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Lunchbox Fund

EIN 20-1232903 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION THROUGH OFFERING TARGETED IN-SCHOOL NUTRITION AS AN UNDERPINNING TO LEARNING INTERVENTIONS. IN THIS WAY WE REMOVE HUNGER AS A BARRIER TO EDUCATION.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$899,700
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
18.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
2
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$18,667, president & ceo

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 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $748,299 spent. SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM: THE LUNCHBOX FUND IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON FUNDING NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO VULNERABLE, FOOD-INSECURE AND AT-RISK SCHOOL CHILDREN IN URBAN, PERI-URBAN, AND RURAL SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA AND IN GAZA PROVINCE IN MOZAMBIQUE. MEALS ARE PREPARED FRESH EACH DAY ON-SITE BY THE FOOD PREPARERS AND SERVED HOT. THE CHILDREN RECEIVE THEIR MEALS IN THEIR BREAK TIME AND EAT TOGETHER IN GROUPS. THE LUNCHBOX FUND PROVIDES NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS IN AFTER-SCHOOL FOCUSED HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND LEARNER SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THE LUNCHBOX FUND PROVIDED OVER 20.5 MILLION MEALS TO 106,000 CHILDREN IN 2,197 SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA AND 148,840 MEALS TO 6,092 FOOD-INSECURE AND AT-RISK PRESCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE RURAL GAZA PROVINCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.