Friend Ships
Friend Ships provides humanitarian aid, medical services and disaster relief to victims of natural disaster, war and poverty.
Friend Ships at a glance
In short: Friend Ships gave $251K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,564
- +144.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,840
- +63.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,781
- Total assets
- $3,995,943
- +20.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friend Ships funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Park West Childrens Fund ($65K). Together the top 9 received $251K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 30 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Friend Ships gives
- Giving grew 115% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2023) to $300K (2021). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $251K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Park West Childrens Fund Lake Charles, LA | Support ongoing expenditures for food distribution and international programs including fuel, supplies, utilities, communications, etc | $64,860 |
| Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church Lake Charles, LA | For distribution to low income families in the community | $39,242 |
| The Way Training Center Crowley, LA | Food is utilized to provide meals to people recovering from addictions and to distribute to needy families in the community | $38,739 |
| Salvation Army Lake Charles, LA | Food is used to feed homeless men and women | $32,213 |
| The Lord's Outreach Ministry Lake Charles, LA | For serving and distributing to homeless individuals | $31,781 |
| Vineyard Christian Fellowship Lake Charles, LA | Food is distributed to needy families in the community | $18,249 |
| Galveston Food Distribution Galveston, TX | For distribution to needy families | $12,197 |
| Open Door Church Sulphur, LA | For distribution to community members in need | $7,046 |
| Vinton Food Distribution Center Vinton, LA | Food is provided to homeless veterans | $6,237 |
Ready to take the next step with Friend Ships?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,995,943 | $1,614,885 | $929,713 | $250,564 | 9 | — |
| 2024 | $3,310,771 | $1,162,719 | $414,610 | $102,506 | 6 | — |
| 2023 | $2,562,662 | $195,544 | $326,017 | $64,913 | 4 | — |
| 2022 | $2,732,214 | $1,634,834 | $1,723,215 | $116,615 | 9 | — |
| 2021 | $2,655,595 | $1,372,784 | $1,428,396 | $300,000 | 2 | $2,163 |
About Friend Ships
Based on IRS filings
Friend Ships is a public charity, based in Lake Charles, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $251K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friend Ships is led by Donald H Tipton, Executive Director & President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donald H Tipton
Executive Director & President
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Tipton
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Shields
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond George
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Friend Ships
How much does Friend Ships give each year?
Friend Ships gave $251K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $103K across 6 grants.
What is Friend Ships's typical grant size?
Friend Ships's median grant in 2025 was $31,781, and its average grant was $27,840, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Friend Ships give grants?
Friend Ships gives mostly in Louisiana: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lake Charles, LA (5 grants).
Does Friend Ships give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Friend Ships's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Friend Ships's largest grantees?
Friend Ships's largest 2025 grantees include Park West Childrens Fund ($64,860), Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church ($39,242) and The Way Training Center ($38,739), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Friend Ships?
Friend Ships reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Friend Ships's EIN?
Friend Ships's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2878325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 31, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friend Ships's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Louisiana
The New Horizons Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
The New Horizons Foundation supports charitable activities in religious, educational, scientific, benevolent, and health-related fields, with 2024 grants ranging from $5,000 to $3,001,020 and a median of about $14,000. It is based in Colorado and gave the largest share of its 2024 funding to Colorado organizations, while also supporting groups in multiple other states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$116.3M
Grants
310
Total Given
$20.7M
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
New Orleans, LA
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund primarily supports higher education, research, student aid, and public service, with grants also reported to education and research organizations. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,005 to $643,695, with a median of $16,445; Louisiana received the largest share of funding, though grants went to organizations in multiple states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.6B
Grants
891
Total Given
$25.4M
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Greater New Orleans Foundation funds arts and culture, education, youth development, health, social services, and other regional priorities across the 13 parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Its stated average grant is about $20,000; its IMPACT grants are invitation-only, while the Foundation encourages nonprofits to share information about their work through a form.
Assets
$513.0M
Grants
623
Total Given
$34.6M
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Baton Rouge, LA
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation supports nonprofits and community projects addressing needs such as education, health, human services, economic opportunity, and community resilience, primarily in Baton Rouge and Southern Louisiana. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,100 to $2,201,762, with a median award of $21,000. It offers competitive funding opportunities, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$342.7M
Grants
340
Total Given
$31.1M
Community Foundation of Acadiana
Lafayette, LA
Community Foundation of Acadiana supports nonprofits and community projects in education and youth development, health and human services, arts and culture, community development, and other areas. Its competitive local grants are typically up to $5,000 through Affiliate Grants and up to $15,000 through The Fund for Acadiana, serving five and eight Acadiana parishes, respectively; its 2024 grants overall ranged from $5,050 to $3,142,333, with a median of $15,200. It accepts applications through these grant programs, though the supplied information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests outside them.
Assets
$183.5M
Grants
324
Total Given
$18.6M
Goldring Family Foundation
Metairie, LA
The Goldring Family Foundation funds nonprofits in education, health, arts and culture, human services, children’s opportunities, Jewish causes, and other areas, primarily in Greater New Orleans. Its 2024 grants had a median of $7,000, though awards ranged from $30 to $1 million. It invites organizations to begin with a Letter of Inquiry.
Assets
$199.2M
Grants
305
Total Given
$7.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Louisiana
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Friend Ships's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Friend Ships down — hundreds of funders to go?