Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Mustard Seed Furniture Bank of Fort Wayne Inc

EIN 35-2149283 · Fort Wayne, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER SUFFERING DISASTER, PERSONAL TRADGEDY OR OTHER MISFORTUNES

Income
$496,220
Spending
$668,380
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
20
Volunteers
53
Highest pay
$81,131, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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. $636,422 spent. SINCE 2002, THE MUSTARD SEED FURNITURE BANK OF FORT WAYNE HAS BEEN PROVIDING HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, LINENS, AND KITCHENWARE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER SUFFERING DISASTER, PERSONAL TRAGEDY OR OTHER MISFORTUNES. DONATED ITEMS THAT MEET THE MISSION AND HAVE LIFE TO SHARE ARE PROVIDED BY BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. IN 2022, DONATIONS CAME FROM OVER 1,887 DONOR SOURCES. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF PICK UP, SORT AND DISPLAY THE ITEMS IN OUR WAREHOUSE. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED IN TO THE AGENCY THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. OUR AGENCY PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES TO 362 HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR LOCAL SERVICE AREA, TOUCHING THE LIVES OF 490 ADULTS AND 546 CHILDREN. DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT'S REFERRAL AND OUR STOCK, THEY CAN RECEIVE LARGE ITEMS (SOFA, BED, LIVING ROOM CHAIRS, END/COFFEE TABLES, KITCHEN TABLE AND CHAIRS, DRESSER, ETC.) AS WELL AS BED AND KITCHEN LINENS AND KITCHENWARE. HOME DECOR ITEMS ALONG WITH COOK BOOKS AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS NOW REMAIN THE BACK AREA OF THE WAREHOUSE FOR CLIENTS TO CHOOSE WHEN LOADING UP THEIR VARIOUS ITEMS TO MAKE THEIR HOUSE A HOME. THE BEDS4KIDS PROGRAM ALLOWS CHILDREN, AGES 2-17, WHO NEED BEDS, TO OBTAIN EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR A NIGHT OF SLEEP IN THEIR OWN CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE BED THAT INCLUDES A NEW MATTRESS, PLATFORM BED FRAME, AND GENTLY-USED OR NEW BLANKET AND SHEETS. IN 2022, WE PROVIDED COMPLETED BED PACKAGES TO 546 CHILDREN. ALLOWING THE MISSION TO CONTINUE AS THE MUSTARD SEED "FURNISHES HELP TO REBUILD LIVES." SINCE 2002, THE MUSTARD SEED FURNITURE BANK OF FORT WAYNE HAS BEEN PROVIDING HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, LINENS, AND KITCHENWARE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER SUFFERING DISASTER, PERSONAL TRAGEDY OR OTHER MISFORTUNES. DONATED ITEMS THAT MEET THE MISSION AND HAVE LIFE TO SHARE ARE PROVIDED BY BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. IN 2022, DONATIONS CAME FROM OVER 1,887 DONOR SOURCES. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF PICK UP, SORT AND DISPLAY THE ITEMS IN OUR WAREHOUSE. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED IN TO THE AGENCY THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. OUR AGENCY PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES TO 362 HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR LOCAL SERVICE AREA, TOUCHING THE LIVES OF 490 ADULTS AND 546 CHILDREN. DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT'S REFERRAL AND OUR STOCK, THEY CAN RECEIVE LARGE ITEMS (SOFA, BED, LIVING ROOM CHAIRS, END/COFFEE TABLES, KITCHEN TABLE AND CHAIRS, DRESSER, ETC.) AS WELL AS BED AND KITCHEN LINENS AND KITCHENWARE. HOME DECOR ITEMS ALONG WITH COOK BOOKS AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS NOW REMAIN THE BACK AREA OF THE WAREHOUSE FOR CLIENTS TO CHOOSE WHEN LOADING UP THEIR VARIOUS ITEMS TO MAKE THEIR HOUSE A HOME. THE BEDS4KIDS PROGRAM ALLOWS CHILDREN, AGES 2-17, WHO NEED BEDS, TO OBTAIN EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR A NIGHT OF SLEEP IN THEIR OWN CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE BED THAT INCLUDES A NEW MATTRESS, PLATFORM BED FRAME, AND GENTLY-USED OR NEW BLANKET AND SHEETS. IN 2022, WE PROVIDED COMPLETED BED PACKAGES TO 546 CHILDREN. ALLOWING THE MISSION TO CONTINUE AS THE MUSTARD SEED "FURNISHES HELP TO REBUILD LIVES."

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2002.

    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.