Target Hunger
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Since its founding in 1989, Target Hunger has worked tirelessly and strategically to carry out its mission to alleviate hunger and its root causes in vulnerable neighborhoods in northeast and east Houston, its primary service area. Services are delivered through a three-prong approach: providing immediate food aid that addresses the daily need for adequate amounts of nourishing food; offering social service navigation to connect clients to critical resources; and providing disaster relief for natural and other crises.
- Income
- $10.3 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 2,525
- Highest pay
- $177,005, ceo
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $4.2 million spent. Target Hunger food services include the operation of three pantry sites, drive thru produce distributions twice a week, mobile pantry sites, emergency food assistance, and spring and summer break food programs for children. In 2025, Target Hunger served over 25,000 unique individuals from more than 208 zip codes, reaching nearly 10% more households than the year before.
- $370,730 spent. The Navigation Program, staffed by a team of bilingual Community Health Workers, assists clients in a myriad of ways including but not limited to rent and utility help, healthcare enrollment, and job training. These resources, in tandem with our food programs, help stabilize the health, finances, and overall well-being of Target Hunger families.
- $131,028 spent. Target Hunger staff, volunteers, and community members maintain two edible gardens, the Willie G. & Gladys R. Goffney Community Garden located in Kashmere Gardens and the Shotwell Garden located at our main warehouse, which harvested food is distributed to clients.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.