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Whyhunger Inc

EIN 13-2805575 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHYHUNGER BELIEVES A WORLD WITHOUT HUNGER IS POSSIBLE. WE PROVIDE CRITICAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS AND FUEL COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS ROOTED IN SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, RACIAL, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WE ARE WORKING TO END HUNGER AND ADVANCE THE HUMAN RIGHT TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
27
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$267,917, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 December 31, 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. $1.7 million spent. THE GLOBAL MOVEMENTS PROGRAM - SUPPORTS AND PARTNERS WITH SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND NETWORKS TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND ADVANCE THE GOALS OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND THE BASIC RIGHTS TO FOOD, LAND, WATER AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. GRASSROOTS ACTION NETWORK - THE GRASSROOTS ACTION NETWORK WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS TO BUILD A MOVEMENT FOR A JUST AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM IN THE U.S. BY SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, WHYHUNGER WORKS TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND TO ACCELERATE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY-BASED STRATEGIES FOR FOOD JUSTICE.
  3. $989,770 spent. ARTISTS AGAINST HUNGER AND POVERTY/HUNGERTHON - ARTISTS AGAINST HUNGER AND PROVERTY OFFERS ARTISTS, THE ARTIST COMMUNITY AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR VOICES TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY. THROUGH AWARENESS BUILDING CAMPAIGNS, FOOD DRIVES, FUNDRAISING AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, ARTISTS SUPPORT INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING HUNGER AND ENSURING THE RIGHT TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR ALL IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE WORLD. HUNGERTHON IS WHYHUNGER'S SIGNATURE PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN FEATURING A SERIES OF EVENTS AND INTERVIEWS CULMINATING IN A NATIONAL RADIOTHON THAT HAS GROWN TO BECOME A THANKSGIVING DAY TRADITION TO COMBAT HUNGER AND POVERTY.
  4. $1.7 million spent. NOURISH - THE NOURISH NETWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO FOOD WORKS WITH EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDERS, FOOD ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER GRASSROOTS AND NATIONAL ALLIES TO TRANSFORM THE CHARITABLE RESPONSE TO HUNGER IN THE U.S. INTO A MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT THAT RECOGNIZES NUTRITIOUS FOOD AS A HUMAN RIGHT. THE WHYHUNGER HOTLINE REFERS PEOPLE IN NEED ACROSS THE U.S. TO FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SUMMER MEALS SITES, GOVERNMENT NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND MODEL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.EXPENSES: $806,435 GRANTS $50GENERAL MEDIA FOR PROGRAM SERVICES - IMPLEMENTS THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES THAT MAXIMIZES AWARENESS ABOUT WHYHUNGER'S WORK IN THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY BY RAISING THE ORGANIZATION'S PROFILE AND VISIBILITY AS A TRUSTED RESOURCE AND INCREASING ENGAGEMENT ACROSS AUDIENCES AS THE VOICE OF "WHYHUNGER." ALSO WORKS TO BROADEN THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT AND SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT FOR FOOD JUSTICE BY CHANGING THE DOMINANT NARRATIVE FROM ADVANCING FOOD CHARITY AS THE PRIMARY SOLULUTION TO HUNGER, TO ONE THAT FOCUSES ON NUTRITIOUS FOOD AS A HUMAN RIGHT AS THE SOLUTION. THIS IS DONE THROUGH AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND SUPPORTING PARTNER INITIATIVES. EXPENSES: $889,759 GRANTS $8,473

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 June 1975.

    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.