Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Food Co-Op Initiative

EIN 27-2252564 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A MORE JUST FOOD SYSTEM, PROVIDING CRITICAL SUPPORT AS THEY ORGANIZE AND OPEN COMMUNITY-OWNED GROCERY STORES.

Income
$696,980
Spending
$554,642
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
4
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$130,295, executive director (began march)

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $454,295 spent. FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE PROVIDED CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND NETWORK BUILDING TO STARTUP FOOD CO-OPS, INCLUDING BOARD DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY, SITE SELECTION, ORGANIZING WORK PLANS, ETC. FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE CO-HOSTED THE UP & COMING CONFERENCE FOR STARTUP FOOD CO-OPS. DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS FROM FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE ALSO PRESENTED AND FACILITATED WORKSHOPS AT OTHER EVENTS AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO STARTUP ORGANIZERS. WE CONTINUED AN ANNUAL SERIES OF LIVE WEBINARS ADDRESSING TOPICAL ISSUES FOR STARTUP ORGANIZERS CALLED FCI LIVE. WE HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE AND THE RECORDED WEBINARS ARE ACCESSED FOR FREE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. OUR PEER LEARNING GROUPS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SERVE OVER 50 STARTUP CO-OPS FACING SIMILAR ORGANIZING ISSUES WHO MEET MONTHLY TO LEARN AND SHARE. THESE GROUPS HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL AND KEEP ORGANIZERS ENGAGED AND INFORMED, LEADING TO BETTER OUTCOMES. THE FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE PRODUCED EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR CO-OP ORGANIZERS IN A VARIETY OF MODES AND LAUNCHED A NEW CO-OP DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK TO HELP ALL STARTUPS FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES WHILE SERVING THEIR UNIQUE COMMUNITY. WE HOST A WEB-BASED "CLASSROOM" TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS. WE COLLABORATE EXTENSIVELY WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ABOUT 100 STARTUPS. SIX CO-OPS OPENED IN 2025.

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 January 2011.

    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.