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Friends of the Future

EIN 99-0296604 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Friends of the Future is to create trust and harmony among the diverse cultures of Hawaii through a process where all people can openly contribute their deepest values, create shared visions and continuously improve their commuities.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
18
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$256,129, project director

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

Weak: 33 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 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)
  1. $3.5 million spent. Youth Programs include: Four (4) Aloha MAP programs provided academic tutoring, college/career coaching, hands on STEM activities and family enrichment field trips to 8,700 students in grades K-12 in pubic schools on Hawaii Island. No Ke Ola Pono provided field day physical activities at 12 public elementary and middle schools serving 1,450 students while also providing SEL skills. Earl's garage provided monthly Family Science Night activities for children ages 7 and up, providing a shared family experience and a simple meal; a total of 50 adults and 75 children were served.
  2. $626,302 spent. Health & Wellness Programs include: Tutu's House, a community resource center serving the community for more than 30 years, offered 1,032 in-person and video conferencing health-related education presentations with 6,875 attendees, and a lending library used by 85 individuals. Neighborhood place of Kona provided care coordination services, emergency food and diapers, and housing assistance for 140 families with children ages birth to 18, offered six (6) community events with more than 300 attendees, and received 425 requests for information and referral services. Waimea Trails & Greenways, a community effort to build 6 miles of multi-modal transportation trails thoughout Waimea, held four (4) community work days attended by 55 volunteers. Waimea Futures is a community-wide effort to create a shared vision for Waimea?s Future. During the year six (6) 90-day prototype projects focused on community-identified priorities. A total of 12 activities, attended by more than 350 people shared oral histoies and community values.
  3. $290,038 spent. Cultural Programs include: Na Haumana o Papa Auwae 20 students/practitioners continued stewardship of Lapakahi State Park. Hui Kuapa perpeturates Hawaiian history, music, dance and storytelling through monthly Twilight at Klahuipuaa gatherings, attended by 2,500 people. Ho'ola Hou is a cultural program that perpetuates taro farming by providing opportunities for students and community members to learn and practice taro farming; a total of 200 stutudents and 75 adults participated in the program.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.