Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Historic Portland Public Market Foundation

EIN 26-0070100 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 45% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE JAMES BEARD PUBLIC MARKET IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO CREATE A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, 7 DAY A WEEK, YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC MARKET IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND THAT CELEBRATES OREGON'S BOUNTY, SUPPORTS SMALL FOOD-RELATED BUSINESSES, AND STRENGTHENS THE REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMY.

Income
$18.3 million
Spending
$891,791
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
-12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
3
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$166,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 95% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 433% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $402,132 spent. IN JANUARY 2025, THE FOUNDATION COMPLETED ACQUISITION OF THE HISTORIC UNGAR BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND, ESTABLISHING SITE CONTROL AND TRANSITIONING THE PROJECT INTO ITS CONSTRUCTION PHASE. FOLLOWING ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES COMMENCED IN PREPARATION FOR RENOVATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE.THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTED A STATEWIDE VENDOR RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND CLOSED APPLICATIONS IN MARCH 2025, RECEIVING MORE THAN 100 QUALIFIED SUBMISSIONS. VENDOR CATEGORIES INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, PREPARED FOODS, MEAT AND SEAFOOD, BAKERY, PANTRY, BEVERAGE, AND SPECIALTY RETAIL. VENDOR SELECTION IS COMPLETED. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, WITH A PROJECTED PUBLIC OPENING IN EARLY 2027. CONCURRENTLY, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES DEVELOPMENT OF ITS OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK, VENDOR SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY MODEL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 2005.

    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.