Meals on Wheels of Ri Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLES. OUR IMPACT IS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED BY OUR HOME-DELIVERED AND CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 2,900 SENIORS AND OTHERS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES BENEFITTED FROM OUR PROGRAMS DURING THE YEAR.
- Income
- $6.6 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 23.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 44%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 417
- Highest pay
- $174,757, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $3.3 million spent. HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI'S HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT HOME-DELIVERED PROGRAM IN RHODE ISLAND THAT OFFERS STATEWIDE SERVICE OF FULLY PREPARED MEALS, WHICH MEET ONE-THIRD OF A SENIOR'S DAILY DIETARY ALLOWANCE, ALONG WITH A SAFETY-ASSURING WELL-BEING CHECK. IN 2024, THIS PROGRAM DELIVERED 269,110 MEALS TO 3,331 HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS.IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERED 120,480 MEALS TO 786 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAID AND WERE ELIGIBLE FOR A HOME-DELIVERED MEAL BENEFIT.THIS PROGRAM OFFERS SERVICE TO THOSE AGED 60 OR OLDER OR THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER AND QUALIFIED THROUGH A STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM, WHO ARE HOMEBOUND AND UNABLE TO SAFELY PREPARE MEALS FOR THEMSELVES DUE TO PHYSICAL AND/OR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS CAN RECEIVE MEALS FIVE DAYS PER WEEK AND ONE LUNCHTIME MEAL PER WEEKDAY THAT MEETS NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS AS SET BY THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. MENUS ARE DEVELOPED BY A REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST AND ADAPTED TO MEET APPLICABLE CLIENT PREFERENCES. CLIENT ELIGIBILITY IS VERIFIED THROUGH THE REFERRAL PROCESS. A POTENTIAL CLIENT, FAMILY MEMBER, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL OR ANOTHER INVESTED PARTY WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE POTENTIAL CLIENT'S HEALTH CAN MAKE A REFERRAL BY PHONE OR THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. UPON CONFIRMATION THAT THE POTENTIAL CLIENT MEETS PROGRAM CRITERIA, THEY ARE ENROLLED INTO THE PROGRAM. CLIENT INFORMATION, NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND PREFERENCES, NUMBER OF MEALS RECEIVED, AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO MEET REPORTING GUIDELINES, IS MAINTAINED IN THE SERVTRACKER DATABASE.THE MEALS ARE PREPARED AND PACKAGED BY THE CONTRACTED CATERER BEFORE BEING DROPPED OFF AT 21 STATEWIDE LOCATIONS - MEAL DISPATCH SITES - WHERE A DEDICATED SPACE HAS BEEN DONATED. TRAINED DRIVERS PICK UP THE MEALS FROM THAT SPACE AND DELIVER TO THE HOMES OF RECIPIENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. MEALS ARE DELIVERED IN A CHILLED STATE SO THAT THE CLIENT CAN REHEAT, BY MICROWAVE OR CONVENTIONAL OVEN, AT THE TIME OF DAY THEY PREFER TO EAT. THERE IS NO CHARGE OR FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION; A VOLUNTARY SUGGESTED DONATION OF $3.00 PER MEAL IS REQUESTED FROM CLIENTS. INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CLIENT IN THE CASE THAT SOMEONE DOES NOT ANSWER THE DOOR FOR THEIR MEAL DELIVERY. DEPENDENT ON THE CLIENT, DELIVERY DRIVERS MAY CALL THE CLIENT DIRECTLY OR CALL THE PROVIDENCE HEADQUARTERS. IF THE CLIENT IS NOT REACHABLE VIA PHONE, OFFICE STAFF WILL CALL THE CLIENT'S EMERGENCY CONTACT. IN THE CASE THAT THE EMERGENCY CONTACT IS NOT REACHABLE, OFFICE STAFF WILL CONTACT LOCAL POLICE TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK. RESEARCH BY MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA REPORTS THAT OLDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE A HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM SERVICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN PHYSICAL HEALTH AS WELL AS IN FEELINGS OF LONELINESS, TO EXPERIENCE REDUCED RATES OF FALLS AND WORRIES ABOUT BEING ABLE TO REMAIN LIVING IN THEIR OWN HOMES. MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA ALSO REPORTS THAT SENIORS CAN BENEFIT FROM REDUCED EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS WITHIN JUST 30 DAYS OF STARTING A HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM. OUR APPROACH IS ALSO COST-EFFECTIVE: MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI CAN DELIVER A YEAR'S WORTH OF MEALS TO A CLIENT FOR THE SAME COST AS ONE DAY IN THE HOSPITAL OR ONE WEEK IN A NURSING HOME WHICH SAVES THE STATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAID AND MEDICARE COSTS.
