Families Forward

Tax-deductible

Irvine, CA501(c)(3)Since 1984EIN 33-0086043

The mission of families forward is to prevent and end family homelessness by providing access to housing and resources that create lasting stability. In fy25, we provided housing, food, and supportive services to more than 17,836 unduplicated individuals.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2,000 volunteers and 111 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.9M a year · 23% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$685K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $149K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4.3M
13% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 13% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
29
of 29 voting members
Looks good: 29 of 29 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.7M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$10.8M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$29.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$12.7M
FY2024▲ +4%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.5M
FY2021$19.9M
FY2022$12.8M
FY2023$11.6M
FY2024$12.2M
FY2024$12.7M
Expenses
$10.8M
FY2024▲ +8%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.4M
FY2021$10.1M
FY2022$12.1M
FY2023$10.7M
FY2024$10.0M
FY2024$10.8M
Net assets
$29.6M
FY2024▲ +7%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.4M
FY2021$23.4M
FY2022$23.5M
FY2023$24.7M
FY2024$27.7M
FY2024$29.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 1985.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $9.7M Management & general 5% · $512K Fundraising 6% · $604K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Who runs it and what they're paid

33 people listed on the 990; $685K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$207,653Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Advancement Officer
$177,831Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$160,868Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$138,283Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director, President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Hirneise Madelynn$207,653—————
Madelynn Hirneise—$198,521$193,507$160,279$160,278$101,731
Margaret Wakeham—————$195,538
Silva Michele$177,831—————
Michele Silva—$171,820$168,137$147,568$147,568—
Mohendra Nishtha$160,868—————
Nishtha Mohendra—$152,424$147,863———
Erica Berrios—$139,274————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides housing, food, counseling, and education to help families become self-sufficient.

Provided by the organization

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2 program services account for $9.7M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The 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…

$8.7Mprogram expense
02

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.

$969Kprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$149K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $4.4M · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$2,595,391
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,792,544

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$616K
Money outPt IX
$10.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.7M
Managementcol C$512K
Fundraisingcol D$604K
Owns and owesPt X
$29.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$33.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
33
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a29
IndependentVI 1b29
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$605K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$509K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$616K
Gains on assetsLn 7$383K
Total revenueLn 12$12.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3K
SavingsLn 2$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$24.0M
Other assetsLn 15$27K
Total assetsLn 16$33.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.3M
Net assetsLn 32$29.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5111
VolunteersI 62,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.0M$5.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$24.0M$24.0M
Total assetsLn 16$32.4M$33.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.7M$4.3M
Net assetsLn 32$27.7M$29.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$3.1M$3.1M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$773K$382K$159K$232K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.3M$3.1M$137K$32K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$50K$50K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$335K$302K$20K$12K
Payroll taxesLn 10$293K$255K$20K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$347K$117K$65K$165K
Investment management feesLn 11f$19K$19K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$126K$22K$2K$102K
Office expensesLn 13$59K$47K$4K$8K
Information technologyLn 14$148K$134K$7K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$690K$668K$12K$11K
TravelLn 17$50K$48K$335$1K
InterestLn 20$94K$94K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$476K$462K$10K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$182K$162K$10K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$769K$719K$47K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.8M$9.7M$512K$604K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $12.2M$10.0M$2.2M$27.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.6M$10.7M$884K$24.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $12.8M$12.1M$736K$23.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $19.9M$10.1M$9.8M$23.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $8.5M$7.4M$1.1M$13.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,712,817 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$509,445
VIII-1e Government grants$4,892,982
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,405,587
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$605,368
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,808,014
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,378,626$1,378,626
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $233,308$233,308
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $382,754$382,754
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$89,885−$89,885
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,378,626 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $526,177$12,712,817
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,805,236 across 17 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $3,088,702$3,088,702
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $382,363 · Management $158,621 · Fundraising $232,233$773,217
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,138,968 · Management $136,956 · Fundraising $31,976$3,307,900
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $49,645$49,645
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $301,978 · Management $20,138 · Fundraising $12,385$334,501
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $254,502 · Management $20,477 · Fundraising $17,552$292,531
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $117,105 · Management $65,175 · Fundraising $164,679$346,959
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $18,994$18,994
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $22,322 · Management $1,796 · Fundraising $101,801$125,919
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $46,819 · Management $4,000 · Fundraising $7,810$58,629
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $133,639 · Management $7,424 · Fundraising $7,424$148,487
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $667,799 · Management $11,796 · Fundraising $10,879$690,474
IX-17 TravelPrograms $48,233 · Management $335 · Fundraising $1,006$49,574
IX-20 InterestPrograms $93,744$93,744
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $461,505 · Management $9,516 · Fundraising $4,758$475,779
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $162,440 · Management $9,695 · Fundraising $9,385$181,520
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $719,442 · Management $46,963 · Fundraising $2,256$768,661
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,689,206 · Management $511,886 · Fundraising $604,144$10,805,236
Part X · Balance sheet $33,884,290 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $78,428$2,916
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,570,034$1,917,218
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $483,872$1,875,132
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $146,658$248,837
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $24,037,844$23,995,628
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,973,975$5,817,832
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $105,842$26,727
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $32,396,653$33,884,290
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $459,433$484,093
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,292,973$1,008,091
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $218,355$133,426
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,671,912$4,256,991
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $24,425,039$24,993,954
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,299,702$4,633,345
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $27,724,741$29,627,299
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $32,396,653$33,884,290
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $29,627,299 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,712,817
XI-2 Total expenses$10,805,236
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,907,581
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$27,724,741
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$5,023
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$29,627,299

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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