Bread of Life Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FREE FOOD FOR FOOD-INSECURE RESIDENTS. IT ALSO COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL AGENCIES TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE OBTAIN HOUSING, SHELTER, FURNITURE, AND COUNSELING.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 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)
- $902,978 spent. FOOD PANTRY AND MEALS PROGRAMIN 2024, BREAD OF LIFE EXPANDED ITS FOOD PROGRAMS TO KEEP UP WITH AN 18% FOOD INSECURITY RATE IN MASSACHUSETTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 2024, A LEVEL THAT APPROACHES WHAT WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEED AND STOP FOOD INSECURITY FOR THOUSANDS OF STRUGGLING NEIGHBORS IN MALDEN, EVERETT, MELROSE, MEDFORD, WAKEFIELD, WINCHESTER, STONEHAM, SAUGUS, READING, NORTH READING, WINTHROP, REVERE AND CHELSEA. O PROVIDED FOOD FOR 63,000 HOUSEHOLDS MADE UP OF 144,000 INDIVIDUALS.O DISTRIBUTED 79,000 BAGS OF GROCERIES TO ADULTS, CHILDREN AND SENIORS THROUGH OUR MALDEN AND EVERETT PANTRIES, MOTEL OUTREACH AND EVERETT BACKPACK NUTRITION PROGRAM.O DELIVERED 12,000 GROCERY ORDERS TO SENIOR CITIZENS, DISABLED RESIDENTS AND COVID-QUARANTINED HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH OUR GROCERY DELIVERY PROGRAM.O DELIVERED MEALS AND GROCERIES TO 4,300 HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SHELTERED IN LOCAL MOTELS.O DISTRIBUTED 3,030 BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS IN THE EVERETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.O PROVIDED 33,584 MEALS THROUGH OUR EVENING MEAL PROGRAM, INCLUDING MEAL DELIVERY TO HOMEBOUND SENIOR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN SHELTER. O PROVIDED INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION SERVICES, NUTRITION AND SANITATION EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH TO IMMIGRANT AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE FOOD EQUITY BY OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO ACCESS THROUGH OUR FOOD ACCESS PROJECT.O PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF SUPERMARKET GIFT CARDS, TOILETRIES, HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES, DIAPERS, BLANKETS, JACKETS, BOOTS, SNEAKERS, GLOVES, HATS AND SCARVES TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 January 1993.
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.