Friends of the Children logo

Friends of the Children

Public charity · Grantmaker Portland, OR EIN: 93-1300690 Website

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. It pairs youth facing significant obstacles with paid professional mentors, called Friends, and commits to those relationships from early childhood through high school graduation for 12 or more years.

Key facts about Friends of the Children

In short: Friends of the Children gave $13.5M across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $421K), top state Oregon. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
93-1300690
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$13,475,394
Grants made (2025)
32
Average grant
$421,106
Median grant
$215,875
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (3 of 32, 2025)
Total assets
$32,742,941
Primary geography
Oregon (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$32.7M

+0.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$13.5M

-12.8% YoY

Grant Count

32

+10.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$421K

-21.0% YoY

Is Friends of the Children open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 32 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.3M; repeat grants $332K. How we count

Medians: $1.1M first-time, $157K repeat.

  • 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 108% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization states its mission as impacting generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors for 12 or more years. Its model selects children ages 4 to 6 with significant adversity, pairs each with a full-time professional mentor, and provides individualized, relationship-based support through high school graduation.

The 2022 grants listed include several Friends of the Children chapters. Those chapters describe their missions as empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through long-term professional mentoring. The funder also supported Thompson Child & Family Focus, which describes its work as strengthening children, families, and communities through trauma-informed, evidence-based services across mental health, foster care, and prevention.

Grantmaking

In 2022, Friends of the Children reported grants to the organizations below. The available filing data lists zero grants in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025; it does not provide total grant dollars or typical grant size for those years.

The 2022 grants show support for Friends of the Children chapters and a child- and family-serving organization.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization is based in Portland, Oregon. Its website describes a national network spanning rural, Indigenous, suburban, and urban communities across 22 states and reports partnerships with the Oglala Lakota Nation, the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes, and the Klamath Tribes. The 2022 grants listed include recipients in Arizona, New York, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, and Montana.

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.

Cities

PortlandAustinBendClearwaterEvanstonFargoKlamath FallsLos AngelesMatthewsNew YorkRoxburySan FranciscoSeattleDetroitEugeneKearnsTacomaColorado SpringsMissoulaVancouver

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M13 grants2019 17 grants2020 20 grants2021 22 grants2022 26 grants2023 29 grants2024 32 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2019) to $15.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $13.5M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Youth Resources Inc: $3.4MYouth Resources Inc$3.4MFriends of the Children - Stockton: $1.8MFriends of the Children -Stockton$1.8MFriends of the Children - Eastern Washington: $1.1MFriends of the Children -Eastern Washington$1.1MFriends of the Children - Eastern Oregon: $949KFriends of the Children -Eastern Oregon$949KFriends of the Children - Seattle: $714KFriends of the Children -Seattle$714KFriends of the Children - He Sapa: $624KFriends of the Children - HeSapa$624KFriends of the Children - SW Washington: $582KFriends of the Children - SWWashington$582KFriends of the Children - Los Angeles: $515KFriends of the Children - LosAngeles$515KFriends of the Children - Western Montana: $403KFriends of the Children -Western Montana$403KFriends of the Children - New York: $395KFriends of the Children - NewYork$395K

The largest 2025 recipient was Youth Resources Inc ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $10.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

129 grants across all recorded years

21<$50K23$50–100K41$100–250K16$250–500K13$500K–1M15$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 41 grants of 129 (32%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Youth Resources Inc Portland, ORBuilding Project$3,391,500
Friends of the Children - Stockton Stockton, CAChapter Support$1,797,000
Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington Spokane, WAChapter Support$1,102,000
Friends of the Children - Eastern Oregon La Grande, ORChapter Support$949,350
Friends of the Children - Seattle Seattle, WAChapter Support$713,750
Friends of the Children - He Sapa Rapid City, SDChapter Support$624,470
Friends of the Children - SW Washington Vancouver, WAChapter Support$582,428
Friends of the Children - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAChapter Support$515,135
Friends of the Children - Western Montana Missoula, MTChapter Support$403,020
Friends of the Children - New York New York, NYChapter Support$395,100

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2025 $32,742,941 $22,354,442 $23,375,085 0
2024 $32,619,125 $11,888,314 $24,586,137 0
2023 $39,705,816 $19,795,606 $16,404,803 0
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$32,742,941$32,619,125$39,705,816
Revenue$22,354,442$11,888,314$19,795,606
Expenses$23,375,085$24,586,137$16,404,803
Net Investment Income$761,162$829,725$759,616

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 20, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 29, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 3, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 11, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 20, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 15, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Stephen M. Graham as chair; George Granger as immediate past chair; Bruce A. Schoen as treasurer; and DJ Wilson as vice chair and secretary. It also lists Karie Conner, Erica Baird, Greg Goodwin, Thomas Keller, Sharon Maghie, and John Miner as directors.

