Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Blessings in a Backpack Inc

EIN 26-1964620 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK MOBILIZES COMMUNITIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE GO HUNGRY.

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
41
Volunteers
16,500
Highest pay
$222,672, chief executive officer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

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. $10.9 million spent. BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK PROVIDES A FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK WITH EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY COMMUNITY TO END WEEKEND HUNGER FOR ITS CHILDREN. AT MORE THAN 1,000 LOCATIONS IN 44 STATES, BLESSINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, ENSURES CHILDREN LEAVE SCHOOL ON FRIDAY WITH A BAG OF NUTRITION TO HELP THEM ENJOY A WEEKEND FREE OF HUNGER.SINCE 2008, MORE THAN ONE MILLION CHILDREN HAVE ENJOYED OVER 30 MILLION HUNGER-FREE WEEKENDS.DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK MADE OVER 2.7 MILLION HUNGER-FREE WEEKENDS POSSIBLE FOR KIDS. WITH MORE THAN 13.8 MILLION CHILDREN FACING FOOD INSECURITY, OUR WORK AT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK IS CRUCIAL. MORE THAN 16,500 VOLUNEERS GAVE 610,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO HELP ENSURE KIDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES HAD ACCESS TO FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS.LEARN MORE ON HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED AT BLESSINGSINABACKPACK.ORG.

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 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 June 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 December 2008.

    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.