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Wholesome Wave Inc

EIN 26-0352899 · Bridgeport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHOLESOME WAVE, INC. INSPIRES UNDERSERVED CONSUMERS TO MAKE HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES BY INCREASING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
7
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$367,599, co-founder and executive chairman

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 5 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 (3)
  1. $923,752 spent. WHOLESOME WAVE PROGRAMS ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY NUTRITION INSECURITY AND DIET-RELATED DISEASES. WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS THAT INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT FRESH FOODS. OUR EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH IS BASED ON A WELL-DESIGNED, ROBUST PROGRAM LOGIC MODEL THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND VERIFIED IN NUMEROUS POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. OUR MODEL POSITS THAT PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES COUPLED WITH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE NUTRITION EDUCATION LEADS TO INCREASED KNOWLEDGE; SELF-EFFICACY; CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; AND FOOD SECURITY.
  2. $534,833 spent. WHOLESOME WAVE MANAGES THE NATIONAL PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION COLLABORATIVE, A PROGRAM WHICH WORKS TO CURB THE INEQUITABLE AND NATIONAL BURDEN OF DIET-RELATED DISEASES BY INTEGRATING PRODUCE PRESCRIPTIONS AS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR DIET-RELATED DISEASE INTO STANDARD CLINICAL PRACTICE THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH POLICY AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.WHOLESOME WAVE CONDUCTS OBJECTIVE POLICY ANALYSIS THROUGH END-USER DIRECTED RESEARCH ON ISSUES PERTAINING TO PRODUCE CONSUMPTION FOR SHOPPERS WITH LOW INCOMES; AND WORKS TO SHARE THOSE ANALYSES WITH POLICYMAKERS AND ADVOCATES AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.
  3. $157,220 spent. ONEKITCHEN IS A WHOLESOME WAVE INITIATIVE BUILT TO ENSURE EVERY CHEF IN AMERICA HAS ACCESS TO THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD SYSTEMS ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FROM SOCIAL TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AREAS RELATED TO FOOD, WE SUPPORT CHEFS IN FACILITATING NATIONAL SYSTEMS CHANGE AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL. ONEKITCHEN ORGANIZES, EDUCATES, AND MOBILIZES CHEFS AS EFFECTIVE FOOD SYSTEM CHANGEMAKERS IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY CALL HOME. ONEKITCHEN ACHIEVES THIS BY PROVIDING CHEF MEMBERS WITH VARIOUS TOOLS, TRAININGS, CONNECTIONS, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR NATIONAL ONEKITCHEN NETWORK. CHEFS ARE THEN ACTIVATED IN GATHERING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS AROUND ONE TABLE WITH ONE VISION: TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD THROUGH FOOD.

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 September 2007.

    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.