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Institute for Feed Education and Research

EIN 26-4719856 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IFEEDER'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL FEED AND PET FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN THROUGH TIMELY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

Income
$545,243
Spending
$621,831
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$499,365, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% 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 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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 April 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. $595,001 spent. RESEARCH INVESTMENTS:IFEEDER WORKS WITH DIVERSE PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE ANIMAL FOOD AND BROADER FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, ALONG WITH ACADEMIA AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, TO CONDUCT OBJECTIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS TO INFORM BUSINESS LEADERS AND DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE EXPANDING ANIMAL FEED AND PET FOOD INDUSTRY. IFEEDER'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL FEED AND PET FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN THROUGH TIMELY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.THROUGH PROACTIVE RESEARCH PERFORMED IN COLLABORATION WITH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, IFEEDER IS HELPING BUSINESS LEADERS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE.IFEEDER'S CURRENT RESEARCH INITIATIVES ARE FOCUSED ON: -QUANTIFYING SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS FOR VITAMIN AND ANIMO ACIDS RELATIVE TO THE IMPACT ON MEAT, MILK AND EGG PRODUCTION. -PROVIDING TRANSPARENT DATA, QUANTIFYING THE NUMEROUS INGREDIENTS USED TO FEED LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, FISH AND PETS IN THE UNITED STATES. -ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH THAT WILL DELIVER A FULLER, MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF FEED PRODUCTION THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE CYCLE.
  2. $10,000 spent. EDUCATION INVESTMENTSTO MAKE MEASURABLE, ON-FARM PROGRESS THAT ADVANCES SUSTAINABLE FEED TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES, IFEEDER INVESTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, SPARKING A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING US SUSTAINABLY FED IN THE FUTURE. IFEEDER UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR CREDIBLE, THIRD-PARTY VOICES WHO CAN HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PATHWAYS AND BUILD TRUST WITH CONSUMERS. FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS, IFEEDER HAS BEEN DEVELOPING RESOURCES THAT HELP THE U.S. ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY BETTER COMMUNICATE ITS STORY TO CORPORATE DECISION-MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS LOOKING FOR CREDIBLE SCIENCE AND FACTS ON WHERE THEIR FEED AND PET FOOD COMES FROM. TOGETHER, WE KNOW WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPLIANCE AND TRANSPARENCY ON OUR INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY PILLARS (PEOPLE, PLANET AND GOVERNANCE) TO HELP CONSUMERS FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR FOOD AND PET FOOD PURCHASES.CURRENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES INCLUDE--CLARITY AND LEADERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND RESEARCH (CLEAR) CENTER -PROTEIN PACT-ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY TOOLKIT
  3. SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENTS:WHILE REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IS A BIG FOCUS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COMPANIES LOOKING TO ENHANCE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS, SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT ALSO ENCOMPASSES SAFEGUARDING OUR FEED AND FOOD SUPPLY, INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITIES, AND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO REGULATORY BODIES AND SHAREHOLDERS. THE INSTITUTE FOR FEED EDUCATION AND RESEARCH DEFINES 'SUSTAINABILITY' AS "DEFINED AND MANAGED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION IN THE ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY TO DELIVER MEASURABLE, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS ON THE IMPACTS RELATED TO PEOPLE, PLANET AND GOVERNANCE THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS." WITH A MISSION TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL FEED AND PET FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN, IFEEDER IS COLLABORATING WITH INDUSTRY MEMBERS AND UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM STAKEHOLDERS ON A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY TO ADVANCE FEED SYSTEMS SUSTAINABILITY.THIS YEAR IFEEDER ADDED TO ITS COLLECTION OF RESOURCES IN THE ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY TOOLKIT TO FURTHER SUPPORT ANIMAL FEED AND PET FOOD MEMBERS IN EXPLORING AND NAVIGATING THE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT SPACE.
  4. $7,500 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: THE INSTITUTE CONDUCTS OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE VARIOUS MEETINGS AND INTERACTIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT VALUE THE BELIEFS ESTABLISHED BY THE INSTITUTE'S CORE MISSION STATEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 February 2010.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Northern California Institute for Research and Education Inc (San Francisco, CA), EIN 94-3084159. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.