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Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Inc

EIN 32-0362611 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE PROVIDE DIGNIFIED, EQUITABLE AND CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CREATING A FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH.

Income
$95.3 million
Spending
$97.8 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
128
Volunteers
16,462
Highest pay
$298,683, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Distributed 42.1 million pounds of nutritious food to 286 partners.Work delivered
  • Served an average of 458,995 community members (duplicated) per month through partners.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $92.3 million spent. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK HAS BEEN SERVING ORANGE COUNTY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SINCE 1983 INCLUDING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES, VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.WE ENVISION AN ORANGE COUNTY WITH FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY FOR ALL. OUR MISSION, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, IS TO PROVIDE DIGNIFIED, EQUITABLE, CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOODS, CREATING A FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH.SECOND HARVEST SOURCES FOOD THROUGH OUR GROCERY RESCUE RETAIL FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM, LARGE-SCALE DONATIONS, (CONTINUED ON SCH O)GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND PROGRAMS, STRATEGIC PURCHASES, AND HARVESTING PRODUCE AT HARVEST SOLUTIONS FARM AND FOUNDERS FARM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE DISTRIBUTED 42.1 MILLION POUNDS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO 286 PARTNERS. OUR PARTNER NETWORK INCLUDES SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SENIOR CENTERS, HOUSES OF WORSHIP, SHELTERS FOR THE UNHOUSED, SOUP KITCHENS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES. THROUGH THESE PARTNERS, SECOND HARVEST SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 458,995 COMMUNITY MEMBERS (DUPLICATED) PER MONTH DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.OUR YOUTH HUNGER STRATEGY SEEKS TO ELIMINATE FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL INSECURITY FOR MANY THOUSANDS OF FOOD-INSECURE CHILDREN. OUR PERMANENT AND MOBILE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAMS DISTRIBUTE MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD, SUCH AS FRESH PRODUCE, PROTEIN AND DAIRY, AT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS IN UNDER-SERVED AREAS. OUR COLLEGE PANTRY PROGRAM SERVES COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY WITH HEALTHY FOODS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS (AND THEIR FAMILIES) AS THEY FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. THROUGH A NETWORK OF CHILD-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS (SUCH AS YMCAS, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, ETC.), WE DISTRIBUTE AFTER-SCHOOL MEALS AND SNACKS AND SUMMER LUNCHES AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN AT RISK FOR FOOD INSECURITY.SECOND HARVEST'S SENIOR HUNGER STRATEGY IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL INSECURITY AMONG ORANGE COUNTY SENIORS. THROUGH THE SENIOR GROCERY PROGRAM, WE DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY FOOD TO THOUSANDS OF SENIOR HOUSEHOLDS AT SENIOR CENTERS, LOW-INCOME HOUSING, PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. PARK-IT MARKET 1 & 2 ARE CUSTOM-BUILT REFRIGERATED TRAILERS THAT SERVE AS PANTRIES ON WHEELS AND ALLOW US TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO PRIMARILY SENIOR SITES THAT CAN'T HOST OUR OTHER FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK DEPENDS ON ITS GENEROUS AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHOSE WORK REPRESENTED 25% OF THE LABOR PERFORMED AT SECOND HARVEST IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 2012.

    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 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.