Friendly Connections Inc

The information for Friendly Connections Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in December '21. This organization is located in Holmdel, NJ. It has been in existence for 2 years, following its founding in 2019.

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.

Friendly Connections Inc's NTEE code is G84. The "G" tells us that the organization is classified along with Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines. The "84" tells us that the organization is focused on Autism. The NTEE describes organizations in this category as voluntary health organizations actively involved in the prevention or treatment of autism, a developmental disability that affects a child's ability to communicate, understand language, play, and relate to others. Friendly Connections Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization, which means it is engaged in Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Public Safety, Amateur Sports, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals work. The mission of Friendly Connections Inc is to connect families and individuals with their friendly professionals, offering coaching services and support in various areas, including employment, training, community inclusion, and individual supports. They work with people with and without disabilities, such as autism, providing social services and companion care for disabled and elderly persons, as well as dementia patients.

Program Areas

At Friendly Connections, Inc. based in New Jersey (NJ), we are a family company dedicated to connecting families and individuals with our friendly professionals. Our general fund encompasses various services provided by our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), including supported employment, pre-vocational training, community inclusion services, individual supports, career planning, and community-based supports. We work with people with and without disabilities, such as autism, and aim to provide companionship services to disabled and elderly persons, as well as dementia patients.

Organization Staffing

Friendly Connections Inc is run by David Kaiserman, who is the President. The organization has 48 employees, none of whom are paid over $100k per year. Additionally, there are no volunteers supporting the paid staff.

Board Governance

Based on the information provided, it is evident that Friendly Connections Inc, a non-profit organization, has some areas of concern in terms of governance. With only three voting members and no independent members, the organization lacks diversity and independent oversight. This can potentially lead to a concentration of power and limited accountability within the organization. Another red flag is the existence of potential conflicts of interest without a conflict of interest policy or a requirement for disclosure. This lack of transparency can undermine the integrity of decision-making processes and raise concerns about whether the organization is acting in the best interest of its mission and beneficiaries. Additionally, the absence of important policies such as a whistleblower policy, document retention policy, and substantiation and review of leadership and officer salaries further raises concerns about the organization's governance practices. These policies are essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within a non-profit organization. While board and committee meetings are documented, this alone is not sufficient to ensure effective governance. Without proper policies and procedures in place, the organization may struggle to address conflicts of interest, protect whistleblowers, and ensure appropriate financial practices. In summary, Friendly Connections Inc appears to have some deficiencies in its governance practices. It is recommended that the organization take steps to address these concerns by implementing policies and procedures that promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. This will help to ensure that the organization is governed in a manner that is in line with its mission and the expectations of its stakeholders.

Organization Growth

Friendly Connections Inc, a nonprofit organization, has experienced growth over the given time period. Contributions & Grants Received increased from $387.8K in 2019 to $674.4K in 2021. Investment Income also saw growth, rising from $6 in 2019 to $430 in 2021. Total Revenue increased from $387.8K in 2019 to $674.8K in 2021. Additionally, Employee Salaries increased from $305.7K in 2020 to $482.7K in 2021. However, it is worth noting that the organization experienced a decrease in Total Employees, going from 61 in 2019 to 48 in 2021. Overall, Friendly Connections Inc has grown in terms of financial performance and investment income, but has seen a decrease in its workforce.