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Food Research & Action Center Inc

EIN 23-7200739 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE IMPROVE THE NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING AGAINST POVERTY-RELATED HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIPS, AND BY ADVANCING BOLD AND EQUITABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS.

Income
$20.8 million
Spending
$21.5 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
55
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$229,200, chief govt affairs officer

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 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. $13.8 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD NUTRITION: THROUGH RESEARCH, PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS TO LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FRAC WORKS TO REDUCE HUNGER, IMPROVE NUTRITION AND THEREBY IMPROVE THE FOOD SECURITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, HEALTH, DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS AND WELL-BEING OF INFANTS AND PRESCHOOLERS. (Expenses $ 4,220,566 including grants of $ 315,499)(Revenue $ 919,380) ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: LEGISLATIVE, ROOT CAUSES AND SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, D.C. HUNGER SOLUTIONS, MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORK ENGAGEMENT
  2. $1.8 million spent. CHILD NUTRITION: FRAC SEEKS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD HUNGER, IMPROVE NUTRITION, IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, IMPROVE HEALTH AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, AND USE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FRAC WORKS WITH LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL GROUPS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ASSURE THAT AS MANY ELIGIBLE CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE ARE ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS SCHOOL BREAKFAST, SCHOOL LUNCH, THE SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM AND AFTER SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND THAT THE FOOD SERVED IS AS NUTRITIOUS AS POSSIBLE. FRAC PROVIDES RESEARCH, PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY, ANALYSIS, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MATERIALS AND REGRANTING.
  3. $472,971 spent. SNAP (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS): FRAC WORKS WITH NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GROUPS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES. THROUGH RESEARCH, PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, REGRANTING AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, ANALYSIS, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF MODEL APPROACHES, FRAC ASSISTS IN GETTING SNAP TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, IMMIGRANTS, OLDER ADULTS, UNEMPLOYED PERSONS AND OTHER PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. (Expenses $ 4,220,566 including grants of $ 315,499)(Revenue $ 919,380) ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: LEGISLATIVE, ROOT CAUSES AND SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, D.C. HUNGER SOLUTIONS, MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORK ENGAGEMENT
  4. $4.2 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: LEGISLATIVE, ROOT CAUSES AND SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, D.C. HUNGER SOLUTIONS, MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORK ENGAGEMENT

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.