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Food for Free Committee Inc

EIN 22-2561771 · Somervillle, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOOD FOR FREE IMPROVES ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH ESTABLISHING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEM.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
38
Volunteers
1,368
Highest pay
$191,938, ceo

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 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 (8)
  1. $4.0 million spent. FOOD RECOVERY: FOOD FOR FREES FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM WORKS WITH GROCERY STORES, FARMS, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO COLLECT FRESH AND PREPARED FOOD THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE DISCARDED. THIS FOOD IS THEN DISTRIBUTED TO SHELTERS, CHURCHES AND FOOD PANTRIES TO DISTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. APPROXIMATELY 1.9M POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED IN FY25.
  2. $5.1 million spent. JUST EATS: JUST EATS DISTRIBUTES GROCERY BOXES AND BULK PALLETS OF ASSORTED PRODUCE AND DRY GOOD TO LOW-INCOME HOUSING SITES, FOOD PANTRIES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND FOOD FOR FREE STAFF PREPARE THE BOXES AND BULK DELIVERIES, BRINGING OVER 2.8 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO PARTNERS EACH YEAR.
  3. $1.8 million spent. SCHOOL MARKETS: THIS PROGRAM BRINGS FARMERS MARKET-STYLE MARKETS TO 7 PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE. STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN SHOP FOR FRESH, HEALTHY GROCERIES FOR FREE DURING AFTER SHCOOL PICK UP TIMES ONCE A MONTH.
  4. $159,214 spent. THE TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS LOW-COST FOOD DELIVERIES FOR SMALL-SCALE FOOD PANTRIES. FOOD FOR FREE PICKS UP FOOD ORDERS FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK AND DELIVERS IT TO THEIR PANTRY OR FACILITY.
  5. $521,323 spent. HEAT N EATS: HEATS N EATS TRANSFORMS RESCUED PREPARED FOOD INTO SINGLE-SERVE MEALS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO KITCHENS. EACH FROZEN MEAL INCLUDES A SERVING OF VEGETABLES, PROTEIN AND A GRAIN OR STARCH, ALL DESIGNED FOR MICROWAVABLE CONVINIENCE.
  6. $403,125 spent. CARROT CARDS: CARROT CARDS SUPPORT CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE SCHOOL FAMILIES AT RISK OF HUNGER WITH GROCERY CARDS EACH MONTH TO ENSURE THE HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD ON WEEKENDS WHEN SCHOOL MEALS ARE NOT SERVED. CARROT CARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 1,500 FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE.
  7. $467,677 spent. HOME DELIVERY: HEALTHY EATS HOME DELIVERY SERVES LOW-INCOME CAMBRIDGE SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BRINGING BOXES OF GROCERIES RIGHT TO THEIR DOORSTEP TWICE A MONTH. THE PROGRAM REACHES ABOUT 400 CLIENTS EACH MONTH. THE HEALTHY EATS PROGRAM ENDED IN DECEMBER 2025. OTHER HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM(S) IN WHICH FOOD FOR FREE IS A SUBCONTRACTOR ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THESE PROGRAM FINANCIALS.
  8. THE TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP: 159214. 0. 0.

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

  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 June 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 1985.

    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.