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Local Matters

EIN 06-1819644 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LOCAL MATTERS SUPPORTS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD EDUCATION, ACCESS AND ADVOCACY TO COMBAT DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE AND FOOD INSECURITY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
32
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$52,164, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (4)
  1. $665,970 spent. FOOD EDUCATION: LOCAL MATTERS' FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE ORGANIZATION, SERVING CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL TO ADULTS WITH DIET RELATED DISEASES AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. OUR FOOD MATTERS PROGRAMMING SERVES YOUTH POPULATIONS AND FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND CONFIDENCE AROUND NEW FOODS. OUR ADULT- AND FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS GIVE PARTICIPANTS THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS TO SHOP FOR AND PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS ON A BUDGET. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL MATTERS PROVIDED GARDEN AND FOOD EDUCATION IN 16 COMMUNITY GARDENS THROUGH THE COLUMBUS RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN 2024, LOCAL MATTERS PROVIDED FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMMING WITH MORE THAN 30 PARTNERS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS WITH OVER 4,000 PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $447,354 spent. COLUMBUS FOOD RESCUE: COLUMBUS FOOD RESCUE IS A PROGRAM OF LOCAL MATTERS THAT FIGHTS FOOD WASTE AND FOOD INEQUITY BY RESCUING EXCESS FOODS AND DIRECTLY RE-DISTRIBUTING IT TO SHELTERS, AGENCIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS SERVING PEOPLE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. NEARLY ONE MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD ENDS UP IN FRANKLIN COUNTY'S LANDFILL EVERY SINGLE DAY. AT THE SAME TIME, OVER 11% OF FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS MORE THAN 147,000 PEOPLE ARE FOOD INSECURE, AND 49% OF THOSE PEOPLE MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE. BY KEEPING GOOD, FRESH FOOD OUT OF THE LANDFILL AND ENSURING IT GOES TO THOSE IN NEED, CFR VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS WORK EVERY DAY TOWARD A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOOD SYSTEM.
  3. $344,393 spent. FOOD ACCESS: VEGGIE VAN IS A FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS TO MORE EASILY FEED THEIR FAMILIES WITH FRESH AND HEALTHY WHOLE FOODS AT LOW PRICES. THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD DOLLAR BY ACCEPTING SNAP AND PROVIDING A $1 FOR $1 MATCH ON SNAP PURCHASES - DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SPEND ON HEALTHY FOODS. LOCAL MATTERS PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LINDEN, HILLTOP, AND NEAR EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS TO CREATE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CONSISTENT FOOD ACCESS POINTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, VEGGIE VAN SERVED ALMOST 2,000 SHOPPERS, DISTRIBUTING AND FOOD BOXES AND DELIVERING GROCERIES TO PARTICIPANTS AND PARTNERS.
  4. $81,755 spent. ADVOCACY: LOCAL MATTERS RECOGNIZES THAT OUR WORK IS MOST IMPACTFUL WHEN WE LAYER FOOD EDUCATION WITH ACCESS SERVICES. THIS MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND WHAT HEALTHFUL FOOD IS AND HOW TO PREPARE IT, AS WELL AS HAVE ACCESS TO CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE FRESH FOOD. OUR ADVOCACY WORK CENTERS AROUND A LONG-TERM VISION OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM AND A COMMUNITY FREE OF FOOD-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE. IN 2024, THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES GROUP GATHERED MONTHLY AROUND THE ONGOING PRIORITY OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM CHALLENGES AND ISSUES OF DIRECT IMPORTANCE TO THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES OF CAG MEMBERS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2008.

    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 October 21, 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.