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The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Inc

EIN 04-2751023 · Chicopee, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS' MISSION IS TO FEED OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND LEAD THE COMMUNITY TO END HUNGER. THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES FOOD BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH ITS MEMBER FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL SITES, SHELTERS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS,TO AN ESTIMATED 120,750 INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY WHO ARE AT RISK OF HUNGER AND/OR FOOD INSECURE ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WEEK OR MONTH OF THE YEAR. IN ADDITION TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION, THE FOOD BANK ALSO PROVIDES SNAP OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT, NUTRITION EDUCATION, CAPACITY BUILDING RESOURCES FOR OUR REGION'S FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON HUNGER AND, MORE BROADLY, FOOD INSECURITY - NOT KNOWING WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.

Income
$37.5 million
Spending
$36.9 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
90
Volunteers
864
Highest pay
$221,779, executive director

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: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    22 of 22 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 (4)
  1. $30.8 million spent. FOOD OPERATIONS, DELIVERY, AND BROWN BAG: THE FOOD BANK RECEIVED 18,031,174 POUNDS OF FOOD AND PROVIDED 17,992,441 POUNDS, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 14,993,701 MEALS, TO APPROXIMATELY 264 FRONTLINE FOOD PROVIDERS, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL SITES, SHELTERS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. ULTIMATELY, THIS FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO 122,669 INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY WHO EXPERIENCED HUNGER OR WHO WERE AT RISK OF HUNGER IN THE FOUR COUNTIES OF WESTERN MA. OF THE TOTAL FOOD DISTRIBUTED, THE FOOD BANK USED ITS OWN TRUCKS TO DISTRIBUTE 2,710,258 POUNDS OF FOOD (EQUIVALENT TO 2,258,548 MEALS) TO 73 FRONTLINE FOOD PROVIDERS - 1) 24 MOBILE FOOD BANK SITES SERVING 26,087 INDIVIDUALS; 30% CHILDREN AND 23% SENIORS, AND 2) 51 BROWN BAG: FOOD FOR ELDER SITES AND 43 SATELLITES - THE FOOD BANK'S "PANTRY ON WHEELS" PROGRAM SERVING 5,272 ELDERS.
  2. $633,031 spent. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FOOD PROVIDERS: THE FOOD BANK OFFERED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS ON FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, AND TRAININGS IN FOOD SAFETY TO MEMBER FOOD PROVIDERS. IT ALSO PROVIDED CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING THEM INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND THE AMOUNT OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED. TO CARRY OUT THIS PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING SERVICES/TRAININGS WERE PROVIDED:(1) INSTITUTE TRAININGS FOR MEMBERS IN AREAS SUCH AS, FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, DISASTER PLANNING, AND BEST PRACTICES.(2) NETWORK COALITION MEETINGS THAT STRENGTHENED THE FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BY PERIODICALLY BRINGING MEMBERS TOGETHER TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM BOTH THE FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA, AND ALLOWING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS TO LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.(3) SNAP OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT EDUCATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) AND ASSISTED POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. IN FY25 THE FOOD BANK SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL 809 APPLICATIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH A 70% APPROVAL RATE.(4) PROVIDED SMALL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS TO ASSIST MEMBERS PROVIDE MORE FOOD TO THEIR GUESTS.(5)FOOD ASSISTANCE NAVIGATION PROVIDED FOOD ASSISTANCE TO 497 INDIVIDUALS REFERRED THROUGH MASSHEALTH PROGRAMS AND 493 INDIVIDUALS REFERRED BY OTHER PROVIDERS.
  3. $1.6 million spent. NUTRITION EDUCATION: PROVIDED WORKSHOPS AND MATERIALS TO BOTH PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF OF THE FOOD ASSITANCE NETWORK TO EDUCATE PEOPLE TO EAT HEALTHIER ON A LIMITED BUDGET, INCLUDING SUPERMARKET TOURS FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO SHOP ON A BUDGET, READ NUTRITION LABELS, AND UNDERSTAND UNIT PRICING.
  4. $441,869 spent. THE FOOD BANK STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SCREEN INDIVIDUALS FOR ELIGIBILITY AND ASSIST THEM WITH THE SNAP APPLICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT.

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 February 1982.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.