Friend Ships is an all-volunteer international relief organization providing collection, delivery, and distribution of food, medical supplies, clothing, and building materials, as well as medical services, disaster relief, and training.
Friend Ships’ recent grants show a foundation centered on direct food distribution and emergency support for vulnerable groups, with the largest award going to Park West Childrens Fund for ongoing food distribution and international programs, including fuel, supplies, utilities, and communications. The pattern is practical and service-oriented: grants support food boxes, meals, and distribution costs rather than broad program redesigns. In Lake Charles, Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church received funding for distribution to low-income families, and The Way Training Center was supported for meals for people recovering from addictions and for needy families. Other grants reach homeless individuals and homeless veterans, as well as community members in need. The foundation also supports international relief work through operating expenses tied to collection, delivery, and distribution. Across the recent grant list, the recipients are mostly local community organizations carrying out basic-needs services, with food acting as the central tool for assistance. The mix of churches, food distribution groups, and service agencies suggests Friend Ships favors partners already delivering aid directly to households and people facing housing, addiction, or food insecurity challenges.
Food access is the clearest throughline in Friend Ships’ grantmaking. The foundation gave $38,739 to The Way Training Center for meals to people recovering from addictions and food for needy families, and $18,249 to Vineyard Christian Fellowship for food distribution to needy families in the community. It also awarded $6,237 to Vinton Food Distribution Center for food provided to homeless veterans. Emergency support for homelessness appears alongside that work: the Salvation Army received $32,213 to feed homeless men and women, and The Lord’s Outreach Ministry was funded for serving and distributing to homeless individuals. Community meal and box distribution also show up in smaller local awards, including Open Door Church in Sulphur. These grants point to a funder backing immediate assistance through trusted local providers rather than funding advocacy or systems work.
Friend Ships’ typical grant size sits at a median of $18,249, with the 25th percentile at $10,639 and the 75th percentile at $35,426. That spread suggests a mix of mid-sized operating awards and smaller distribution grants, alongside a few larger commitments. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025, including The Lord’s Outreach Ministry, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, The Way Training Center, Open Door Church, Galveston Food Distribution, and the Lake Charles church listed as Greater Saint Mary’s/Greater St Marys. The foundation does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments. Its grantmaking appears to rely on direct grants to operating organizations already delivering food, shelter, and relief services.
$251K
$4M
$1.6M
$930K
Most grants fall between $11K and $35K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$35K
Don Tipton
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Giving is concentrated in Louisiana, which accounts for 87% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s home state, and the top state by grant count is LA. Lake Charles appears repeatedly as the main city of support, with additional grants in Crowley, Sulphur, and Vinton. Outside Louisiana, the recent list includes Galveston, Texas, but all recorded grants in the provided sample go to US recipients. The geographic pattern is local and regional rather than national or international in recipient location.
Friend Ships funds direct-service organizations that distribute food, serve meals, and provide emergency assistance. Recent grants went to churches, food distribution groups, and service agencies supporting low-income families, people recovering from addictions, homeless individuals, homeless veterans, and community members in need.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a median of $18,249, with a 25th percentile of $10,639 and a 75th percentile of $35,426. The recent list includes both smaller distribution awards and larger operating-support grants.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including The Lord’s Outreach Ministry, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, The Way Training Center, Open Door Church, Galveston Food Distribution, and the Lake Charles church listed as Greater Saint Marys/Greater St Marys. That pattern points to ongoing relationships with recipients.
Most grants go to Louisiana, which is also the top state by grant count. Lake Charles is the most visible city in the recent list, with additional Louisiana awards in Crowley, Sulphur, and Vinton.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Friend Ships that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations and churches assisting the poor, sick, elderly, or homeless in the local community receive distributed food and related aid; no formal grant eligibility criteria were identified.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park West Childrens Fund | Lake Charles, LA | $64,860 | 2025 | Support ongoing expenditures for food distribution and international programs including fuel, supplies, utilities, communications, etc |
| Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church | Lake Charles, LA | $39,242 | 2025 | For distribution to low income families in the community |
| The Way Training Center | Crowley, LA | $38,739 | 2025 | Food is utilized to provide meals to people recovering from addictions and to distribute to needy families in the community |
| Salvation Army | Lake Charles, LA | $32,213 | 2025 | Food is used to feed homeless men and women |
| The Lord's Outreach Ministry | Lake Charles, LA | $31,781 | 2025 | For serving and distributing to homeless individuals |
| Vineyard Christian Fellowship | Lake Charles, LA | $18,249 | 2025 | Food is distributed to needy families in the community |
| Galveston Food Distribution | Galveston, TX | $12,197 | 2025 | For distribution to needy families |
| Open Door Church | Sulphur, LA | $7,046 | 2025 | For distribution to community members in need |
| Vinton Food Distribution Center | Vinton, LA | $6,237 | 2025 | Food is provided to homeless veterans |
| Greater Saint Mary's Baptist Church | Lake Charles, LA | $38,640 | 2024 | Food is distributed to low income, needy families in the community. |
| Open Door Church | Sulphur, LA | $22,818 | 2024 | Food is distributed to community members in need. |
| The Lord's Outreach Ministry | Lake Charles, LA | $14,050 | 2024 | Food is utilized to provide meals to homeless individuals and families. |
| Vineyard Christian Fellowship | Lake Charles, LA | $10,890 | 2024 | Food boxes are delivered to needy households. |
| The Way Training Center | Crowley, LA | $10,388 | 2024 | Food is utilized to provide meals to people recovering from addictions and to distribute to needy families in the community. |
| Galveston Food Distribution | Galveston, TX | $5,720 | 2024 | Food is distributed to community members in need. |
| Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church | Lake Charles, LA | $43,345 | 2023 | Aid to impoverished families |
| Global Missions | Topeka, KS | $8,000 | 2023 | Storm relief |
| Waters Edge | Lake Charles, LA | $7,772 | 2023 | Aid to impoverished families |
| First Baptist Maplewood Church | Sulphur, LA | $5,796 | 2023 | Hurricane Ian relief |
Park West Childrens Fund
$64,860Support ongoing expenditures for food distribution and international programs including fuel, supplies, utilities, communications, etc
Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church
$39,242For distribution to low income families in the community
The Way Training Center
$38,739Food is utilized to provide meals to people recovering from addictions and to distribute to needy families in the community
Salvation Army
$32,213Food is used to feed homeless men and women
The Lord's Outreach Ministry
$31,781For serving and distributing to homeless individuals
Vineyard Christian Fellowship
Food is distributed to needy families in the community
Galveston Food Distribution
$12,197For distribution to needy families
Open Door Church
$7,046For distribution to community members in need
Vinton Food Distribution Center
$6,237Food is provided to homeless veterans
Greater Saint Mary's Baptist Church
$38,640Food is distributed to low income, needy families in the community.
Open Door Church
$22,818Food is distributed to community members in need.
The Lord's Outreach Ministry
$14,050Food is utilized to provide meals to homeless individuals and families.
Vineyard Christian Fellowship
$10,890Food boxes are delivered to needy households.
The Way Training Center
$10,388Food is utilized to provide meals to people recovering from addictions and to distribute to needy families in the community.
Galveston Food Distribution
$5,720Food is distributed to community members in need.
Greater St Marys Missionary Baptist Church
$43,345Aid to impoverished families
Global Missions
$8,000Storm relief
Waters Edge
$7,772Aid to impoverished families
First Baptist Maplewood Church
$5,796Hurricane Ian relief