Families Forward
Families Forward reported $12.7 million in revenue and $10.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.67 went to program services, $4.74 to management and general costs and $5.59 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 85.0% of the total. Government grants made up 38.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $222,438 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 49% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$46.20 $5.9M
- Government grants$38.22 $4.9M
- Program service revenue$10.77 $1.4M
- Investment income$4.81 $616K
Other revenue was negative: −$89,885. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.7% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.7% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.6% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 85.0% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 38.5% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.8% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $222,438 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.06% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 32.9 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 29 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Families Forward housing program offers housing and supportive services to families at risk of or experiencing homelessness, giving families stability and the opportunity to thrive. Our housing program provides families with a wide range of housing solutions, including homeless prevention services, emergency motel stays, interim housing, rapid rehousing, rental assistance, and affordable housing opportunities. Personalized supportive services include career coaching, mental health counseling, financial literacy, case management, and housing navigation. Families Forward prevented or ended…
Families Forward provides comprehensive community services including food assistance, seasonal programs, and linkages to community services. The food pantry distributed 418,357 meals to families, adults, and seniors throughout orange county. Backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to 798 local school children. For thanksgiving, 1,066 families received donated food to make a cherished holiday dinner. In the holiday wish program, 2,410 children received gifts through the generosity of the community
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,653 | $0 | $14,785 | $222,438 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,831 | $0 | $23,175 | $201,006 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,868 | $0 | $11,130 | $171,998 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,283 | $0 | $17,921 | $156,204 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Families Forward (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $773K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b29 · 29 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5111
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,000
Private foundation grants it received
21 private foundations reported grants to Families Forward totaling $235K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Families Forward's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Families Forward, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Families Forward spent in FY2025, $89.67 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Cass Community Social ServicesDetroit, MI · revenue $13M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
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- Art of Living FoundationWalnut Creek, CA · revenue $13M · programs 92.3% · 2024
- Life StylesFayetteville, AR · revenue $13M · programs 88.6% · FY2025
- Dartmouth Health Home CAREWhite River Junction, VT · revenue $13M · programs 84.4% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Families Forward's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Families Forward reported that 89.7% of its $10.8 million in expenses went to program services, 4.7% to management and general and 5.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Families Forward pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Families Forward reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $222,438, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Families Forward get its money?
Of $12.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 85.0% came from contributions and grants (including 38.5% from government grants) and 10.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Families Forward a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 33-0086043 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202631329349305438 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202500799349300920 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430759349301923 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302099349300630 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232069349301423 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122289349300602 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 33-0086043: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.