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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2025 Expires: October 2027

Metropolitan Family Service

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
12
(503) 232-0007
1700 NW Civic Drive, Suite 200
Gresham, OR, 97030
https://mfspdx.org/
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Metropolitan Family Service does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 12 (Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses)
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

MFS does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:

  • Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (early childhood development and youth success, economic well-being, and community-based health and wellness).

Metropolitan Family Service meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to help people move beyond the limitations of poverty, inequity, and social isolation."

Year, State Incorporated:
1950, OR

Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) reports that it works to promote equity, prosperity, and build a connected community for all ages. The organization’s programs focus on three community-based initiatives: early childhood development and youth success, economic well-being, and community-based health and wellness. MFS’ Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) is an early learning program that brings parents, caregivers, and children together to learn side by side in learning environments led by staff. RSG also offers home visit-based services to promote healthy child development through parental support, family socialization, and connection to other social services. The organization’s SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) and CAFE Community Schools programs offer K-12 during and after-school programming in the greater Portland area, with an emphasis on students in the immediate school community, by providing academic support, food and nutrition, and parent education. MFS also operates six school-based food pantries, provides cooking kits and workshops in partnership with local organizations to offer fresh produce and healthy foods. The organization’s economic well-being programs include: financial coaching; small business credit coaching; career exploration and youth internship opportunities, by connecting youth to local professional mentors; and CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Oregon, which provides free tax preparation for low to moderate-income working families and individuals. In 2024, MFS reports it distributed nearly 800,000 pounds of food, filed 8,090 tax returns, provided academic and enrichment opportunities for 3,600 youth, while 700 parents and children received early childhood and family support services.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, Metropolitan Family Service's program expenses were:

Program services $10,420,703
Total Program Expenses $10,420,703

Chief Executive
Judy A. Strand, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$194,378

Chair of the Board
Kevin Spooner, Ed.D.

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Associate Dean of Education and Director of Clinical Practice, Warner Pacific University

Board Size
16

Paid Staff Size
250

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Fundraising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $13,234,116, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Metropolitan Family Service's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Government grants and contracts $10,736,270
Other grants and contracts $1,001,820
In-kind contributions $851,482
Gain on investments $510,535
Contributions $470,021
Gain on investments, net $468,803
Special events, net $174,523
Interest and dividends $120,186
Miscellaneous income $30,184
Investment fees $-41,732
Total Income $14,322,092

Programs: 79% Fundraising: 3% Administrative: 18%

Total Income $14,322,092
Total expenses: $13,198,208
  Program expenses $10,420,703
  Fundraising expenses $418,943
  Administrative expenses $2,358,562
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $1,123,884
Beginning Net Assets $6,043,644
Other Changes In Net Assets $53,502
Ending Net Assets $5,416,809
Total Liabilities $2,103,795
Total Assets $7,520,604

Note 1: In the above financial statements, "other changes in net assets" refers to net earnings from beneficial interest in assets held by others.

Note 2: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, MFS received in-kind contributions totaling $851,482 in the form of utility bill assistance ($464,043), meals ($333,559), space ($41,850), supplies ($8,085), and services ($3,945).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance