Friends of the Poor
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO AID THE POOR
- Income
- $324,896
- Spending
- $398,079
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 5
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $240,450 spent. The Hospital San Ignacio de Loyola is an in-patient mental health treatment center near Rosarito, Mexico, that is an extension of the Casa de los Pobres. It was established in 1998 in response to the immense need for psychiatric and substance abuse services among the poor, for whom there were literally no services available.
- $107,517 spent. Friends of the Poor built the Village of Maryhaven, a self-sustaining complex in Minna, Nigeria, and dedicated it to the care of orphans. Due to extreme poverty and high mortality rates, many children are orphaned or sold into slavery where they are overworked, mistreated or sexually abused. Here, they are protected, loved, nurtured and educated. Farm crops and animals provide a renewable food supply. The starting class numbered 200, the school has now grown to 400 students. The following components were built and maintained by FRIENDS OF THE POOR: 1 - Stella Maris Academy, a K-6th grade boarding school (all operating costs, including teachers' salaries, are funded by Friends of the Poor and middle and high school classrooms are under construction); 2 - Trade School - Job training will augment the high school curriculum, allowing students to graduate with marketable skills or trades. Friends of the Poor continues to fund vital operations or certain areas of need. Other accomplishments in Africa are: Science Center, a state-of-the-art addition to the Kupiec Academy for Girls (boarding school built by Friends of the Poor which saw its first graduating class in 2015); Job Training Centers, built for young mothers struggling to raise their children and support their families; The Marriott Daughters Day Care Center, provides critical daycare to mothers attending the Job Training Centers; in Idah, two convents are being built after the destruction of the convents in Boko Haram, in Northern Nigeria; a new hospital is being built in Idah. In 2015-2016, animals and seeds for farming were purchased to provide famine relief in the area.Earlier accomplishments include: HIV clinic and hospital (2005), clean water projects (2004 - present), home health care services where home health care workers are provided with mopeds and medical supplies to administer in-home care to critically ill patients who are unable to travel, an orphanage, teen center, and the initial project in Africa, St. Paul's Cathedral.
- $48,118 spent. Casa de los Pobres is an urban relief center in Tijuana, which offers food, medical care, clothing, and educational aid to the very poor. With assistance from FRIENDS OF THE POOR, Casa serves more than 275,000 hot meals per year, and distributes 30,000 bags of groceries. More than 15,000 people annually receive needed medical attention. Casa de los Pobres also housed and fed 120 Haitian migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
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 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 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 July 1983.
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.
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.