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.
$510K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.8M a year · 21% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 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
$510K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
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
$4.1M
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
26
of 26 voting members
Looks good: 26 of 26 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.6M
-9% vs prior year
Spent
$10.7M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$24.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$11.6M
FY2023▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.5M
FY2021$19.9M
FY2022$12.8M
FY2023$11.6M
FY2024$12.2M
FY2025$12.7M
Expenses
$10.7M
FY2023▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.4M
FY2021$10.1M
FY2022$12.1M
FY2023$10.7M
FY2024$10.0M
FY2025$10.8M
Net assets
$24.7M
FY2023▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.4M
FY2021$23.4M
FY2022$23.5M
FY2023$24.7M
FY2024$27.7M
FY2025$29.6M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending September 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. 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% · $9.6M Management & general 5% · $509K Fundraising 5% · $582K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

29 people listed on the 990; $510K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer
$193,507Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Advancement Officer
$168,137Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$147,863Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
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.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $9.6M · in their own filed words · FY2022
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 linkage to community services. The food pantry distributed 44,180 meals to families, adults, and seniors throughout orange county. Backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to 1,074 local school children.

$969Kprogram expense

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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$710K
Investment incomeLn 3$144K
Money outPt IX
$10.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.6M
Managementcol C$509K
Fundraisingcol D$582K
Owns and owesPt X
$24.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a26
IndependentVI 1b26
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$401K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$710K
Investment incomeLn 3$144K
Total revenueLn 12$11.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1−$140K
SavingsLn 2$2.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$21.8M
Other assetsLn 15$184K
Total assetsLn 16$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.1M
Net assetsLn 32$24.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5111
VolunteersI 62,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.2M$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19.8M$21.8M
Total assetsLn 16$26.9M$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M$4.1M
Net assetsLn 32$23.5M$24.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.9M$1.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$554K$270K$66K$218K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.4M$3.2M$213K$37K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$175K$152K$12K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$213K$185K$15K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$298K$260K$21K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$326K$98K$81K$147K
Office expensesLn 13$423K$281K$28K$113K
Information technologyLn 14$151K$132K$11K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$622K$613K$5K$5K
TravelLn 17$29K$28K$289$867
InterestLn 20$91K$91K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$434K$421K$9K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$133K$118K$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.0M$1.9M$41K
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.7M$9.6M$509K$582K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $12.7M$10.8M$1.9M$29.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $12.2M$10.0M$2.2M$27.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $11,618,410 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $11,427,219$10,864,464
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $781,079$710,371
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $605,801$144,068
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$27,582−$100,493
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $12,786,517$11,618,410
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,958,430$1,915,117
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,352,540$4,643,499
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,739,164$4,176,281
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $12,050,134$10,734,897
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $736,383$883,513
Part VI · Governance 26 of 26 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body26
VI-1b Independent voting members26
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $11,618,410 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$400,648
VIII-1e Government grants$5,850,856
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,612,960
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,931,810
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,864,464
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $710,371$710,371
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $144,068$144,068
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$100,493−$100,493
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $710,371 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $43,575$11,618,410
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,734,897 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,915,117$1,915,117
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $269,619 · Management $65,907 · Fundraising $218,256$553,782
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,153,799 · Management $213,115 · Fundraising $36,808$3,403,722
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $152,160 · Management $12,243 · Fundraising $10,494$174,897
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $185,014 · Management $14,886 · Fundraising $12,760$212,660
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $259,641 · Management $20,891 · Fundraising $17,906$298,438
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $97,716 · Management $81,430 · Fundraising $146,574$325,720
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $281,445 · Management $28,482 · Fundraising $113,191$423,118
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $131,789 · Management $10,604 · Fundraising $9,089$151,482
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $612,692 · Management $4,696 · Fundraising $4,774$622,162
IX-17 TravelPrograms $27,740 · Management $289 · Fundraising $867$28,896
IX-20 InterestPrograms $90,548$90,548
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $421,366 · Management $8,688 · Fundraising $4,344$434,398
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $118,398 · Management $7,317 · Fundraising $6,977$132,692
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,926,431 · Management $40,834$1,967,265
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,643,475 · Management $509,382 · Fundraising $582,040$10,734,897
Part X · Balance sheet $28,789,510 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $100,468−$140,146
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,515,661$2,055,372
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,130,015$691,898
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $101,610$201,052
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $19,819,172$21,778,174
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,207,402$4,019,588
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$183,572
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $26,874,328$28,789,510
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $551,043$373,874
X-19 Deferred revenue$640,440
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $74,655$296,354
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,383,602$4,078,962
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $22,027,712$23,256,690
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,463,014$1,453,858
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $23,490,726$24,710,548
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $26,874,328$28,789,510
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $24,710,548 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,618,410
XI-2 Total expenses$10,734,897
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$883,513
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$23,490,726
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$336,309
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$24,710,548

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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