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Meals of Hope Inc

EIN 27-0268307 · Naples, FL

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

THE MISSION OF MEALS OF HOPE IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER TO END HUNGER. WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR JOB TO FEED PEOPLE. MEALS OF HOPE BEGAN AS A FOOD PACKING ORGANIZATION.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OWE ARE THE ONLY FOOD PACKING ORGANIZATION WITH A PRIORITY ON KEEPING THE FOOD PACKED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE DEVELOPED FIVE MEALS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AMERICAN PALATE AND ADD VITAMINS, MINERALS AND PROTEINS TO OUR MEALS IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT AN UNBALANCED DIET.

Income
$19.0 million
Spending
$16.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
32
Volunteers
40,000
Highest pay
$242,082, president

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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. $14.5 million spent. MEALS OF HOPE TAKES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO ENDING HUNGER BY FEEDING PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL PACKING EVENTS AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAM. IN 2025, WE CONSISTENTLY SERVED UP TO 3,500 FAMILIES PER WEEK COLLECTIVELY THROUGH OUR 15 MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES IN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES; 40,000 OF OUR VOLUNTEERS PACKED MORE THAN 13.3 MILLION FORTIFIED MEALS AND DONATED THEM TO LOCAL FEEDING AMERICA FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE U.S. FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND PROVIDED OVER 81,000 PACKS OF EMERGENCY WEEKEND FOOD TO AT-RICK STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A THREE-COUNTY RADIUS.

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 October 13, 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 July 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 October 21, 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.