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The Greater Boston Food Bank Inc

EIN 04-2717782 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR COSTS CONSIST OF ACQUIRING, SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO 617 MEMBER AGENCIES, TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO 69 DIRECT DISTRIBUTION SITES SUCH AS GBFB MOBILE MARKETS, AND FEDERAL DISTRIBUTIONS FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS. LAST YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 109 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, THE EQUIVALENT OF OVER 90.9 MILLION MEALS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO PROVIDE AT LEAST THREE MEALS A DAY TO EVERY PERSON IN NEED IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

Income
$179.2 million
Spending
$169.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
157
Volunteers
18,175
Highest pay
$627,385, president/chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $155.1 million spent. GBFB ACQUIRES FOOD THROUGH FOOD INDUSTRY PRODUCT DONATIONS, FOOD DRIVES, AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ENABLE US TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL HIGH-NUTRIENT QUALITY FOOD. WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE GENEROSITY OF OVER 18,000 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY WHO HELP SORT AND DISTRIBUTE DONATED FOOD PRODUCTS. GBFB WORKS TO ACQUIRE, STORE, ORGANIZE AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD THROUGH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES, COMMUNITY MEAL PROGRAMS, SHELTERS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, SENIOR CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS IN THE 190 CITIES AND TOWNS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS THAT GBFB SERVES. GBFB'S FOOD ASSISTANCE LOCATOR PROVIDES AN EASY WAY FOR PEOPLE IN NEED TO FIND HELP NEARBY. GBFB ALSO DISTRIBUTES FOOD DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN NEED THROUGH DEDICATED PROGRAMS THAT SERVE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE GROUPS, SUCH AS SENIORS AND CHILDREN. SINCE 2009, GBFB HAS OPERATED OUT OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART 117,000 SQUARE-FOOT FOOD DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, THE YAWKEY DISTRIBUTION CENTER, LOCATED IN THE NEWMARKET SECTION OF BOSTON. THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK IS A MEMBER OF FEEDING AMERICA, THE NATION'S LARGEST HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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