India Friends Association

The information for India Friends Association is as of the organization's most recent filing in December 2019. This organization is located in Camarillo, CA. It has been in existence for 24 years, following its founding in 1995.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The India Friends Association's NTEE code is Q12. The "Q" tells us that the organization is classified along with Fund Raising & Fund Distribution. The "12" tells us that the organization is an International, Foreign Affairs & National Security organization. The NTEE describes organizations of this type as those that raise and distribute funds for multiple organizations within the International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security major group area.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. The most common type is a 501(c)(3) organization. However, there are actually 29 different types of organizations that are identified by the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to be a 501(c)(3) organization. The IRS describes these organizations as those engaged in Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Public Safety, Amateur Sports, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals work.

Perhaps the most accurate way to get a sense of what the organization hopes to achieve is by looking at its mission. The mission of the India Friends Association is to provide financial grants to organizations and community leaders, primarily in India, which are engaged in community, rural development, education, and vocational activities.

Program Areas

Donations to foreign organizations for community and rural development projects are reported within the general fund, along with all other revenues, support, and functional expenses that are not specifically reported by another fund or program.

Organization Staffing

India Friends Association is run by Kailash Narayan, who is the President. The organization has no employees, but it does have 20 volunteers who support its mission.

Board Governance

India Friends Association is well-governed given the information provided. With 20 voting members and 20 independent members, the organization is structured in a way that encourages fair and balanced decision-making. The lack of potential conflicts of interest is a positive sign that the organization is operating in an ethical manner. Additionally, board meetings are documented, and the organization has a conflict of interest policy with requirements for disclosure. Unfortunately, India Friends Association does not have a written whistleblower policy, document retention policy, or policies in place to substantiate and review leadership and officer salaries. Additionally, the organization does not provide copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing. Despite these shortcomings, India Friends Association is still well-governed and structured in a way that encourages ethical decision-making.

Organization Growth

The India Friends Association has seen a significant growth in the past four years. Contributions & Grants Received, Investment Income, Total Revenue and Grants Paid have all increased while Program Service Revenue and Other Revenue have remained the same. This indicates the nonprofit organization has been able to grow its fundraising and grantmaking efforts to further its mission. The number of volunteers has remained the same, indicating a stable base of support.