South Whidbey Good Cheer Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SOUTH WHIDBEY GOOD CHEER IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE FOOD TO NOURISH AND SUSTAIN THEM REGARDLESS OF IDENTITY, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, OR CIRCUMSTANCE. WE SHARE HEALTY FOOD AND SUSTAINING RESOURCES WITH COMPASSION AND DIGNITY FOR ALL, PROVIDING ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN NEEDS THROUGH OUR FOOD BANK, GARDENS, THRIFT STORES, AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF HUNGER AND NEED, EACH OF THE COMPONENTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A SPACE FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. GOOD CHEER IS SUPPORTED BY, AND BENEFITS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACTING AS VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND RECIPIENTS IN A SHARED CYCLE OF GIVING AND RECEIVING.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 13.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 214
- Highest pay
- $68,052, executive director
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $1.3 million spent. GOOD CHEER PROVIDES ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN NEEDS THROUGH FOUR KEY EFFORTS: OUR FOOD BANK UTILIZES A POINTS-BASED SHOPPING SYSTEM WHERE CLIENTS SELF-SELECT ITEMS JUST AS THEY WOULD AT A GROCERY STORE TO EMPOWER CHOICE AND PRESERVE DIGNITY. OUR THRIFT STORES RECYCLE DONATED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AT AFFORDABLE PRICES WHILE ALSO GENERATING REVENUE TO HELP FUND THE FOOD BANK. OUR GARDENS PRODUCE 15,000 LBS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EACH YEAR, HELPING TO ENSURE THAT FOOD BANK CENTER ASSISTS FOOD BANK SHOPPERS WITH IDENTIFYING AND ACCESSING ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM ADDRESS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES THAT LEAD TO, OR EXACERBATE, HUNGER. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024: DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 375,000 LBS OF FOOD TO 3048 INDIVIDUALS. ASSISTED FOOD BANK SHOPPERS UNABLE TO PICK UP GROCIRIES FOR THEMSELVES WITH 49 DELIVERIES. CULTIVATED MORE THAN 17,684 LBS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN ON-SITE GARDENS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO FOOD BANK SHOPPERS. HOSTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ON 104 OCCASIONS FOR CLIENT REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION CENTER.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.