Family Equality
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FAMILY EQUALITY IS CREATING A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE LOVE, SAFETY, AND BELONGING OF FAMILY. AS THE LEADING NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE LGBTQ+ FAMILIES, WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE FREEDOM TO FIND, FORM, AND SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES BY ADVANCING LGBTQ+ EQUALITY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, STORYTELLING, AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $152,690, president and 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 19 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)
- $2.2 million spent. IN 2024, FAMILY EQUALITY ADVOCATED FOR EQUALITY AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL; CONNECTED LGBTQ+ PEOPLE TO ONE ANOTHER, TO VITAL RESOURCES, AND TO THE SUPPORT THAT EVERY FAMILY DESERVES; AND EDUCATED THE PUBLIC TO BUILD MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. ADVOCATING FOR EQUALITY IN 2024, FAMILY EQUALITY MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN PROMOTING EQUALITY FOR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE GATHERED CRUCIAL DATA ON FAMILIES ACROSS THE RACIAL AND GEOGRAPHIC SPECTRUM THROUGH OUR FAMILY EQUITY JUSTICE SURVEY, WORKED SUCCESSFULLY TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME IN THE CLASSROOM, AND ADVOCATED FOR BEST PRACTICES IN CHILD WELFARE. AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE WORKED TO MODERNIZE LAWS TO PROTECT ALL FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, VERMONT, AND NEW YORK. MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE-SUPPORTED 25 STATES IN EFFORTS TO BUILD MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES -EMPOWERED FAMILIES THROUGH 13 ACTION ALERTS THAT INFORMED THEM OF CURRENT EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LAWMAKERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD -PASSED 9 PRIORITY BILLS THAT WOULD ADVANCE EQUALITY AND DEFEATED 8 BILLS THAT WOULD'VE HARMED FAMILIES-SUBMITTED ORAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR 5 STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS -PUBLISHED 5 RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY NAVIGATE FOSTER CARE, TITLE IX PROTECTIONS, PARENTAGE, AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS-CO-AUTHORED 1 AMICUS BRIEF FOR GLOVER V JUNIOR CONNECTING FAMILIESFAMILY EQUALITY ALSO SERVED MORE FAMILIES THAN EVER BEFORE THROUGH IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING THAT RESPONDED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. BUILDING ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MOMENTUM, WE INCREASED THE GEOGRAPHIC REACH OF OUR IN-PERSON EVENTS, IN TOTAL WELCOMING THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES TO-FAMILY WEEKEND IN THE MIDWEST IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN-FAMILY WEEKEND IN THE SOUTH IN ATLANTA, GA-FAMILY WEEK IN PROVINCETOWN, MA-LGBTQ+ FAMILIES ARE INCREDI-BOWL IN NEW YORK CITY-AND REGIONAL GATHERINGS IN WISCONSIN; WASHINGTON, D.C.; TEXAS; ILLINOIS; AND CALIFORNIA WE ALSO OFFERED VIRTUAL SUPPORT THROUGH-EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS FOR PARENTS-TO-BE, ATTRACTING OVER 1,000 REGISTRANTS AND NEARLY 300 LIVE ATTENDEES -PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS AND PARENTS-TO-BE, INCLUDING TWO SPECIALIZED GROUPS FOR PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN EDUCATING THE PUBLICTHROUGH STORYTELLING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS, FAMILY EQUALITY BROUGHT VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS TO THE STORIES OF LGBTQ+ FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF OUR UNIQUE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES. THIS WORK INCLUDED-LAUNCHING A NETWORK OF EXPERTS WHO CAN SPEAK ON TOPICS RELATED TO FERTILITY, ADOPTION, LEGAL PROTECTIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING FAMILIES -SECURING MEDIA PLACEMENTS IN OUTLETS SUCH AS USA TODAY, PEOPLE MAGAZINE, AND YAHOO!NEWS IN RESPONSE TO MAJOR INITIATIVES AND AS A RESULT OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY MEDIA OUTLETS RESULTING IN 1.42K MENTIONS AND 5B IN REACH-CREATING A MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER FOR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS WITH UPDATES, EVENTS, FAMILY STORIES, AND RESOURCES -LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE FAMILY STORIES AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION, GARNERING 2M+ IMPRESSIONS -LAUNCHING AN ONLINE STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE FOR PARENTS CONSIDERING FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION-SHARING FAMILY STORIES THROUGH MULTIMEDIA CONTENT, SUCH AS OUR MOVING HOPE STARTS HERE VIDEO AND A TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO 30 YEARS OF FAMILY WEEK FEATURING MANY LONG-TIME ATTENDEES INCLUDING THREE GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY WHO HAS ATTENDED SINCE THE 1990S IN 2024, THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR WORK, WE ADVOCATED FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL, CREATED MEANINGFUL EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND SHARED THE STORIES OF FAMILIES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
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 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 2024.
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 December 1985.
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.
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