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Institute of Food Techologists Inc

EIN 36-2136957 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS AN ORGANIZATION, THE INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS IS FOCUSING ITS WORK IN FOUR MAIN AREAS, OR "ROLES AND GOALS." EACH IS WIDE-REACHING AND HELPS TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION.STEWARD FOR THE PROFESSION AND ITS COMMUNITY - PROVIDE LEARNING, NETWORKING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES THAT ENABLE FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL FOOD SCIENCE COMMUNITY.RESEARCH CHAMPION AND INNOVATION CATALYST - CHAMPION EMERGING SCIENCES AND FOSTER TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATION AND TRANSFER TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR FOOD-RELATED RESEARCH AND TO SUPPORT INNOVATION IN FOOD SCIENCE.INFLUENTIAL ADVOCATE AND TRUSTED SPOKESORGANIZATION - ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT ENHANCE RECOGNITION OF THE PROFESSION AND RESULT IN INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD.GLOBAL CITIZEN AND PARTNER - PROACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO, AND BE A PARTNER FOR, THE GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD.

Income
$28.3 million
Spending
$28.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
84
Volunteers
1,400
Highest pay
$956,812, ceo, trustee

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% 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 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    18 of 18 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $7.5 million spent. ANNUAL MEETING AND FOOD EXPO:THE INSTITUTE'S ANNUAL MEETING AND FOOD EXPO BRINGS MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS, APPROXIMATELY 18,000 TO 20,000 INDIVIDUALS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, TOGETHER FOR THREE DAYS OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS, SYMPOSIA AND FORUMS DESIGNED TO UPDATE THEIR AWARENESS IN ALL AREAS OF FOOD TECHNOLOGY. MORE THAN 1,800 PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE WHILE EXHIBITORS NUMBER APPROXIMATELY 900.
  2. $6.0 million spent. PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:FOOD TECHNOLOGY IS THE LEADING PUBLICATION ADDRESSING ALL FACETS OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. ITS IN-DEPTH AND BALANCE COVERAGE INCLUDES THE LATEST RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS, INDUSTRY NEWS, CONSUMER PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.SINCE 1936, THE JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE HAS BEEN THE INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS' PREMIER SCIENCE JOURNAL, CONTAINING PEER-REVIEWED REPORTS OR ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND CRITICAL REVIEWS OF ALL ASPECTS OF FOOD SCIENCE. TODAY IT PUBLISHES MORE THAN 500 PAPERS A YEAR - OVER 3,000 PAGES OF ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC REVIEWS.
  3. $2.2 million spent. MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCES:THE INSTITUTE'S SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH HELPING MEMBERS BECOME PART OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT IS SHAPING THE FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROFESSION.
  4. $8.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND POLICY INITIATIVES, THE GLOBAL FOOD TRACEABILITY CENTER, AND SUPPORT OF THE FEEDING TOMORROW FUND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 November 6, 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 August 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 February 1952.

    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 November 4, 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.