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Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc

EIN 34-1292848 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAS THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THEY NEED EVERY DAY.

Income
$116.5 million
Spending
$110.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
220
Volunteers
15,850
Highest pay
$452,809, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 100% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 September 30, 2024, 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

  • 11.9 million pounds of free food was distributed.Work delivered
  • 13.2 million pounds of free food was distributed to eligible partners.Work delivered
  • 419,000 meals were prepared for Kids Cafe sites.Work delivered
  • Meals were provided at 92 different sites.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 (4)
  1. $21.0 million spent. THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP) AND COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP) ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT HELPS SUPPLEMENT THE DIETS OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS, INCLUDING ELDERLY PEOPLE, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EMERGENCY FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE AT NO COST. THE USDA PRODUCTS INCLUDE CEREALS, VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, DRY BEANS, FRESH PRODUCE, AND PROTEIN ITEMS. GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK RECEIVES AND PROVIDES FOOD TO OUR NETWORK OF ELIGIBLE PARTNERS. THIS YEAR 11.9 MILLION POUNDS OF FREE FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED.
  2. $22.1 million spent. THE OHIO FOOD PURCHASE AND AGRICULTURAL CLEARANCE PROGRAM IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS. THE OHIO FOOD PURCHASE PRODUCTS ARE PROCESSED FOOD ITEMS. THESE COMMODITIES ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ITEMS ALTHOUGH THEY MAY BE PRODUCED EXPRESSLY FOR THIS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES AVAILABLE PROTEIN ITEMS WITHIN THE OHIO COMMODITY MARKET. THE AGRICULTURAL CLEARANCE COMMODITIES, MOSTLY FRESH PRODUCE, ARE SEASONAL IN NATURE, ARE HIGHLY PERISHABLE, AND REQUIRE REFRIGERATION AND IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION. THIS YEAR 13.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FREE FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED TO OUR NETWORK OF ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.
  3. $2.6 million spent. OUR KIDS CAFE PROGRAM IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CHILD AND ADULT CARE PROGRAM (CACFP), AND ADMINISTERED BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION(ODE), OFFICE FOR SAFETY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION. KIDS CAFS PROVIDE FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN THROUGH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHERE CHILDREN ALREADY CONGREGATE DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS, SUCH AS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, CHURCHES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK PREPARES THESE MEALS IN OUR PRODUCTION KITCHEN; LAST YEAR 419,000 MEALS AT 92 DIFFERENT SITES. ALL KIDS CAFE PROGRAMS ALSO OFFER NUTRITION EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. NUTRITION PROGRAMMING IS AN ESSENTIAL WAY TO EDUCATE KIDS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES. OUR NUTRITIONIST TRAINS OUR EDUCATORS ON A CURRICULUM BASED OFF THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR HEALTHY KIDS.
  4. $54.9 million spent. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, MOBILE PANTRIES, SCHOOL MARKETS, SENIOR MARKETS, SENIOR MEAL PROGRAMS, BACKPACK PROGRAM, FOOD AS A MEDICINE PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.