Friends of the Children is led by Terri Sorensen, CEO on every filing since 2019; 6 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Terri Sorensen

    CEO

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $243K (2019) → $390K (2025)

  • Stephen M. Graham

    Chair

    Co-Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2022

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bryan R. Parker

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Saltzman

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Shapiro

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erica Baird

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Greg Goodwin

    Director

    Director → Immediate Past Chair, 2021

    Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Henry G. Morriello

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Miner

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karie Conner

    Director

    Director → Vice Chair, 2024

    Vice Chair → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon Maghie

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Keller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Tykeson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Pollard

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Traci Rossi

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erinn Kelley-Siel

    Chief Strategy Officer

    Chief Officer of Expansion → Chief Expansion Officer, 2022

    Chief Expansion Officer → Chief Strategy Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $145K (2019) → $226K (2025)

  • Carmi Lori Brown

    Chief Officer of Performance

    Chief Program Officer → Chief Officer of Performance, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $91K (2020) → $153K (2025)

  • Abigail Weast

    COO & CFO

    Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2023

    COO → COO & CFO, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $122K (2021) → $191K (2025)

  • Shanna Lamar

    Chief Development Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $153K (2023) → $168K (2025)

  • Angela Groves

    Chief Officer of Development & Sustainability

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $154K (2025)

  • Bruce A. Schoen

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dj Wilson

    Vice Chair & Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George Granger

    Immediate Past Chair

    Co-Vice Chair → Chair, 2020

    Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (22)
  • Former: Duncan Campbell (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Peggy Maguire (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Tarece Johnson (2022–2024) — Chief Officer of Belonging
  • Former: Ellen Frawley (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Michael Feldser (2019–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Shane Wall (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Brittany Merritt (2023) — Chief Development Officer
  • Former: Tarece Johnson-Morgan (2023) — Chief Officer of Belonging, Culture & Equity
  • Former: Cynthia Grant (2019–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Don Washburn (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Amanda Squibb (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: John Gilleland (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Yi-Chin Chen (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Cheryl Jones (2022) — Chief People Officer
  • Former: Michelle Charbonneau (2022) — Director of Tech Solutions
  • Former: Gary Clemons (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Thomas Lee (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Vanessa Wilkins (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Rachel Arnold (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Mary Rennekamp (2021) — Chief Development Officer
  • Former: Abby Weast (2020) — Chief Operating Officer
  • Former: Clinton Moloney MBA (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Terri Sorensen — CEO: $390KTerri SorensenCEO$390KErinn Kelley-Siel — Chief Strategy Officer: $226KErinn Kelley-SielChief Strategy Officer$226KAbigail Weast — COO/CFO: $191KAbigail WeastCOO/CFO$191KShanna Lamar — Chief Development Officer: $168KShanna LamarChief Development Officer$168KAngela Groves — Chief Officer of Development and Sustainability: $154KAngela GrovesChief Officer of Development…$154KCarmi Brown — Chief Officer of Performance and QM: $153KCarmi BrownChief Officer of Performance…$153K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $390K, to Terri Sorensen (CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 44 Ne Morris St, Portland, OR 97212-3015
Phone: (503) 820-0903
Website: https://friendsofthechildren.org

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Children

How much does Friends of the Children give each year?

Friends of the Children gave $13.5M across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $15.5M across 29 grants.

What is Friends of the Children's typical grant size?

Friends of the Children's median grant in 2025 was $215,875, and its average grant was $421,106, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Friends of the Children that year got $1.3M on average.

Where does Friends of the Children give grants?

Friends of the Children's top state is Oregon, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Washington (20%) and California (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (2 grants).

Does Friends of the Children give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Friends of the Children's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Chapter Support" (31 grants).

Who are Friends of the Children's largest grantees?

Friends of the Children's largest 2025 grantees include Youth Resources Inc ($3,391,500), Friends of the Children - Stockton ($1,797,000) and Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington ($1,102,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Friends of the Children?

Friends of the Children reported $32.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $22.4M.

What does Friends of the Children fund?

The organization states its mission as impacting generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors for 12 or more years. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Friends of the Children?

Friends of the Children has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check friendsofthechildren.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Friends of the Children's EIN?

Friends of the Children's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1300690. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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