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Second Helpings Inc

EIN 35-1484281 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"WE ADDRESS HUNGER TODAY AND BUILD SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO PREVENT HUNGER TOMORROW." FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, SECOND HELPINGS HAS OPERATED A THREE-PART APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HUNGER AND POVERTY IN CENTRAL INDIANA: FOOD RESCUE, HUNGER RELIEF, AND CULINARY JOB TRAINING.

Income
$13.4 million
Spending
$13.6 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
54
Volunteers
940
Highest pay
$155,748, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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

    19 of 19 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $11.0 million spent. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 06/30/2025, SECOND HELPINGS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PREPARED AND DELIVERED 1,352,780 MEALS AND REDISTRIBUTED ANOTHER 2,967,893 POUNDS OF FOOD TO 161 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND CENTRAL INDIANA.
  2. $630,051 spent. SECOND HELPINGS OFFERS A FREE CULINARY JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED ADULTS IN CENTRAL INDIANA TO PREPARE THEM FOR CAREERS IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY. EACH STEP IN THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT UPON GRADUATION AND TEACHES SKILLS THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE KITCHEN, TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GREAT EMPLOYEE.IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 06/30/2024, SIX CLASSES GRADUATED WITH A TOTAL OF 48 GRADUATES. THESE STUDENTS EARNED A TOTAL OF 77 CERTIFICATIONS DURING THEIR TIME IN CLASS. GRADUATES FROM PREVIOUS CLASSES RECEIVED VARIOUS FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. $743,959 spent. THE ORGANIZATION RESCUED 4,416,021 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 06/30/2025. THE FOOD WAS USED TO PROVIDE MEALS AND PANTRY ITEMS TO SERVE CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND SENIORS THROUGH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR CULINARY JOB TRAINING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 April 1981.

    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.