FRIENDSHIP ARK INC
Faith, Family, Friendship
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Friendship Ark seeks to provide community services for adults with intellectual disabilities, so they may work and live in the community of their choice. We seek to provide safe, affordable housing that meet an individuals needs, as well as provide the supports necessary, so that they can remain as independent as possible in their home.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Supported Community Living
Supported Community Living services are intended to provide for the daily living needs of the member and shall be available on an as needed basis up to 24 hours per day. Service activities include: Personal and home skill training, Individual advocacy, Community Skills training, Personal management skills training, Socialization skills training, Communication skills training, Personal environment support, Transportation, and other Treatment activities.
Day Habilitation
Day Habilitation Services are provided outside a member’s residential setting and are designed to foster the acquisition of skills, building positive social behavior and interpersonal competence, greater independence, and personal choices. Activities include: Assistance with acquisition, retention, or improvement of self-help, socialization and adaptive skills that enhance social development, and developing skill in performing activities of daily living and community living.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of individuals attending community events or trainings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with intellectual disabilities
Related Program
Day Habilitation
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with intellectual disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
25 clients in 24 hour supported community living, 13 clients in individualized (15 minute unit) supported community living, and 10 (unduplicated/not served in SCL) clients served in Day Hab.
Percentage of customers who report they are satisfied with the program.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with intellectual disabilities
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
All that responded to this question on the 2019 Parent/Guardian Satisfaction Survey, reported they were satisfied overall with the services their core member was receiving from Friendship Ark.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We strive to be the community service provider of choice for adults with intellectual disabilities seeking assistance with maintaining their independence in a community setting.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We provide highly trained, qualified direct support professionals who engage the individual in working on goals to increase their independence and providing the support needed for these individuals to reach their fullest potential.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are certified by the Iowa Department of Human Services/Iowa Medicaid Enterprise to provide Supported Community Living Services. We accredited by the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for community inclusion, community housing, and supportive living.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We current serve 30 individuals in six homes. We also provide support to 15 individuals who live in their own apartments or at home with family. We provide day habilitation or community inclusion services to over 40 individuals. We continue to explore areas of need in our community for adults with intellectual disabilities and assess if we are able to help meet those needs.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
In an effort to better serve our core members, we have taken a targeted approach to implementing the principles of Gentle Teaching throughout our organization.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
FRIENDSHIP ARK INC
Board of directorsas of 12/15/2020
Sarah Buck
Kyle Briese
Iowa State University
Amber Deardorff
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Lisa Downs
Exit Realty
Deb Fennelly
Volunteer
Lee Griffin
Griffin Consulting Group
Hugh Marsden
TS Ag Finance
Rev. Tom Prochnow
Retired
Al Carver
Retired
Nicole Rasmussen
First National Bank
Dr. Lou Scallon
Wolfe Eye Clinic
Rep. Beth Wessell-Kroeschell
Iowa House of Representatives/Reimen Gardens
Galen Wilke
Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/15/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.