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St Marys Food Bank Alliance

EIN 23-7353532 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRIDGING THE GAP FOR ARIZONA COMMUNITIES WITH NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY AND HOPE FOR TOMORROW.

Income
$260.1 million
Spending
$255.3 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
310
Volunteers
80,608
Highest pay
$547,105, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Secured enough food to provide 109 million meals.Work delivered
  • Distributed 895,000 emergency food boxes.Work delivered
  • Distributed 211,000 senior food boxes.Work delivered
  • Distributed 26,000 tribal food boxes.Work delivered
  • Child nutrition programs provided 630,000 after school meals.Work delivered
  • Provided 113,000 weekend family backpacks.Work delivered
  • Provided enough food for 114,000 meals at on-campus school pantries.Work delivered
  • Distributed 129 million pounds of food, including 47 million pounds of fresh produce.Work delivered
  • Distributed more than 20,000 holiday turkeys.Work delivered
  • Mobile distribution program distributed enough food for more than 4 million meals.Work delivered
  • Monthly home deliveries support more than 7,000 low-income, homebound individuals.Work delivered
  • 255 students graduated from the Skills Center workforce development programs.Change achieved

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $239.9 million spent. ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK PROVIDES FREE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO ARIZONA RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, SENIORS, AND WORKING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY UNEMPLOYMENT, NATURAL DISASTERS, UNEXPECTED EXPENSES, AND THE RISING COSTS OF FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND TRANSPORTATION.FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO NEIGHBORS IS SOURCED THROUGH A DIVERSIFIED NETWORK OF GROCERS, FARMERS, FOOD MANUFACTURERS, COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVES, AND THE USDA. PURCHASED FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DONATED ITEMS TO ENSURE MENU VARIETY AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY. FOODS DISTRIBUTED INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, PROTEIN, DAIRY, AND SHELF-STABLE GOODS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DURING THE PAST YEAR, ST. MARY'S SECURED ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE 109 MILLION MEALS.FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES: THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD INCLUDING PRODUCE, PROTEIN, AND PANTRY STAPLES. THESE BOXES ARE SUPPLEMENTED WITH FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, MEAT, SNACKS AND BEVERAGES. DURING THE PAST YEAR, 895,000 EFBS WERE DISTRIBUTED. SENIOR FOOD BOXES (CSFP): THE COMMODITIES SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM IS A USDA PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR OUR SENIOR NEIGHBORS. THE PRESCRIBED MENU CONSISTS OF SHELF-STABLE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, PROTEINS, GRAINS, BEVERAGES, AND CHEESE. DURING THE PAST YEAR, 211,000 SENIOR BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED.TRIBAL FOOD BOXES: A PROGRAM OFFERING CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS TO NATIVE COMMUNITIES. ITEMS INCLUDE TEPARY AND ANASAZI BEANS, WILD RICE, FLOUR, MASA, GREEN CHILIS, AND TOMATO SALSA-MANY SOURCED AND PURCHASED FROM NATIVE FOOD PRODUCERS. LAST YEAR, ST. MARY'S DISTRIBUTED 26,000 TRIBAL FOOD BOXES.CHILD NUTRITION: THE KIDS CAFE, BACKPACK, AND SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAMS ADDRESS CHILDHOOD HUNGER THROUGH NUTRITIOUS AFTER SCHOOL MEALS, WEEKEND FOOD BACKPACKS, AND ON-CAMPUS NEIGHBOR CHOICE PANTRIES. DURING THE YEAR THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED 630,000 AFTER SCHOOL MEALS AT SITES OFFERING TUTORING, HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, 113,000 WEEKEND FAMILY BACKPACKS CONTAINING ENOUGH FOOD FOR 3 MEALS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, AND ENOUGH PANTRY AND PERISHABLE FOOD TO PROVIDE 114,000 MEALS TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT ON CAMPUS PANTRIES. ST. MARY'S FOOD ASSISTANCE IS DISTRIBUTED TO NEIGHBORS AT ITS THREE NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD CENTERS IN PHOENIX, SURPRISE, AND CHINLE AS WELL AS THROUGH A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 700 AFFILIATED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SERVING URBAN, RURAL, REMOTE, AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS ARIZONA. DURING THE PAST YEAR, ST. MARY'S DISTRIBUTED 129 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, INCLUDING 47 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND MORE THAN 20,000 HOLIDAY TURKEYS.TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS, ST. MARY'S OFFERS MOBILE PANTRIES AND HOME DELIVERIES. MOBILE DISTRIBUTIONS FUNCTION AS POP-UP FARMERS MARKET STYLE DISTRIBUTIONS DELIVERING FOOD DIRECTLY TO HIGH NEED RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE. DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE MOBILE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED ENOUGH FOOD TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 4 MILLION MEALS.MONTHLY HOME DELIVERIES SUPPORT MORE THAN 7,000 LOW-INCOME, HOMEBOUND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS MARICOPA, YAVAPAI, COCONINO, AND PINAL COUNTIES. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO FOOD PANTRIES, CONGREGATE MEAL SITES, OR GROCERY STORES DUE TO MOBILITY OR TRANSPORTATION LIMITATIONS OR GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION. FOOD IS DELIVERED USING A COMBINATION OF ST. MARY'S DRIVERS AND THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY PARTNERS.
  2. $1.7 million spent. IN ADDITION TO FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, ST. MARY'S OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH THE ST. MARY'S SKILLS CENTER. THE SKILLS CENTER OPERATES TWO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND LIFT. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS FACING EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS RELATED TO POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, OR PRIOR INCARCERATION BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON TRAINING, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND JOB READINESS SUPPORT.FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM HAS PREPARED PARTICIPANTS FOR CAREERS IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE KIDS CAFE PROGRAM BY PREPARING MEALS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS, ST. MARY'S LAUNCHED THE LIFT PROGRAM TO TRAIN PARTICIPANTS FOR WAREHOUSE AND LOGISTICS CAREERS. LEVERAGING THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPERTISE IN LARGE-SCALE FOOD WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION, LIFT PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OFFERING LIVABLE WAGES AND ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL.TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LONG-TERM STABILITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. DURING THE PAST YEAR, 255 STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM THE SKILLS CENTER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 2025.

    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 March 1974.

    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.