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Food Bank of Central New York

EIN 22-2816988 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION: OUR MISSION IS TO LEAD THE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE HUNGER IN OUR REGION, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN AN ELEVEN-COUNTY SERVICE AREA, HEADQUARTERED IN SYRACUSE, NY.

Income
$47.2 million
Spending
$47.1 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
90
Volunteers
1,453
Highest pay
$196,466, president and chief executive officer

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (3)
  1. $44.3 million spent. FOOD DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES THE ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, FOOD RESCUE, RETAIL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (RPP), MOBILE FOOD PANTRY (MFP), SENIOR NUTRITION, CHILDNUTRITION, AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIPS. ACQUISITION IS COMPOSED OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS PURCHASED THROUGH VENDORS, DONATIONS FROM DONORS, FOOD DRIVES AND GROCERY PARTNERS AND FOOD RESCUE THROUGH AGRICULTURAL, MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. THESE FOODS ARE THEN AVAILABLE FOR PARTNER AGENCIES TO REQUEST FOR PICKUP/DELIVERY TO SUPPLEMENT THE FOODS THEY ALREADY HAVE IN STOCK FOR DISTRIBUTION TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FOOD RESCUE CONSISTS OF RPP AND RESCUING FOOD FROM AGRICULTURAL, MANUFACTURING AND OTHER RETAIL ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR ELEVEN-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. RPP COLLECTS DONATED GROCERY AND PERISHABLE FOODS ON A DAILY BASIS FROM RETAIL PARTNERS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA. THESE FOODS ARE THEN DELIVERED TO A PARTNER AGENCY IN THAT AREA; A SYSTEM THAT KEEPS DONATIONS IN THE AREA OF THEIR ORIGIN AND ALLOWS FOR PRODUCE AND DAIRY ITEMS TO GO FROM THE STORE SHELF TO THE DINNER TABLE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT SAME DAY. MFP IS A DIRECT SERVICE DISTRIBUTION THAT WORKS AROUND FOOD ACCESS OBSTACLES AND AREAS DEFINED AS FOOD DESERTS. THE FOOD BANK IDENTIFIES COMMUNITIES AND AREAS OF UNMET NEED AND THEN DELIVERS AND DISTRIBUTES HIGHLY DESIRABLE PERISHABLE GOODS AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES. SENIOR NUTRITION DISTRIBUTIONS ARE A DIRECT SERVICE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITIES. THIS DISTRIBUTION MODEL STRIVES TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS BY PROVIDING SAFE, NO-CONTACT, HOME DELIVERIES OF HIGH QUALITY, NUTRITIOUS FOODS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS POPULATION. CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTING PREPACKED BOXES MONTHLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN ELEVEN-COUNTIES AT 45 LOCATIONS.
  2. $561,859 spent. OUTREACH - OUTREACH INCLUDES THE NUTRITION OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (NOEP) AND OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVICES IN SPECIFIC COUNTIES. NOEP PROVIDES SNAP OUTREACH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMP OUTREACH) TO RESIDENTS OF ONONDAGA, CAYUGA, LEWIS, JEFFERSON, AND OSWEGO COUNTIES, AS WELL AS PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM AND OTHER FEDERAL FEEDING PROGRAMS. FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, THIS PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH HUNGER SOLUTIONS NEW YORK, INC., A PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY. IN OSWEGO COUNTY, OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVICES PROVIDE SNAP PRESCREENING, APPLICATION AND RECERTIFICATION ASSISTANCE TO THE RESIDENTS. FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. OUTREACH IS ALSO OFFERED THROUGH A CALL CENTER REFERRAL LINE THAT ARE BOTH FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.
  3. $401,780 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP INCREASE PUBLICAWARENESS OF HUNGER AND NUTRITIONAL ISSUES.

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 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 June 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 December 1987.

    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.