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Project Eats Inc

EIN 30-0558873 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE IN A LAWFUL MANNER THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WELL-BEING OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. TO PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE ART AND MEDIA THAT INFORMS AND ENGAGES INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES IN ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER THE WELL-BEING AND GENERAL WELFARE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS, CONDUCT RESEARCH, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES THAT WORK TO ESTABLISH SELF-HELP, MUTUAL AID, NATURAL HELPING NETWORKS, AND RESOURCE EXCHANGE NETWORKS THAT IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING. TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS, CONDUCT RESEARCH, AND PROVIDE CONSULTATION THAT WILL PROMOTE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: HEALTH, SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH, ECOLOGY, HOUSING, AND SOCIAL WELFARE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
33
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$159,928, founder/president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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, 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)
  1. $880,539 spent. PROJECT EATS' MODEL FEATURES SMALL-PLOT, COMMUNITY-BASED AND OPERATED, HIGH-YIELD FARMS - BOTH GROUND-LEVEL AND ROOFTOP. USING SUSTAINABLE, PRIMARILY HAND-GROWN, FARMING METHODS, AND EMPLOYING SEEDING, SUCCESSION PLANNING, CARBON WASTE REUSE, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNIQUES, PE WORKS TO MAXIMIZE CROP YIELDS IN LIMITED URBAN SPACES, AND PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH EASE OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY, ULTRA-LOCAL, "INCOME-APPROPRIATE" FOOD. OPERATING 5 FARMS SPANNING ALMOST 5 ACRES LOCATED ACROSS THE 3 NYC BOROUGHS, PROJECT EATS (PE):- DEVELOPS AND SUPPORTS URBAN FARMS AND FARMING INFRASTRUCTURE,- PROVIDES SALES OUTLETS FOR THE FARMS,- OFFERS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, - INFORMS AND USES PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE'S CONSUMPTION OF HEALTHY FOOD, HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLBEING, REGARDLESS OF INCOME.PE FARMS OPERATE AS SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT PROVIDE REVENUE SOURCES THROUGH SALES OF FRESH PRODUCE (60% AT AFFORDABLE PRICES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT GENERATES IT AND 40% AT PREMIUM RATES TO COMMERCIAL MARKETS). THEY ALSO GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH CONTRACTED AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS. PE IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY GRANTS FROM CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. PE OFFERS AN ARRAY OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE WELLNESS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS RANGING FROM SITE-SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL ART INSTALLATIONS TO WORKSHOPS. MAREN HASSINGER CREATED AN OUTDOOR INSTALLATION FROM STEEL AND CONCRETE FOR OUR SITES AT ESSEX AND BROWNSVILLE THAT RAN FROM SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER TO THE THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY.IN 2022, WE BEGAN PROJECT [B]EATS: AN EXPLORATORY PERCUSSION WORKSHOP SERIES FOR SENIORS. IN 2023, PROJECT [B]EATS CONTINUED. SESSIONS WERE HELD TWICE A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS WITH 10 PARTICIPANTS.IN 2024, PROJECT EATS AFTER-SCHOOL (PEAS) CONTINUED WITH A SECOND SESSION OF A CULINARY CLASS FOR A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT RAN FOR 16-WEEKS WITH NEW DESIGN HIGH SCHOOL. THE CURRICULUM WAS DESIGNED TO COVER THE ESSENTIAL CULINARY SKILLS AND FOCUSED ON PLANT-BASED RECIPE INNOVATION. IN 2024, WE TRANSITIONED OUR PANTRY OPERATIONS FROM A WEEKLY TO A MONTHLY SCHEDULE BETWEEN MAY AND DECEMBER. THIS SHIFT WAS MADE TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING LARGER QUANTITIES OF BOTH SHELF-STABLE AND FRESH FOOD ITEMS AT EACH DISTRIBUTION. THESE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED AT BOTH OF OUR PANTRY LOCATIONS IN THE BRONX AND THE OTHER IN BROOKLYN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.

    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 2024.

    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 May 2014.

    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.