Empty Bowls Wichita Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Empty Bowls Wichita is a community-driven fundraising event dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Wichita. Guests contribute $35 at the annual chili cook-off and select from hundreds of handcrafted bowls generously made by local artists students and community members. With their chosen bowls attendees enjoy a diverse selection of chili and soups donated by local chefs and food industry partners. The goal of the event is to foster awareness of hunger in the community and promote action against it. Fundraising proceeds are donated to local food pantries and hunger relief organizations.
- Income
- $82,356
- Spending
- $6,125
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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, 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 (2)
- $13,147 spent. The Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off is a community-driven fundraising event dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Wichita. Guests contribute $35 at the door and select from hundreds of handcrafted bowls generously made by local artists students and community members. With their chosen bowl in hand attendees enjoy a diverse selection of chili and soups donated by local chefs and food industry partners. In 2025 Empty Bowls Wichita raised over $26,121 from the annual Chili Cook-Off. These proceeds will be used to donate to local hunger relief programs such as the Pando Initiative and HumanKind Ministries.
- Annual Community Ceramics Exhibition: Empty Bowls Wichita organizes annual ceramics exhibitions in association with other local partners and hosted by Reuben Saunders Gallery. Holding this exhibition showcasing contemporary ceramic art is both part of EBWs mission to advance the arts and to fulfill the other part of its mission food assistance. Participating ceramicists donate two bowls to the Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off. This ceramic art is for sale to the public during a month-long exhibition at Reuben Saunders Gallery. The Gallery contributes a portion of its commission from artwork sales to Empty Bowls Wichita. In 2025 Empty Bowls Wichita raised $2,123 from this program. These proceeds will help EBWs mission to support local hunger relief programs such as the Pando Initiative and HumanKind Ministries.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 2025.
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 August 2025.
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.