National Food and Beverage Foundation
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
THE NATIONAL FOOD & BEVERAGE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN NEW ORLEANS DEDICATED TO THE DISCOVERY, UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATION OF FOOD, DRINK AND ITS RELATED CULTURE AND FOLKLIFE IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD. ITS PRIMARY ACTIVITY IS TO PROVIDE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHICH ILLUMINATE THE HISTORY AND UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD AND DRINK CULTURE.
- Income
- $424,500
- Spending
- $535,666
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -70.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $22,600, president/ceo
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
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 101% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $352,701 spent. MUSEUM AND EXHIBITS: THE NATIONAL FOOD & BEVERAGE FOUNDATION HAS CREATED EXHIBITS INSIDE THE SOUTHERN FOOD & BEVERAGE MUSEUM, A MUSEUM AT THE SoFAB RESEARCH CENTER AT NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND HAS COLLABORATED WITH A NEW MUSEUM IN BEAUFORT, SC ON ITS FOODSEUM EXHIBIT. THESE EXHIBITS ILLUSTRATE THE CULTURAL FOODWAYS OF THE AMERICAS BY REFLECTING ON HOW THE GEOGRAPHY, THE PEOPLES, AND THE TIMES AFFECT THE FOOD WE EAT.
- $21,843 spent. PROGRAMMING: THE NATIONAL FOOD & BEVERAGE FOUNDATION HAS HELD WEEKLY PROGRAMMING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE PROGRAMMING IS IN THE FORM OF CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND LECTURES.
- RESEARCH CENTER: THE NATIONAL FOOD & BEVERAGE FOUNDATION OPERATES A RESEARCH CENTER WITH 40,000 VOLUMES, ARCHIVE, AND MATERIAL CULTURE RESOURCES. THE RESEARCH CENTER IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OFFERS AN ONLINE CATALOG. IT IS VISITED BY SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS, AUTHORS, CHEFS, STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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
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 November 6, 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 May 2004.
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 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.