Friends & Co

Friends & Co is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces isolation and loneliness among older adults through friendship-centered programs. Its core services—Visiting Companions, Phone Companions, Coffee Talk (a drop-in phone line), Cards Connect, and culturally specific gatherings—pair trained volunteers with older adults to build regular, meaningful connections. Founded in 1972 and formerly known as Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (MN), the organization rebranded to Friends & Co in 2022 to reflect a more inclusive, community-focused identity while continuing the same mission and volunteer-driven programs. The organization serves older adults across the Twin Cities metro and runs specialty groups and outreach (including Spanish-language gatherings and LGBTQ+ social events) to reach diverse older adult communities. In recent years Friends & Co has continued to publish annual reports and file IRS Form 990s; its fiscal year ending June 2023 reported operating revenue and expenses consistent with a mid-sized local nonprofit, and the organization marked program milestones such as the five-year anniversary of its Coffee Talk line in early 2026. Friends & Co maintains an active web presence, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising program to sustain free services for older adults.