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Organic Soup Kitchen

EIN 27-1081432 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE METABOLIC ONCOLOGY NUTRITION TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF SENIORS, CANCER PATIENTS AND CHRONICALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
11
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$283,812, coo/treasurer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $1.5 million spent. ORGANIC SOUP KITCHEN PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BASIC NEEDS FOOD SECURITY SOUPMEAL DELIVERY PROGRAM:ORGANIC SOUP KITCHEN'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES NUTRIENT-DENSE SOUPMEALS TO FOOD-INSECURE INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. THIS ESSENTIAL SERVICE ADDRESSES THE BASIC NEED FOR RELIABLE, HEALTHY NUTRITION AMONG LOW-INCOME SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS FACING CHRONIC ILLNESS, EACH SOUPMEAL IS HANDCRAFTED USING LOCALLY SOURCED, ORGANIC INGREDIENTS AND IS DELIVERED WEEKLY, ENSURING CLIENTS RECEIVE CONSISTENT NOURISHMENT TO SUPPORT OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE PROGRAM OPERATES ON A ZERO-WASTE MODEL, INCORPORATING FOOD RECOVERY PRACTICES TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WHILE FEEDING THE COMMUNITY.MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS PROGRAM:IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS INCLUDING CENCAL HEALTH, ORGANIC SOUP KITCHEN'S MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND OTHER CRITICAL ILLNESSES. EACH SOUPMEAL IS DESIGNED BY NUTRITIONISTS AND CHEFS TO MEET SPECIFIC DIETARY NEEDS BASED ON A CLIENT'S MEDICAL CONDITION, TREATMENT PLAN, AND RECOVERY GOALS. MEALS ARE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, IMMUNE-BOOSTING, AND EASY TO DIGESTPROVIDING THERAPEUTIC NOURISHMENT THAT SUPPORTS HEALING AND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE WELLNESS SUPPORT AND NUTRITION EDUCATION AS PART OF A HOLISTIC CARE APPROACH. THIS PROGRAM NOT ONLY IMPROVES HEALTH OUTCOMES, BUT ALSO REDUCES HOSPITAL READMISSIONS AND LOWERS HEALTHCARE COSTS.TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS FORM A CRITICAL SAFETY NET FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITYENSURING THAT NO ONE FACING ILLNESS, POVERTY, OR ISOLATION IS LEFT HUNGRY.RETURN TO VITALITY: EDUCATION LECTURE SERIES:THIS IS ORGANIC SOUP KITCHEN'S EDUCATIONAL LECTURE SERIES DESIGNED TO EMPOWER LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH CANCER OR CHRONIC ILLNESS WITH PRACTICAL, EVIDENCE-BASED NUTRITION AND WELLNESS KNOWLEDGE. GROUNDED IN OSK'S FOOD-AS-MEDICINE APPROACH, THE SERIES TRANSLATES COMPLEX HEALTH INFORMATION INTO ACCESSIBLE, ACTIONABLE TOOLS THAT PARTICIPANTS CAN APPLY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.LED BY REGISTERED DIETITIANS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND WELLNESS EXPERTS, EACH LECTURE EXPLORES TOPICS SUCH AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NUTRITION, IMMUNE-SUPPORTIVE FOODS, MANAGING SYMPTOMS THROUGH DIET, HYDRATION AND DIGESTION, AND STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING ENERGY AND VITALITY WHILE LIVING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS. THE SERIES EMPHASIZES WHOLE-FOOD, ORGANIC NUTRITION AND COMPLEMENTS OSK'S MEDICALLY TAILORED SOUPMEAL PROGRAMS.RETURN TO VITALITY GOES BEYOND INFORMATION-SHARINGIT FOSTERS CONFIDENCE, CONNECTION, AND RESILIENCE. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS, ASK QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THEIR HEALTH NEEDS, AND RECEIVE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE RESOURCES THAT REINFORCE LONG-TERM FOOD SECURITY AND WELLNESS. BY PAIRING EDUCATION WITH NOURISHMENT, ORGANIC SOUP KITCHEN HELPS CLIENTS NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT MOVE TOWARD IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, INDEPENDENCE, AND RENEWED VITALITY.

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 August 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.

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.