Friends in Service of Heroes Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

F.I.S.H. focuses on improving the quality of life of our troops, our veterans, and their families in the Kansas City area. Our 3 Pillars, Health-Recognition-Support provides living assistance, food, durable medical equipment and service dogs and camaraderie to our troops. F.I.S.H. strongly emphasizes helping veterans and their families continue moving forward by providing tools to enhance their emotional and physical needs. We do this by providing specially trained service dogs to overcome Post-Traumatic Stress. We also provide mobility chairs and specialized outdoor Track Chairs so veterans can get out of the house and engage with the community. Our efforts extend beyond physical support. We believe in enhancing the morale and well-being of wounded soldiers through recreational activities. These activities, such as cookouts and outdoor sports like motorcycling, hunting, and fishing, are designed to reignite the spark in veterans' lives. By engaging them in activities they loved before their injuries, we aim to bring back a sense of normalcy and joy, reminding them that life can still be fulfilling and enjoyable. Providing emergency financial assistance to our nation's Veterans who are wounded, injured, or ill in the form of rent and mortgage payments to prevent homelessness and evictions. Utility payments, flights, and lodging are needed so family members can be together during recovery. Assistance is provided rapidly to our Veteran's needs within 24-48 hours, making payments directly to their creditors. In 2024, Friends In Service of Heroes (FISH) made a profound impact on the military community by providing 4 life-changing service dogs, feeding more than 1,000 people, and delivering 5 mobility chairs to veterans in need. The organization also supplied a new water heater, a new air conditioning unit, and distributed gift cards to 35 military families just in time for Christmas. Additionally, FISH hosted the largest Military Recognition event in a six-state region, drawing over 4,000 attendees in a powerful show of support and gratitude.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 47.4%; rating input score 47
• Program expense ratio: 70.4%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.73 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 39.9%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.49; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 9.9% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.8% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings