Friends for Life Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF FRIENDS FOR LIFE CORPORATION IS TO HELP PERSONS AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS LIVE WELL.
- Income
- $11.5 million
- Spending
- $9.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $169,467, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 June 30, 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 (4)
- $1.9 million spent. PROVIDE DIRECT HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS/FAMILIES LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE PROGRAMS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S INCEPTION.
- $3.2 million spent. MAINTAIN A STAFF OF CASE MANAGERS AND OTHER SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION THAT IS AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS. STAFF MEMBERS ALSO COORDINATE OTHER RESOURCES AND ASSIST TARGETED POPULATION WITH ENGAGING THESE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
- $1.0 million spent. DISSEMINATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC IN A EFFORT TO ENLIGHTEN THE MASSES ON THE DANGERS OF AIDS AND TO ACQUAINT THE PUBLIC WITH PROVEN MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS. THIS EFFORT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF REACHING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THOUGHOUT THE MAJOR MEMPHIS, TN METROPOLITAN AREA. PROGRAMS INCLUDE BOTH PREVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES COORDINATED THOUGH A SERIES OF HIGHLY SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS SUCH AS WELLNESS UNIVERSITY, THE POSITIVE LIVING CENTER, AND OTHERS.
- $305,382 spent. THE ORGANIZATION DISSEMINATES "FOOD BASKETS" WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS. VOLUNTEERS ARE RECRUITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EFFORT WHICH IS VITAL TO THE PROGRAMS SUCCESS. THIS PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED INTO A PROGRAM THAT IS VITAL TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ARE A SERIOUS CONCERN. HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM THIS SUPPORT EFFORT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1993.
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 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.