About
Family Promise is a national nonprofit, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for families with children. Working through a network of affiliates in communities across the United States, the organization mobilizes local resources and volunteers to deliver comprehensive, holistic solutions for families facing homelessness — from prevention through shelter to long-term stabilization.
Mission
Family Promise prevents and ends homelessness for families with children and helps them achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.
What they do
- Homelessness prevention — programming that keeps at-risk families housed before they ever experience homelessness; in 2025 the organization reported serving 21,000 families with prevention programming.
- Emergency shelter — community-based shelter for families with children; Family Promise reports that 78 percent of families in its shelter program exit to stable housing.
- Family stabilization — supportive services that help families achieve lasting independence after a housing crisis.
- Housing assistance — services that help families secure and sustain housing.
History
Family Promise was founded in 1986 by Karen Olson, beginning as a rotational shelter program in Union County, New Jersey. It has since grown into a national network with a presence in almost every state, developing community-based responses to family homelessness. The national organization received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in 1988.
Scale and impact
According to figures published on the organization's website, Family Promise operates in over 200 communities across the U.S. and serves nearly a quarter of a million people a year. In 2025 it reported serving 31,000 families and 48,000 children, and it states that more than 1 million family members have been served since its founding. Family Promise has earned Charity Navigator's 4-star rating for 10 consecutive years and holds Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Financials
According to ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, Family Promise Inc (EIN 52-1591461) reported revenue of $12,965,649, expenses of $10,267,431, and net assets of $12,411,057 for fiscal year 2025. Contributions accounted for 91.5% of revenue in 2025, with program services providing 6.7%.