Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Common Pantry

EIN 23-7136034 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMON PANTRY MEETS THE EMERGENCY NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING HEALTHY FOOD, KINSHIP AND SUPPORT TO HELP OVERCOME POVERTY-RELATED CHALLENGES.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
10
Volunteers
800
Highest pay
$106,545, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS: WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD AND GROCERIES TO INDIVIDUAL ADULTS AND FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE. UNHOUSED GUESTS ARE OFFERED READY-TO-EAT FOODS AND PREPARED MEALS TO SUPPORT NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. IN 2024, DISTRIBUTED MONTHLY EMERGENCY GROCERIES ON AVERAGE TO OVER 1,000 HOUSEHOLDS PER MONTH (INCLUDING A TOTAL OF 1,521 HOME DELIVERIES) AND PROVIDED OVER 6000 HOT MEALS TO OUR GUESTS. WEEKLY HOT LUNCH CURATED BY OUR REGISTERED DIETITAN IS PREPARED BY A DOZEN VOLUNTEERS FOR 100 GUESTS IS ALSO PROVIDED ON WEDNESDAYS 12-1PM. GROCERY DISTRIBUTION HOURS ARE TUESDAYS 4-6PM; WEDNESDAYS 1-4PM & 6-8PM; THURSDAYS 1-4PM. WE OFFER CLIENT CHOICE FOR ALL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONLINE ORDERING FOR PICK UP ON TUESDAYS.
  2. $187,737 spent. CLIENT SERVICES PROGRAM - COMMON COMMUNITY: HELPS PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT RESULT FROM ECONOMIC INSTABILITY.WE OFFER WALK-IN SERVICES FROM 11:30 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON WEDNESDAYS AND OUR SOCIAL SERVICE OFFICE IS ALSO OPEN ON THURSDAYS FROM 12 P.M. TO 4 P.M. OR BY APPOINTMENT. OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER AND A TEAM OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS (INCLUDING A BILINGUAL SPANISH VOLUNTEER) TO HELP GUESTS NAVIGATE AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN AREAS OF MEDICAL/MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS, HOUSING SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF CLIENTS BY OFFERING THEM THE HELP THEY NEED TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE PROGRAM HAD 889 SOCIAL SERVICE INTERATIONS, 1668 TOUCHPOINTS THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNER TABLINGS.
  3. $128,866 spent. COMMUNITY RESCUE HUB PROGRAM- A COMMON PANTRY DRIVER SAFELY RESCUES READY TO EAT FOOD FROM RETAILERS AND DELIVERS IT TO 3 PARTNERS FOR THEIR OWN PANTRY PROGRAMS. LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2023, THE PROGRAM RUNS 4 DAYS A WEEK AND ENABLES THOUSANDS OF LBS OF HEALTHY FOOD TO BE DISTRUBUTED TO HOUSEHOLDS NOT COMING TO COMMON PANTRY. IN TOTAL DURING 2024, WE RESCUED 379,718LBS OF FOOD FROM 10 RETAILERS AND REDISTRIBUTED 178,595LBS TO OUR THREE PARTNER PANTRIES.
  4. $128,865 spent. NUTRITION EDUCATION- COMMON PANTRY LAUNCHED OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM IN SUMMER 2024 TO EMPOWER GUESTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN NUTRITIONAL CHOICES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE, STRUCTURED NUTRITION PRACTICES TO HELP REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASES AND ENHANCE WELLBEING THROUGH FOOD. THE PANTRY HOSTED MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES, MEAL SAMPLING WITH RECIPES AND PREPARED MEALS FOR SENIOR HOME DELIVERY CLIENTS. NEARLY 730 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED FROM OUR NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN 2024.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 November 1971.

    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.