries in Enfield and Canaan, distribute backpacks with food for students to take home, and ensure that households have access to a full week of supplemental food during school breaks. In partnership with the Mascoma Valley Ecumenical Council, we also coordinate annual Thanksgiving distributions for both school and community families. Additionally, through our participation in the NH Feeding NH initiative with the New Hampshire Food Bank, we are able to source fresh, locally grown produce-supporting both community health and local agriculture.
  2. $30,590 spent. The Scholarship program awards one-time scholarships to graduating seniors who are pursuing further education, whether through four-year, two-year, trade, technical, or certification schools, as well as offering past scholarship recipients the opportunity to renew scholarships if funding is available. Candidates must submit an application. The Board of Directors then evaluates the redacted applications and votes anonymously to award scholarships. Scholarships are presented in person on Senior Awards night. Friends of Mascoma awarded $20,000 in 2025 to 16 graduating seniors.
  3. $26,859 spent. In 2025, we will award five Mini-Grants of $1,000 each to support innovation across the Mascoma Valley Regional School District. Our Mini-Grant program is designed to empower teachers and staff to bring bold ideas and creative enrichment opportunities into the classroom-initiatives that fall outside the constraints of the annual school budget. These grants are not about replacing existing funding, but about expanding what's possible for our students. Funding supports projects in areas such as financial literacy, wildlife and environmental education, arts and music exposure, and STEM-based learning. Mini-Grants also help address critical budget shortfalls, ensuring that impactful programs and experiences are not lost due to limited resources. At its core, this program invests directly in educators-giving them the flexibility and support to create meaningful, engaging experiences that enhance student learning and broaden opportunity across the district.

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 January 2015.

    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.