Passes our checks

Friends of the Troops

EIN 83-3309612 · Chattanooga, TN

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

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
20 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$953,587 spent. PROVIDE SUPPORT AND AID TO SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, IN 2025 107,600 CARDS AND 3,666 CARE PACKAGES WERE SENT TO CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD, HYGIENE, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, CLOTHING AND TOYS WERE PROVIDED TO SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN NEED. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION'S OVER 200 FULL-TIME AND OVER 600 PART-TIME VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 23,532 VOLUNTEER HOURS. VOLUNTEER HOURS IN TN ARE VALUED AT $30.55 PER HOUR. TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE VALUED AT $718,902.60.

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

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 December 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 July 2019.
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.