Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$48,307,781

Total expenses

$46,130,097

Contributions and grants received

$47,184,725

Grants paid

$292,730

Program service revenue

$1,270,187

Investment income

$843,810

Other revenue

-$990,941

Total assets, end of year

$45,701,688

Total liabilities, end of year

$6,267,521

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$39,434,167

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$37,342,561

Management and general expenses

$2,253,541

Fundraising expenses

$6,533,995

Program service expenses (Part III)

$37,342,561

Program services were 81.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• The Best Buddies International Friendship Programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through six unique programs: Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, and e-Buddies. Best Buddies has grown from a single college program, started at Georgetown University in 1989, and has grown to 3,738 global chapters and is active in 46 countries.Best Buddies School Programs: Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, and Colleges Through our school-based programs, Best Buddies creates an inclusive community for students with IDD, helping them become socially integrated with their peers at every age. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences, and activities that enhance their educational experience. Elementary Schools: Launched in 2022, Best Buddies Elementary Schools builds connections and community between young students with and without IDD through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning tolls that promote one-to-one friendship, acceptance, and interaction at an early age. Students participate in both one-on-one activities in their buddy pairs and in group events to allow for optimal engagement and interaction for all members. Elementary school program growth has accelerated throughout 2024, with 585 chapters worldwide with 16,129 members. This is the fastest growing friendship program in the history of Best Buddies!Middle Schools: The Middle School program continues to thrive with 685 schools participating in Best Buddies with 13,619 members engaged worldwide. The Best Buddies Middle School program has maintained growth throughout the year and has positively benefitted from expansion efforts at the elementary school level which increase the pipeline of volunteers moving into middle school. Supported by chapter advisors, every school club is led by two students one with a disability and one without a disability and all members participate in events and group activities throughout the year, offering friendship pairs onsite support and the opportunity to socialize with other program participants. High Schools: Fostering one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD during a critical period of social and emotional development, the High School program helps break down social barriers at a pivotal stage in a young person's life. As the largest school-based initiative, Best Buddies High Schools currently includes 1,946 chapters and 72,684 members worldwide. In this program, student officers take on a greater leadership role, actively planning events, managing members, and promoting inclusion with guidance from faculty advisors. Through this experience, student leaders build essential collaboration and leadership skills while encouraging school-wide involvement in mission-driven activities.Colleges: In 2024, the Best Buddies College program connected 522 colleges and universities across the globe, engaging 21,755 active members. The program is built on strong partnerships with campus and community organizations that serve individuals with IDD, offering valuable support and expertise to help chapters include members with IDD in all aspects of their operations and activities. As more higher education institutions expand inclusive programs and continuing education opportunities for individuals with disabilities, collaboration with Best Buddies chapters becomes a natural and meaningful way to foster campus connections and enhance the college experience for all students.Best Buddies Citizens:The Citizens program fosters one-to-one friendships between adults with and without IDD within corporate and civic communities, promoting inclusion and helping individuals with IDD become active participants in society. In 2024, the program supported 12,081 members globally and hosted 336 community events throughout the year. Virtual events also provided an accessible option for members with limited transportation, expanding opportunities for connection and engagement. By partnering with businesses and organizations, Citizens strengthens community bonds and offers employees meaningful opportunities to build friendships with peers with IDD.e-Buddies:The e-Buddies program offers a space for individuals with and without IDD to build meaningful one-to-one friendships virtually, connect through the e-Buddies social platform, and participate in online events. Members play a key role in shaping the community by leading virtual activities, creating engaging discussion posts, and facilitating peer groups. Their leadership and involvement help foster a dynamic, inclusive environment where participants feel connected, empowered, and excited about the opportunities e-Buddies provides.e-Buddies by the numbers: Over 2,250 members involved on our community platform Nearly 1,959 e-Buddies matches Over 6,444 members involved in e-Buddies worldwideThrough their involvement in e-Buddies, members build digital literacy and gain confidence in online communication. These skills help participants navigate an increasingly digital world, preparing them for future opportunities in both social and professional settings.

  Expenses $27,308,301 · Grants $292,730 · Revenue $508,972

• Best Buddies LivingThe Best Buddies Living program fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Best Buddies is currently operating Living residences in the following markets: Washington, D.C. (2); Miami, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Atlanta, Georgia; Gainesville, Florida; State College, Pennsylvania; and New Brunswick, New Jersey; Nasheville, Tennessee; Boca Raton, Florida; and Clemson, South Carolina.Residents grow and change immensely as part of their connection to the mission of Best Buddies. Living and learning with their peers is a major component of this growth. By creating a mutually enriching housing model, we have made this journey even more meaningful by creating a truly one-of-a-kind inclusive residential experience for our Best Buddies participants.

  Expenses $1,683,770 · Revenue $744,542

• Best Buddies JobsBest Buddies Jobs matches skilled, qualified individuals with IDD with businesses seeking enthusiastic and dedicated employees. Through the Jobs program, Best Buddies develops partnerships with employers, assists with the hiring process and provides ongoing support to the employee and the employer.

  Expenses $8,060,253 · Revenue $11,264

• Best Buddies Family Support offers families the support and resources needed to navigate the journey of raising a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Eunie's BuddiesEunie's Buddies serves as the pioneering program within the Family Support initiative. Eunie's Buddies pairs experienced parents of a child with an IDD with new parents who are expecting, have just welcomed a baby, or are raising a child up to the age of eight years old who has been recently diagnosed with an IDD. This pairing creates a mentormentee connection and friendship. Eunie's Buddies provides a framework offering parents and caregivers encouragement, emotional support, and valuable resources. Participation in Eunie's Buddies helps families pave the way for a child with IDD to have an education, gainful employment, and a fulfilled life.

  Expenses $290,237 · Revenue $5,409

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

23 July 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202502049349301030

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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