Joy Kitchen
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Joy Kitchen transforms the lives of overlooked and underestimated youth in Nashville through culinary workforce development and whole-human support. We equip young people from historically under-resourced neighborhoods - particularly the Napier neighborhood - with culinary skills character development mentorship and economic opportunity through structured culinary training paid program experiences and a holistic approach that addresses participants broader needs beyond cooking.
- Income
- $288,880
- Spending
- $61,403
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 46.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $13,156, program director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 46.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 79% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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)
- $26,063 spent. Joy Kitchens pop-up dinner program serves three purposes: providing youth participants with real-world cooking and service experience building community awareness of Joy Kitchens mission and generating program service revenue that complements donor support. During 2025 Joy Kitchen executed three community pop-ups and four concept-testing dinners in partnership with Nashville restaurants including Noko Roze Poy Locust and Glasshaus. The program was recognized as Best New Charitable Organization by Nashville Scene and Food & Wine.
- $17,741 spent. Cooking the Wright Way CWW is Joy Kitchens culinary training and youth employment program for young people from Nashvilles Napier neighborhood. During 2025 Sterling Wright continued weekly CWW training sessions refined curriculum for both Advanced and Junior cohorts and provided paid program experiences through three community pop-up dinners and four concept-testing dinners. Nine youth participants earned stipends or wages through participation in cooking instruction and pop-up events gaining real culinary skills and professional kitchen experience alongside trusted adult mentors.
- $3,825 spent. Whole-Human Support addresses needs beyond culinary instruction that affect young peoples ability to thrive: food security emergency family support and access to caring adults. In 2025 Joy Kitchen provided pre-class meals for program participants delivered emergency relief that helped one program family secure housing at JC Napier Homes and laid the foundation for the formalized whole-human support infrastructure that would launch with NKT in early 2026.
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 2025.
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.