Cooking With Kids Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COOKING WITH KIDS EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES THROUGH HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION WITH FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOODS.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 14.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 48%
- Employees
- 31
- Highest pay
- $83,467, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 June 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. STARTED IN 1995, COOKING WITH KIDS WORKS IN CLASSROOMS AND CAFETERIAS, TEACHING THOUSANDS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS EVERY YEAR IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. WE OFFER TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO EDUCATORS AROUND THE STATE AND NATION, EXTENDING OUR REACH TO MANY MORE KIDS. LOCAL CHEFS AND FARMERS SHARE THEIR PASSION AND EXPERTISE WITH OUR STUDENTS, HELPING US INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHY EATERS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT COOKING WITH KIDS WORKS WHEN KIDS HELP MAKE HEALTHY FOODS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EAT AND ENJOY THEM. COOKING WITH KIDS IS PART OF A LARGER STATE-WIDE NETWORK IN NEW MEXICO THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SNAP-ED IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: NEW MEXICO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER, KIDS COOK, AND LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS COOKING WITH KIDS' SPANISH/ENGLISH CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO CORRESPOND WITH STUDENTS' DEVELOPMENTAL LEVELS AND IS ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THE CURRICULUM IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS AND WAS ADOPTED FOR HEALTH EDUCATION IN 2017 BY THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BUREAU. RESEARCH-TESTED AND NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED, COOKING WITH KIDS CURRICULUM IS IMPLEMENTED BY SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES COOKING WITH KIDS COLLABORATES WITH MANY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS NEW MEXICO, PRESBYTERIAN CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, NM GROWN COALITION, NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SANTA FE FARMERS' MARKET/INSTITUTE, AND THE NEW MEXICO FARMERS' MARKETING ASSOCIATION. OUR PROGRAM SUMMARY FOLLOWS: - 1,722 HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES IN 33 SCHOOLS IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL AND SANTA FE COUNTIES - 190 LUNCHROOM TASTINGS IN 33 SCHOOLS - 6,532 PRE-K - 6TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL AND SANTA FE COUNTIES - APPROXIMATELY 400 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CWK MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOD LAB LESSONS - 661 TASTING KITS DELIVERED TO STUDENT CLASSROOMS - 22 SCHOOL-BASED EVENTS - APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FAMILY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED MORE THAN 1,600 TOTAL HOURS IN COOKING CLASSES THIS YEAR DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, KIDS COOKED THE FOLLOWING: - WATERMELON PIZZA - STOVETOP PIZZA WITH TOMATOES, BELL PEPPERS, & FRESH BASIL - POTATO PANCAKES, SWEET & SOUR RED CABBAGE, & HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE - INDIAN-SPICED LENTILS, CARROT RICE PILAF, CUCUMBER RAITA, & MANGO FRUIT SALAD - EAST ASIAN NOODLES WITH CARROTS, ZUCCHINI, & BOK CHOY - HUMMUS, TOMATO-CUCUMBER SALAD, & SESAME FLATBREAD - PLUS THEY TASTED MANY FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (MANY OF THEM LOCALLY SOURCED) STARTED IN 1995, COOKING WITH KIDS WORKS IN CLASSROOMS AND CAFETERIAS, TEACHING THOUSANDS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS EVERY YEAR IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. WE OFFER TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO EDUCATORS AROUND THE STATE AND NATION, EXTENDING OUR REACH TO MANY MORE KIDS. LOCAL CHEFS AND FARMERS SHARE THEIR PASSION AND EXPERTISE WITH OUR STUDENTS, HELPING US INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHY EATERS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT COOKING WITH KIDS WORKS WHEN KIDS HELP MAKE HEALTHY FOODS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EAT AND ENJOY THEM. COOKING WITH KIDS IS PART OF A LARGER STATE-WIDE NETWORK IN NEW MEXICO THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SNAP-ED IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: NEW MEXICO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER, KIDS COOK, AND LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS COOKING WITH KIDS' SPANISH/ENGLISH CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO CORRESPOND WITH STUDENTS' DEVELOPMENTAL LEVELS AND IS ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THE CURRICULUM IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS AND WAS ADOPTED FOR HEALTH EDUCATION IN 2017 BY THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BUREAU. RESEARCH-TESTED AND NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED, COOKING WITH KIDS CURRICULUM IS IMPLEMENTED BY SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES COOKING WITH KIDS COLLABORATES WITH MANY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS NEW MEXICO, PRESBYTERIAN CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, NM GROWN COALITION, NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SANTA FE FARMERS' MARKET/INSTITUTE, AND THE NEW MEXICO FARMERS' MARKETING ASSOCIATION. OUR PROGRAM SUMMARY FOLLOWS: - 1,722 HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES IN 33 SCHOOLS IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL AND SANTA FE COUNTIES - 190 LUNCHROOM TASTINGS IN 33 SCHOOLS - 6,532 PRE-K - 6TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL AND SANTA FE COUNTIES - APPROXIMATELY 400 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CWK MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOD LAB LESSONS - 661 TASTING KITS DELIVERED TO STUDENT CLASSROOMS - 22 SCHOOL-BASED EVENTS - APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FAMILY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED MORE THAN 1,600 TOTAL HOURS IN COOKING CLASSES THIS YEAR DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, KIDS COOKED THE FOLLOWING: - WATERMELON PIZZA - STOVETOP PIZZA WITH TOMATOES, BELL PEPPERS, & FRESH BASIL - POTATO PANCAKES, SWEET & SOUR RED CABBAGE, & HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE - INDIAN-SPICED LENTILS, CARROT RICE PILAF, CUCUMBER RAITA, & MANGO FRUIT SALAD - EAST ASIAN NOODLES WITH CARROTS, ZUCCHINI, & BOK CHOY - HUMMUS, TOMATO-CUCUMBER SALAD, & SESAME FLATBREAD - PLUS THEY TASTED MANY FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (MANY OF THEM LOCALLY SOURCED)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 November 2006.
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.
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.