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Spoon Foundation

EIN 26-0712302 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPOON IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION WITH THE MISSION TO ELIMINATE MALNUTRITION FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND CHILDREN WITHOUT FAMILY CARE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
14
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$119,939, co-founder, trustee, & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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, 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. $265,504 spent. WE ENGAGED IN THE FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITES IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO NOURISH CHILDREN WHO ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO MALNUTRITION BY EMPOWERING THEIR CAREGIVERS: COMPLETED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR OUR PROGRAM IN LESOTHO WITH PARTNERS UNICEF, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, AND LESOTHO NATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIZATIONS OF THE DISABLED; IN UGANDA WITH PARTNER ASSOCIATION OF RELIGIOUS IN UGANDA; IN VIETNAM WITH PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND ONE SKY; AND IN ZAMBIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH ZAMBIA.
  2. $168,853 spent. OREGON FOSTER CARE: SPOON LAUNCHED THE NOURISHING OREGON'S FOSTER CHILDREN PROJECT IN JANUARY 2015 IN COLLABORATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND UNIVERSITY OF OREGON TO OFFER A TAILORED NUTRITION AND FEEDING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY (FOSTER PARENTS, CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS, AND TRAINING SERVICE PROVIDERS). IN 2024 WE LAUNCHED A PROJECT TO CREATE AN ONLINE VERSION OF OUR TRAINING OF TRAINERS CURRICULUM AND ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO SCALE THE TRAINING THROUGHOUT OREGON.
  3. $400,060 spent. WE ENGAGED IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN: ADVOCACY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. OUR ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES RANGED FROM GLOBAL TO COUNTRY LEVEL INITIATIVES, WITH THE GOAL TO ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE CHILDREN ARE INCLUDED IN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THEIR MALNUTRITION. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PARTNER OUTREACH AND PLANNING TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY AND SCALE.
  4. $27,109 spent. SPOON UTILIZES A SUITE OF TOOLS, INCLUDING OUR APP "COUNT ME IN," OUR DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES, AND OUR IN-PERSON FEEDING AND NUTRITION CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE THE NUTRITION, FEEDING, AND HEALTH OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN. OUR TOOLS UNIQUELY ADDRESS MULTIPLE NUTRITION-RELATED RISK FACTORS AS WELL AS IMPROPER FEEDING TECHNIQUES FOR ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF FAMILY CARE. IN 2024, SPOON'S PARTNERS DEPLOYED OUR TOOLS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY SITES IN ZAMBIA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, LESOTHO, VIETNAM, AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. WE CONTINUED BUILDING OUT VERSION TWO OF THE APP, CALLED COUNT ME IN PLUS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSES DISCLOSED HERE, "COUNT ME IN" DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF $107,745 WERE CAPITALIZED DURING THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 April 2008.

    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.