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Friends for Life

EIN 74-2550748 · Waco, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS FOR LIFE HELPS SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
135
Volunteers
722
Highest pay
$93,083, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (10)
  1. $1.6 million spent. REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANSHIP: SERVED AS LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR 570 ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT OR EXPLOITATION. LOCATED SAFE PLACES FOR THEM TO RESIDE AND MADE SURE THEY HAD FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, ETC.
  2. $984,455 spent. ADULT DAY CARE:OPERATION OF AN ADULT DAY CARE CENTER SERVING 139 INDIVIDUALS. THE CENTER IS OPEN FROM 7:30AM TO 6:00PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND PROVIDES NURSING CARE, MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL INTERACTION, EXERCISE PROGRAMS, AND MORE.
  3. $579,792 spent. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING:A ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAM IN WHICH STAFF WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH CLIENTS WHO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, TEACHING THEM SKILLS TO HELP THEM BE MORE INDEPENDENT WITHIN THE FACILITY SETTING AND POSSIBLY ASSISTING WITH THEIR MOVE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.
  4. $343,397 spent. MONEY MANAGEMENT:PROVIDED MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ELDERLY AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO WERE UNABLE TO HANDLE THEIR FINANCES AND WERE AT RISK OF HAVING UTILITY SERVICES TERMINATED, ETC. ASSISTED WITH BILL PAYING, BALANCING CHECKBOOKS, ETC. ALSO ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS WITH INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR RESOURCES, INSURANCE EVALUATION, INTERVENTION WITH CREDITORS, ETC. 371 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.
  5. $69,545 spent. TOOL SHOP:THE TOOL SHOP IS A PLACE WHERE DONORS CAN DONATE TOOLS THAT ARE SOLD AT A REDUCED COST. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
  6. $157,670 spent. CHILDREN & YOUTH SERVICES: FRIENDS FOR LIFE CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS AND THE RESOURCES, EVENTS, AND SUPPORT NETWORKS AVAILABLE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. FRIENDS FOR LIFE WILL ALSO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY STIPENDS TO HELP PAY FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED IN SOME WAY WITH THE CHILD'S HEALTHCARE NEEDS. FRIENDS FOR LIFE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 433 CHILDREN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
  7. $59,360 spent. THE LEARNING LAB PROGRAM OFFERS LABS THAT HELPS FRIENDS FOR LIFE CLIENTS LEARN TO READ.
  8. $57,937 spent. LIFELINES:THE LIFELINE PROGRAM PROVIDES CARE COORDINATION FOR CLIENTS CONNECTING PEOPLE IN NEED WITH RESOURCES WITHIN FRIENDS FOR LIFE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
  9. $258,507 spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING & QUALITY OF LIFE: RECRUITED AND ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED 337 HOME BOUND ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH THE TASKS OF DAILY LIVING. BOTH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION, ETC., AND WORKED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.
  10. INFORMATION, REFERRAL & ASSISTANCE SERVICES:THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CONTACT THE ORGANIZATION FOR HELP. THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A NEW OR SEPARATE PROGRAM AS ALL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION HAVE PROVIDED THESE SERVICES OVER THE YEARS AND SPECIFIC COSTS FOR THESE TASKS ARE NOT TRACKED. HOWEVER, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN TRACKING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM INFORMATION, REFERRAL AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 5,302 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 August 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 December 1989.

    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 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.