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Sunflower Bakery Inc

EIN 26-2797556 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUNFLOWER BAKERY ENABLES PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND TEENS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES THROUGH PRE-EMPLOYMENT EXPOSURE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING IN PASTRY ARTS, CULINARY ARTS, HOSPITALITY AND RELATED INDUSTRIES.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 32%
Employees
55
Volunteers
66
Highest pay
$154,500, executive director

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SUNFLOWER'S PASTRY ARTS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES 26 WEEKS OF TRAINING IN TWO PHASES. PHASE ONE IS 13 WEEKS OF FORMAL PASTRY INSTRUCTION FROM A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY SUNFLOWER FOCUSING ON TECHNIQUES AND METHODS, KITCHEN AND FOOD SAFETY. PHASE TWO IS 13 WEEKS AND STUDENTS RECEIVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN SUNFLOWER'S COMMERCIAL BAKERY PRODUCTION KITCHEN UNDER DIRECTION OF CHEF INSTRUCTORS. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE EXTENSIVE EMPLOYEE READINESS PREPARATION INCLUDING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, SELF-ADVOCACY, PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES, AND TIME-MANAGEMENT.
  2. $559,049 spent. THE HOSPITALITY TRAINING HAS TWO PHASES TAUGHT BY INSTRUCTORS WITH HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE. PHASE ONE CONSISTS OF 13 WEEKS AND IS CLASSROOM BASED FOCUSING ON BOTH HARD AND SOFT SKILLS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, FRONT OF HOUSE OPERATIONS, SAFE FOOD HANDLING, AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS. PHASE TWO IS 13 WEEKS AND STUDENTS SHIFT FROM CLASSROOM TO SUNFLOWER'S RETAIL OUTLETS AND SUPPORT DAILY OPERATIONS STOCKING INVENTORY, ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS, AND RUNNING POINT OF SALE. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE EXTENSIVE EMPLOYEE READINESS PREPARATION INCLUDING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, SELF-ADVOCACY, PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES, AND TIME-MANAGEMENT.
  3. $349,046 spent. SUNFLOWER'S CULINARY ARTS TRAINING PROGRAM FOLLOWS THE SAME 13 WEEK PHASES AND TEACHES COOKING METHODS, KNIFE SKILLS, FOOD PREPARATION, WORKING WITH MEAT, SAFE FOOD HANDLING AND SOFT SKILLS OF EMPLOYMENT READINESS.PHASE ONE CONSISTS OF 13 WEEKS WHERE STUDENTS LEARN BASICS OF CULINARY PREPARATIONS AND PHASE TWO IS 13 WEEKS WHERE STUDENTS APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND RECEIVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN THE CULINARY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHEF INSTRUCTORS.
  4. $133,137 spent. JOB SERVICES PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM GRADUATES, INCLUDING RESUME DEVELOPMENT, COVER LETTER CREATION, REVIEWING JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND APPLYING FOR POSITIONS, INTERVIEWING, EMPLOYMENT-MATCHING ASSISTANCE, AND JOB-SITE FADED COACHING FOR OUR GRADUATES.

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 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.