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The Food Trust

EIN 23-2678383 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOOD TRUST (TFT), A NONPROFIT FOUNDED IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1992, STRIVES TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD AVAILABLE TO ALL.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTFT IS A REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEADER IN DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND OTHER DIET-RELATED DISEASES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AND PROVIDE NUTRITION EDUCATION IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

Income
$12.3 million
Spending
$11.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
85
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$207,661, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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

    15 of 15 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $4.5 million spent. NUTRITION EDUCATION - THE FOOD TRUST (TFT) PROVIDES NUTRITION EDUCATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE FOOD TRUST'S TEAM OF EDUCATORS CONDUCTS THE SCHOOL NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM IN NEARLY 40 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF PHILADELPHIA, NORRISTOWN AND READING, PA, AS WELL AS CAMDEN, NJ. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO ENGAGE AND COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT THEIR VISION OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES AT AN EXISTING COMMUNITY HUB.THE PROGRAM INCLUDES IN-CLASSROOM NUTRITION EDUCATION, SCHOOL FARM STANDS, ADULT/CAREGIVER COOKING WORKSHOPS, FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, SCHOOL GARDENS, SCHOOL WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.IN ADDITION, TFT PROVIDES ADAPTABLE, COMMUNITY-LEVEL NUTRITION EDUCATION AND FOOD ACCESS FOR ADULTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF PHILADELPHIA, NORRISTOWN AND READING, PA, AS WELL AS CAMDEN, NJ. HELD IN CHURCHES, LIBRARIES, FOOD STORES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SITES, THESE ADULT NUTRITION EDUCATION LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS INTRODUCE PARTICIPANTS TO NEW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, TAUGHT THEM HOW TO PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS, AND PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL TOURS OF NEARBY SUPERMARKETS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND HEALTHY CORNER STORES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO PURCHASE NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ON A BUDGET.
  2. $1.9 million spent. FARMERS MARKET AND HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE - TO INCREASE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, TFT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FARMERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OPERATE A NETWORK OF OVER 20 FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS PHILADELPHIA. MANY OF THESE MARKETS ARE LOCATED IN LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LOW ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD. THE FARMERS MARKET PROGRAM CONTINUED ITS OUTREACH EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE CONSUMPTION OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY PROVIDING ON-SITE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AT A NUMBER OF MARKETS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN PHILADELPHIA. THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE (HCSI) INCREASES THE AVAILABILITY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK SUPERMARKETS OR OTHER FRESH-FOOD RETAILERS. TFT WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, COMMERCE DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS TO DEVELOP HEALTHY CORNER STORE NETWORKS IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES. FOOD TRUST STAFF CURRENTLY LEAD DIRECT PROGRAMMING IN OVER 1,000 GROCERY STORES ACROSS SIX STATES. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF HAS SUPPORTED HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL PROGRAMMING IN SMALL STORES IN MORE THAN 30 STATES AS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER, SHARING RESOURCES, INCLUDING BILINGUAL MARKETING MATERIALS AND ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING TO HELP STOREOWNERS STOCK AND SELL HEALTHY FOOD. TFT EMPLOYS HCSI AMBASSADORS TO IDENTIFY CULTURALLY RELEVANT HEALTHY FOOD FOR INVENTORY, PROMOTE HCSI PROGRAMMING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND HELP STORE OWNERS IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN THE HEALTHY RETAIL ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE FOOD TRUST'S HCSI IS THE "HEART SMARTS" PROGRAM, A STORE-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION MODEL THAT INCLUDES LESSONS, TASTE TESTS, AND INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS TO MAKE HEART-HEALTHY CHOICES AS STORES BEGIN STOCKING NEW HEALTHY PRODUCTS. IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL HEALTH CARE PARTNERS, TFT OFFERS FREE BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART-RISK ASSESSMENT AND/OR ANXIETY SCREENINGS WITH COUNSELING AND REFERRALS IN SOME OF THE STORES WE WORK WITH.
  3. $1.8 million spent. NUTRITION INCENTIVES - TFT'S FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM, A COUPON INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MARKET CUSTOMERS WITH A $2 COUPON FOR FREE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EACH TIME THEY SPEND $5 AT THE MARKET USING THEIR SNAP (FOOD STAMP) BENEFITS. BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE FOOD BUCKS COUPON PROGRAM, TFT CONTINUED EXPANDING ITS HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE WORK ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA AND CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE USING SNAP BENEFITS. FOOD BUCKS ARE NOW ACCEPTED AT 10 SUPERMARKETS ACROSS IN PHILADELPHIA AND ONE IN PITTSBURGH. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT FOOD BUCKS RX, A FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM TARGETING LOW-INCOME PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COOPER UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN CAMDEN.
  4. $817,167 spent. HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE - TFT INVESTS IN NEW OR EXPANDING GROCERY STORES AND OTHER FRESH FOOD RETAIL OUTLETS IN LOW-ACCESS, LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 April 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.