Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Childrens Hunger Alliance

EIN 23-7303509 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.CHILDREN'S HUNGER ALLIANCE IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1970 THAT IS DEDICATED TO OVERCOMING FOOD INSECURITY BY ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD IN OHIO, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS YEAR-ROUND, BOTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. THROUGH ITS EFFORTS, CHA SEEKS TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS OHIO BY MEETING THEIR NEEDS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.

Income
$19.4 million
Spending
$19.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
80
Volunteers
1,579
Highest pay
$222,059, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    27 of 27 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 (3)
  1. $16.7 million spent. CHILDREN'S HUNGER ALLIANCE (CHA) SPONSORS THE USDA CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) AND SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) WHICH PROVIDES MEALS TO CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN HOME-BASED CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE CENTERS, AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. CHA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SPONSORS IN OHIO, SUPPORTING 1,200 CAREGIVERS WHO PROVIDED MORE THAN 5.0 MILLION MEALS AND SNACKS FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE IN FY25. CHA WORKED WITH 80 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCREASE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION FOR STUDENTS, WHICH SUPPORTED ACCESS TO 1.9 MILLION MEALS LAST YEAR. CHA OFFERS WEEKEND MEAL BOXES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FREE MEALS WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO DECREASE HUNGER. SEE SCHEDULE O. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, OVER 3.3 MILLION MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH 319 SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HEAD STARTS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, AND HOSPITAL CLINICS IN FY25. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FOOD AND INCREASING FOOD ACCESS, CHA PROVIDED NUTRITION ANDPHYSICAL ACTIVITY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN THESE SETTINGS. THROUGHOUT FY25, MORE THAN 124,000 CHILDREN RECEIVED ACCESS TO FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION AS A RESULT OF CHA'S SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT. IN SUMMARY, CHA SERVED 10.1 MILLION MEALS. 124,343 CHILDREN WERE SERVED. CHA WORKED WITH 1,573 PARTNER SITES IN 74 COUNTIES.
  2. $481,268 spent. INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CHILDREN'S HUNGER ALLIANCE ADVOCATES FOR INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM AND SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS WORK, CHA INCREASES ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER, AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $164,721 spent. CHILDREN'S HUNGER ALLIANCE PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO SPONSORED SUMMER SITES, INCLUDING THE USDA CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) AND SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP). FIGHTING CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND OBESITY REQUIRE MORE THAN ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. THEREFORE, IN CHA'S WORK WITH HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS OHIO, IT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY EATING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. CHA SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO SCHOOLS, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION OF ENSURING CHILDREN HAVE THE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND FOOD EDUCATION THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

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 August 1973.

    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.