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Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc

EIN 35-1483868 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GLEANERS' MISSION IS TO BE A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER. WE DO THIS BY JOINING WITH OTHERS TO OPTIMIZE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THOSE OF US FACING HUNGER AND WORKING TO OVERCOME THE CONDITIONS CAUSING FOOD INSECURITY.

Income
$155.8 million
Spending
$150.8 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
138
Volunteers
21,003
Highest pay
$399,139, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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, 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 (1)
  1. $144.9 million spent. FOOD DISTRIBUTIONAS INDIANA'S LARGEST FOOD BANK, GLEANERS RECOGNIZES THAT OUR SUPERPOWER IS THE SOURCING AND DISTRIBUTION OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE DISTRIBUTED A RECORD 102 MILLION MEALS TO OUR 21-COUNTY SERVICE AREA IN INDIANA, AND THROUGH FRESH CONNECT CENTRAL, A REGIONAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION OPERATED AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BY GLEANERS. FRESH CONNECT CENTRAL SERVES THE FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS, PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE, PROTEIN, DAIRY, AND DRY GOODS.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION.KEY METRICS FOR SELECTED PROGRAMS INCLUDE:- 7.6 MILLION MEALS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OUR ONSITE PANTRY, THE LARGEST IN THE STATE- 1.3 MILLION MEALS THROUGH OUR GLEANERS2GO CURBSIDE PICKUP PROGRAM AND VIA HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM BY REFERRAL FROM CASE WORKERS OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LACK TRANSPORTATION OR WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET TO A PANTRY LOCATION- 37 MILLION MEALS PROVIDED BY OUR NETWORK PARTNERS IN OUR 21-COUNTY SERVICE AREA- 1.9 MILLION MEALS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH SCHOOL PANTRIES AND SUMMER MEAL SITESNUTRITION PROGRAM GLEANERS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A WIDE VARIETY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO THOSE WE SERVE. WE RECOGNIZE THE DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND THE TOP CHRONIC CONDITIONS AFFECTING OVERALL HEALTH, SUCH AS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND MORE. IN 2025, GLEANERS DISTRIBUTED 54 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. GLEANERS RANKS FOOD DISTRIBUTED BASED ON PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHIER AMERICA AND THEIR HEALTHY EATING RESEARCH (HER) GUIDELINES. MOST FOODS ARE RANKED AS GREEN (CHOOSE OFTEN), YELLOW (CHOOSE SOMETIMES) OR RED (CHOOSE RARELY) WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN OUR WAREHOUSE. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF OUR INVENTORY IS RANKED BASED ON THESE GUIDELINES, WITH THE BALANCE TYPICALLY BEING MIXED LOADS OF DONATED FOOD, OR OTHER ITEMS SUCH AS OILS, SPICES, AND CONDIMENTS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 67% OF THE FOODS DISTRIBUTED BY GLEANERS WERE RANKED AS GREEN OR YELLOW BASED ON THESE GUIDELINES. OUTREACH AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY GLEANERS ESTABLISHED A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OUTREACH PROGRAM IN 2011 IN RESPONSE TO THE SHARP RISE IN FOOD INSECURITY FOLLOWING THE GREAT RECESSION IN 2008. IN 2025, WE ASSISTED OVER 1,846 NEIGHBORS IN SUBMITTING THEIR SNAP APPLICATIONS. SNAP IS A CRUCIAL PART OF ANY HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAM. IN FACT, FOR EVERY MEAL PROVIDED BY THE CHARITABLE HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM, SNAP PROVIDES 9 MEALS. HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS ACCESS SUCH A ROBUST AND EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALLOWS THE HOUSEHOLD'S LIMITED BUDGET TO BE SPENT ON HOUSING, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, AND CRITICAL NECESSITIES. BASED ON THESE EFFORTS AND A COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING OUR NEIGHBORS ONTO A PATH OF GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY, GLEANERS EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH TEAM WITH AN EYE TOWARD EXPANDED SERVICES, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICAID, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF), UTILITY, INTERNET, AND CELLULAR ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, IN MAY 2025 THE TOM AND JULIE WOOD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OPENED AT GLEANERS. THIS FACILITY HOUSES GENNESARET FREE CLINICS, THE PURDUE PATTERSON MCALLUM MARETTA CHARITABLE PHARMACY (FIRST OF ITS KIND IN INDIANA), THE CENTRAL INDIANA COUNCIL ON AGING (CICOA), WOMENS INFANTS AND CHILDRENS PROGRAM (WIC), THE MARION COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT NUTRITION EDUCATION, FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND MORE, IN 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 November 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.

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