Compassionate Friends, Inc.

Compassionate Friends, Inc. is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families who have experienced the loss of a child. Established in 1969, the organization aims to assist in the positive resolution of grief and provide support to bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members.

Mission and Activities

The organization's mission is to offer friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the grieving process. Through its extensive network of over 500 chapters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C., Compassionate Friends provides various support mechanisms. These include local support groups, a pen pal program for children who have lost siblings, and a resource department offering publications such as books and brochures.

Governance and Financial Transparency

Compassionate Friends, Inc. has a robust governance structure, with a board of directors that oversees its operations. The organization emphasizes ethics and transparency, ensuring that board members adhere to conflict-of-interest policies and conduct regular assessments of their performance.

Compassionate Friends has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, indicating strong financial health and transparency.

The Compassionate Friends Foundation

Associated with Compassionate Friends, Inc. is The Compassionate Friends Foundation, which focuses on fundraising for an endowment to support the ongoing activities of Compassionate Friends, Inc. This foundation helps ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization's mission.

Overall, Compassionate Friends, Inc. plays a vital role in providing emotional support and resources to families coping with the loss of a child.

[1] https://rarediseases.org/organizations/compassionate-friends-supporting-family-after-a-child-dies/ [2] https://www.compassionatefriends.org [3] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/36-2968329 [4] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/36-4373348 [5] https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/362968329