Eat for Equity Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
EAT FOR EQUITY BUILDS A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FEASTS.
- Income
- $89,210
- Spending
- $104,168
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 75%
- Highest pay
- $51,766, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 417% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $74,982 spent. BONNAROO COMMUNITY FEASTSEAT FOR EQUITY PARTNERED WITH BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2024, OUR 11TH TIME HOSTING COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING DINNERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MUSIC FESTIVAL. WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER COOKS TO MAKE TWO FOUR-COURSE FEASTS AND AN EPIC SALAD FOR HUNDREDS OUT OF A 90 DEGREE TENT IN TENNESSEE. WE ALSO GET TO WORK WITH ROCK STARS AT BONNAROO, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ARTISTS FOR SOME MENU ITEMS, LIKE MAGGIE ROSE'S LEMONY VINAIGRETTE.IN 2024, 82% OF OUR FOOD DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON EITHER LOCAL OR ORGANIC FOOD. WE PRIORITIZED PURCHASING INGREDIENTS FROM THE TENNESSEE FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PROVIDED FOOD FOR THE DINNERS EACH YEAR.EAT FOR EQUITY CATERINGEAT FOR EQUITY CATERING IS A SEPARATE BENEFIT CORPORATION OWNED BY EAT FOR EQUITY, AND BECAME A SEPARATE ENTITY IN JANUARY 2018. WHILE A SEPARATE COMPANY, EAT FOR EQUITY IS THE OWNER OF EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING, AND SO WE'LL HIGHLIGHT HERE THE VALUES-DRIVEN WORK OF THE COMPANY: EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING PROMOTES AND MODELS EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCING, PROVIDES ACCESS TO CONSCIOUS FOOD CHOICES, AND USES CATERING TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFIT CAUSES. OUR VALUES ARE SUSTAINABILITY, DIVERSITY, GENEROSITY, INCLUSION, AND COLLABORATION.SLIDING SCALE MEAL BOXESEAT FOR EQUITY CATERING MAKES DELICIOUS, SUSTAINABLE PREPARED FOOD ACCESSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AT A SLIDING SCALE. WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY - OUR CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE TO PAY IT FORWARD SO OTHERS CAN PAY WHAT THEY CAN. OUR MEAL BOX PROGRAM INCLUDES BOTH PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN AND PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTIONS, SO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS CAN ACCESS GOOD, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING SOURCES FRESH, LOCAL AND ORGANIC INGREDIENTS AND FEATURE A NEW MENU EACH WEEK. OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE GOOD FOOD AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, BY PROVIDING OPTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS. IN 2024, WE PREPARED 665 WHOLE BOXES AND 633 HALF BOXES, WHICH WE ESTIMATE AS JUST UNDER 12,000 MEALS, ALL OFFERED ON A SLIDING SCALE.OUR CUSTOMERS RESPONDED GENEROUSLY TO A PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTION, PAYING MORE THAN THE"REGULAR PRICE" TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTION FOR OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY IS CORE TO OUR VALUES AS A COMPANY, ROOTED IN OUR PARENT NONPROFIT'S MISSION TO BUILD A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FEASTS.FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OUR HALF MEAL BOX OPTION, JUST OVER 50% OF OUR CUSTOMERS CHOSE APAY-IT-FORWARD OPTION [RANGING FROM $5-$10 MORE A BOX] TO OFFSET THE COST OF PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTIONS. WITH OUR WHOLE MEAL BOX, OUR MOST POPULAR OPTION, 35% OF CUSTOMERS CHOSE A PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTION [RANGING FROM $5-$20 MORE / BOX] TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTIONS.FREE PREPARED MEALSOUR CONTINUED WORK WITH KITCHEN COALITION [FORMERLY NAMED MINNESOTA CENTRAL KITCHEN] AND SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND RECOGNIZES THAT HUNGER ISN'T JUST ABOUT ACCESS TO FOOD. IN 2024, KITCHEN COALITION REACHED THE MILESTONE OF 6 MILLION MEALS SERVED.IN 2024, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING PROVIDED 32,158 OF THOSE FREE PREPARED MEALS. EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING HAS BEEN A KITCHEN COALITION PARTNER SINCE 2020. WE PREPARE 600-800 MEALS A WEEK THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. WE'RE PART OF A NETWORK OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS WHO TURN FOOD BANK INGREDIENTS INTO NUTRITIOUS, FRESHLY PREPARED MEALS. "I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT MY VERY SMALL STAFF OF TWO PEOPLE ENJOY THE CREATIVITY OF TURNING THESE INGREDIENTS INTO SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING TO PREPARE AND EXCITING FOR PEOPLE TO EAT. I LIKE MAKING MEALS THAT ARE SEASONAL AND USE FLAVORS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THAT'S WHERE I START WHEN I CREATE MENUS." - MARISOL HERLING, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING CHEFIN 2024, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SANNEH FOUNDATION TO MAKE FREE PREPARED MEALS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. SANNEH FOUNDATION HAS COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES.WE PURCHASE 100% OF THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE MEALS, AND DURING THE GROWING SEASON, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE. MEALS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SANNEH FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES. THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE IN NEED OF FOOD, NO DOCUMENTATION NEEDED, AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE A PERSON LIVES. MANY OF THE MEALS ARE SENT TO OPEN CUPBOARD FOOD PANTRY IN OAKDALE, WITH A FOCUS ON FRESH FOOD, PRODUCE, MEAT, DAIRY, AND BAKERY ITEMS.OUR MEALS FOR THE SANNEH FOUNDATION MEALS ARE DESIGNED FOR ECUADORIAN AND LATINOCOMMUNITIES. SOME COMMON MENU ITEMS INCLUDE LOCRO DE PAPA (STEWED POTATOES AND CHEESE WITH CHICKEN AND RICE), CASAMIENTO RED BEANS AND BEEF WITH PEPPERS AND RICE, AND PORK AND VEGETABLE RAGU WITH GRITS.KITCHEN COMMISSARYIN 2023, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING MOVED INTO A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN THE UPTOWN AREA OF MINNEAPOLIS AND MADE THAT KITCHEN A SHARED COMMISSARY KITCHEN FOR OTHER FOOD BUSINESSES AND CHEFS.EAT FOR EQUITY AND EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING HAVE ALWAYS SHARED KITCHEN SPACES WITH OTHERS, FROM THROWING FUNDRAISING PARTIES IN HOME KITCHENS TO OUR FIRST COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE AT CITY FOOD STUDIO ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO. WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE KIND OF SPACE AND CULTURE WE WANTED TO CREATE IN OUR KITCHEN. WE WANTED TO DESIGN A SHARED KITCHEN MODEL THAT WAS EQUITABLE AND COULD SUPPORT BUSINESSES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH.OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A PRODUCTIVE, SAFE, AND WELCOMING KITCHEN FOR OUR BUSINESS AND OTHERS. WE WANTED TO SHARE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF WOMEN AND BIPOC CHEFS AND SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES. IN 2024, OF THE THIRTEEN FOOD BUSINESSES THAT WORKED IN THE KITCHEN AT SOME POINT IN THE YEAR, 85% ARE BIPOC OR WOMEN-OWNED /RUN BUSINESSES.BY MAKING AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, WE ARE PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR THEM TO MAKE GREAT, SUSTAINABLE FOOD. WE'VE DESIGNED OUR MODEL SO THAT REGULAR KITCHEN USERS HAVE 24/7 ACCESS AND UNLIMITED TIME (INSTEAD OF BEING BILLED BY T
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.