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Chef Ann Foundation

EIN 26-2496810 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL FOOD PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE RESOURCES, FUNDING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE FRESH, HEALTHY, DELICIOUS, COOKED FROM SCRATCH MEALS THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND OUR PLANET.

Income
$20.8 million
Spending
$17.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
94
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$291,200, chief executive officer

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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, 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. $14.9 million spent. IN ORDER TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUILD, IMPLEMENT, AND SUSTAIN A SELF-OPERATED, SCRATCH-COOK PROGRAM, THE CHEF ANN FOUNDATION (CAF) PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMMING THAT MEETS DISTRICTS WHERE THEY ARE AND HELPS SUPPORT THEM IN MOVING THEIR PROGRAMS FORWARD. OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN A SYSTEMS-CHANGE APPROACH FOR SCHOOL FOOD OPERATIONS THAT ENCOMPASSES FIVE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: FOOD, FACILITIES, FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND MARKETING. WE EXECUTE THIS WORK THROUGH THREE PRIMARY CATEGORIES: SCRATCH COOKING, WORKFORCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SCRATCH COOKING: CAF PROVIDES HIGH-TOUCH, CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRANSITION SCHOOLS FROM PROCESSED, HEAT-AND-SERVE MEALS TO WHOLE-INGREDIENT SCRATCH COOKING.GET SCHOOLS COOKING: AN INTENSIVE 3-YEAR ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH THE OPERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO TRANSITION FROM A HEAT-AND-SERVE TO A SCRATCH-COOK OPERATIONAL MODEL.CUSTOM DISTRICT SUPPORT: PROJECTS DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC SCHOOL FOOD CHALLENGES AND GOALS.WORKFORCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THESE PROGRAMS EQUIP SCHOOL FOOD PROFESSIONALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CAPACITY TO ENACT REAL SCHOOL FOOD CHANGE.THE LUNCH BOX: THE LARGEST FREE ONLINE RESOURCE FOR SCRATCH COOKING IN SCHOOLS, PROVIDING STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES, TOOLS, AND RECIPES TO HELP SCHOOLS IMPROVE THEIR MEAL PROGRAMS.SCHOOL FOOD INSTITUTE: COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE COURSES THAT PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE KEY COMPONENTS OF SUCCESSFUL SCRATCH-COOK OPERATIONS IN SCHOOLS.HEALTHY SCHOOL FOOD PATHWAY: INCLUDES NEW PRE-APPRENTICESHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCHOOL FOOD PROFESSIONALS WITH THE SKILLS TO OPERATE FRESH, HEALTHY, AND SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE.SUSTAINABILITY: CAF AIMS TO ESTABLISH A REPLICABLE MODEL THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS BY STRENGTHENING VALUES-ALIGNED PROCUREMENT PRACTICES, REDUCING WASTE, AND ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE MENUS. IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROGRAMS PROVIDE SCHOOLS WITH THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:SALAD BARS TO SCHOOLS: A GRANTING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS WITH SALAD BAR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT, SUCH AS CAMBRO BARS AND CAMCHILLERS.BULK MILK: A GRANTING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH BULK MILK DISPENSING EQUIPMENT, REUSABLE CUPS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.PLANTS (PARTNERSHIPS FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION TRANSFORMATION IN SCHOOLS): A SUB-GRANT PROGRAM THAT FUNDS PROJECTS LED BY LOCAL PARTNERS ADVANCING SYSTEMIC AND EQUITY-DRIVEN APPROACHES TO TRANSFORMING SCHOOL FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS.IN ALL OUR WORK, THE CHEF ANN FOUNDATION STRIVES TO MEET THE FOLLOWING GOALS: REDUCE THE RATE OF DIET-RELATED DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN BY IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SCHOOL FOOD; HELP CHILDREN ESTABLISH BETTER EATING HABITS FOR LIFE THROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS; INCREASE EXPOSURE TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; AND TRANSITION SCHOOLS FROM HEAT-AND-SERVE OPERATION MODELS THAT DEPEND ON PROCESSED FOOD TO SCRATCH-COOK KITCHENS THAT PRODUCE MEALS MADE WITH WHOLE, NUTRIENT-RICH FOOD.

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 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 December 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 May 2009.

    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.