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Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland

EIN 34-1810545 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HUNGER NETWORK OF GREATER CLEVELAND IS FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES' FUTURE. THE ORGANIZATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY COORDINATING EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND FOOD RECOVERY/WASTE REDUCTION/SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSE AND OTHER NUTRITION RELATED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

Income
$13.6 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
17
Volunteers
2,700
Highest pay
$144,124, chief exec o

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

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

    26 of 26 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 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)
  1. $12.3 million spent. HUNGER NETWORK OF GREATER CLEVELAND IS INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF OHIO AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 2 TWO DISTINCT YET COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES ADDRESSING HUNGER RELIEF, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, AND FOOD WASTE/SUSTAINABILITY. HUNGER RELIEF GOALS ARE MET BY PROVIDING FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 71 PANTRY AND HOT MEAL LOCATIONS. IN 2025, HUNGER CENTERS SERVED 640,668 INDIVIDUALS AND NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS. OF THE CLIENTS SERVED, 28% WERE CHILDREN 18 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER WHILE 26% WERE SENIORS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. THE ORGANIZATION IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE LIMITED RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY HAVE EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE.
  2. $488,350 spent. OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HUNGER NETWORK'S FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM EXPERIENCED CONTINUED GROWTH THROUGHOUT 2025. FOOD RESCUE RECOVERS PERFECTLY VIABLE FOOD THAT IS DESTINED FOR OUR WASTE STREAM AND REDIRECTS THIS SURPLUS FOOD TO THOSE WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES THE FOOD RESCUE HERO APP TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT FOOD DONORS TO NONPROFIT FOOD RECIPIENTS THROUGH DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO PICK UP AND DELIVER THE FOOD. FOOD RESCUE ALSO CONTINUED TO EXPAND INTO LAKE, LORAIN, GEAUGA, AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. IN 2025, WE HAD 691 TOTAL REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS AND 225 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS THAT COMPLETED 6,602 RESCUES, RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED 1,482,685 POUNDS OF FOOD RESCUED, WHICH EQUATES TO 1,235,570 MEALS. RESCUING THIS FOOD MITIGATED 2,556,367 POUNDS OF CO2 FROM OUR ATMOSPHERE. RETAIL VALUE OF THIS RESCUED FOOD EQUATES TO 2,649,312 NOTE: ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ARE DEFINED AS A VOLUNTEER WHO HAS COMPLETED 1 OR MORE RESCUES IN THAT CALENDAR YEAR. OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HUNGER NETWORK'S FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM EXPERIENCED CONTINUED GROWTH THROUGHOUT 2025. FOOD RESCUE RECOVERS PERFECTLY VIABLE FOOD THAT IS DESTINED FOR OUR WASTE STREAM AND REDIRECTS THIS SURPLUS FOOD TO THOSE WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES THE FOOD RESCUE HERO APP TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT FOOD DONORS TO NONPROFIT FOOD RECIPIENTS THROUGH DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO PICK UP AND DELIVER THE FOOD. FOOD RESCUE ALSO CONTINUED TO EXPAND INTO LAKE, LORAIN, GEAUGA, AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. IN 2025, WE HAD 691 TOTAL REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS AND 225 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS THAT COMPLETED 6,602 RESCUES, RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED 1,482,685 POUNDS OF FOOD RESCUED, WHICH EQUATES TO 1,235,570 MEALS. RESCUING THIS FOOD MITIGATED 2,556,367 POUNDS OF CO2 FROM OUR ATMOSPHERE. RETAIL VALUE OF THIS RESCUED FOOD EQUATES TO 2,649,312 NOTE: ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ARE DEFINED AS A VOLUNTEER WHO HAS COMPLETED 1 OR MORE RESCUES IN THAT CALENDAR YEAR.

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

  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 December 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 November 1995.

    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.