- $220,617 spent. THROUGH ITS PILOT PROJECTS, THE HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM'S TOTAL 2024 SERVICE INCLUDED 13,039 MEALS DELIVERED TO 191 INDIVIDUALS MANAGING CHRONIC ILLNESS, PARTICIPANTS IN A PRIVATE PAY PROGRAM, PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, AND CHILDREN THROUGH A SUMMER MEALS INITIATIVE. IN ADDITION, 1,169 SUPPLEMENTAL GROCERY DELIVERY WERE MADE TO CLIENTS WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING ADDITIONAL NEEDS.
- $214,035 spent. CONGREGATE PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI'S CAPITAL CITY CAFE AND SENIOR RESTAURANT PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR MORE MOBILE SENIORS. THE R.I. OFFICE OF HEALTH AGING HAS DIVIDED THE STATE INTO FIVE REGIONS FOR CONGREGATE MEALS; THE ORGANIZATION'S CAPITAL CITY CAF PROGRAM IS THE DESIGNATED PROVIDER FOR THE PROVIDENCE REGION. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES OLDER ADULTS WHO HAVE AMBULATORY ABILITY WEEKDAY DINING AT SIX COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AND MONTHLY CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SITES FOR THE OLDER ADULT LATIN, SOUTHEAST ASIAN, AND LGBTQ COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED 19,507 MEALS TO 562 RHODE ISLAND SENIORS IN 2024.RHODE ISLAND RESIDENTS AGED 60 AND OLDER QUALIFY FOR THE CAPITAL CITY CAFE PROGRAM. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RESULTS IN IMPROVED NUTRITION, IMPROVED SOCIALIZATION, AND ENHANCED ACCESS TO NUTRITION EDUCATION. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ONE LUNCHTIME MEAL AT A COMMUNITY DINING SITE, OFFERED ON WEEKDAYS. PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE AN ENROLLMENT FORM (PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM) PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST ATTENDANCE; THIS CAN BE COMPLETED AT THE CAFE SITE PRIOR TO MEAL SERVICE. DINING RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. MEALS, WHICH ARE SERVED HOT, MEET NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS AS SET BY THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. OUR CONTRACTED CATERER PREPARES THE MEALS AND DELIVERS THEM TO THE CAFE SITES ON SERVICE DAYS. TRAINED SITE MANAGERS AND VOLUNTEERS FACILITATE DAILY DINING SERVICE. THERE IS NO CHARGE OR FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, BUT CLIENTS ARE ASKED TO MAKE A VOLUNTARY SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF $3.00 PER MEAL. IN 2024, THERE WERE SIX CAFE SITES WITHIN THE PROGRAM. THE SENIOR RESTAURANT PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL RHODE ISLAND RESIDENTS AGED 60 AND OLDER. PARTICIPANTS OBTAIN A VOUCHER FROM MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI, WHICH CAN BE PICKED UP FROM OUR PROVIDENCE HEADQUARTERS OR BY MAIL AND EXCHANGE IT FOR A MEAL AT A PARTICIPATING RESTAURANT. MEALS ARE PRE-SELECTED AND MEET NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS AS SET BY THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 2026.
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