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Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems

EIN 75-1255558 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
0
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$474,439, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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. $2.0 million spent. MINORITY FELLOWSHIP GRANTS: FUNDED BY GRANTS FROM THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA), THE FAHS MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS LEARNING THROUGH A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT TRAINS GRADUATE STUDENTS TO SERVE COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND PREVENTION SERVICES. THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO DOCTORAL AND MASTER'S STUDENTS IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY WHO ARE COMMITTED TO RESEARCH AND SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES.
  2. $27,531 spent. DIVERSITY AWARD FOR SUPERVISION CANDIDATES: THIS AWARD SUPPORTS UP TO TWO MINORITY SUPERVISORS-IN-TRAINING TO SUPPORT THE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND RETENTION OF MINORITIES AS AAMFT APPROVED SUPERVISORS FOR THE FIELD OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.
  3. $24,381 spent. OTHER PROJECTS: THE INNOVATION CHALLENGE: IS A COMPETITION IN WHICH APPLICANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE NEW, OFTEN COUNTERINTUITIVE WAYS TO SOLVE THE MOST PRESSING PUBLIC CHALLENGES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS CHALLENGE RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT MFTS TO A LARGER AUDIENCE AND ENCOURAGES ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AAMFT FOUNDATION. THE CONSUMERS' PERCEPTIONS OF RELATIONAL TELEHEALTH: PROPONENTS, CRITICS, AND DIVERSE VOICES WAS CHOSEN FOR THE FOUNDATION'S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TELEHEALTH AND SYSTEMIC FAMILY THERAPY: ASSESSING CONSUMER EXPERIENCE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY IS TO EVALUATE THE EXPERIENCE OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ONLINE FAMILY THERAPY PRIOR TO AND DURING THE HEALTH PANDEMIC DUE TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (SARS-COV-2). (THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER ACTIVE AS THE RESEARCH TEAM BELIEVES THE DATA IS ENOUGH TO PUBLISH). INTERFAITH PROJECT: THE FOUNDATION IS WORKING WITH DR. DAMIR S. UTRAN, PHD LMFT, AND DR. BENJAMIN ERWIN, PHD, TO HOST A WORKSHOP ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT OF DISPLACEMENT-INDUCED TRAUMA. FROM THIS WORKSHOP, MFTS WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS ABOUT REFUGEES AND THEIR NEEDS, THEREBY EMPOWERING THOSE INVOLVED TO BETTER PREPARE TO ASSIST. TIPS PRISON TO SOCIETY: THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS AWARDED TO DR. AMY MORGAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, FOR HER PROPOSAL ENTITLED "DEVELOPING A REDEMPTIVE IDENTITY: A MIXED METHODS STUDY EXPLORING POST-INCARCERATION RESILIENCY." THE GOAL OF THIS MIXED-METHODS PILOT STUDY IS TO IDENTIFY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESILIENCE FACTORS THAT BUILD RESILIENCE AND PROMOTE DESISTANCE AMONG FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. INTERFAITH PROJECT: WORKING WITH REFUGEES IN THE CLINICAL CONTEXT: LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND BEST CLINICAL PRACTICES: TENEO COURSE: IN MARCH 2024, FAHS LAUNCHED WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH REFUGEE POPULATIONS ON TENEO - A TIMELY AND IMPACTFUL TRAINING PRESENTED BY DR. DAMIR UTRZAN AND DR. BEN ERWIN. DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR MFTS, THIS COURSE PROVIDES ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS AND PRACTICAL TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.CULTURAL COMPASS: THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES FOR INCLUSIVE PRACTICE: CULTURAL COMPASS, A NEW THERAPEUTIC TOOLKIT DESIGNED TO HELP MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TRANSLATE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING INTO EFFECTIVE, ACTION-ORIENTED CARE. THIS RESOURCE EQUIPPED CLINICIANS WITH PRACTICAL, CULTURALLY INFORMED ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND FOSTER DEEPER, MORE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH CLIENTS FROM DIVERSE, HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED BACKGROUNDS.VOLUME ONE: TRAUMA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION, RELEASED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, IS THE FIRST IN A PLANNED SERIES AND REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF THE FAHS MFP PROGRAM FELLOWS. AFTER INTENSIVE TRAINING IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE THERAPEUTIC PRACTICES, THESE EMERGING LEADERS IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY DEVELOPED THE ACTIVITIES FEATURED IN THIS VOLUME. ROOTED IN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING, CULTURAL COMPASS AIMED TO EMPOWER THERAPISTS WITH TOOLS THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE, SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ADDRESS CRITICAL CULTURAL GAPS IN CLINICAL CARE.SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE: THIS PROGRAM ENHANCES ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTES HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT TO THE TENEO PLATFORM.LAUNCH OF THE FAHS LEADERSHIP & LEARNING INSTITUTE (FAHS LLI): THE FAHS LEADERSHIP & LEARNING INSTITUTE (FAHS LLI) WILL SERVE AS THE HOME FOR UPCOMING CERTIFICATES AND CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ACROSS INDUSTRIES.THE FAHS LLI WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, EVIDENCE-INFORMED TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SYSTEMIC PROFESSIONALS, ENHANCING PARTICIPANTS' CAREER READINESS, LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY. EACH CERTIFICATE WILL EMPHASIZE PRACTICAL APPLICATION, GUIDING LEARNERS TO TRANSLATE SYSTEMIC KNOWLEDGE INTO REAL-WORLD CONTEXTS, DEVELOP TANGIBLE CAREER TOOLS (E.G., RESUME UPDATES, LEADERSHIP PLANS, PROJECT PROPOSALS), AND GAIN RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS THAT SIGNAL THEIR COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING.FAHS LLI ALSO INCORPORATES LINKEDIN LIVE LEARNING. THIS COMPONENT IS A FREE, WORKSHOP-STYLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NEW AREAS OF INTEREST IN MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, LEADERSHIP, AND HUMAN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. EACH INSTALLMENT OFFERS PRACTICAL INSIGHT, PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY APPLY IN YOUR WORK AND COMMUNITY.

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 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 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 July 1949.

    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.