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Helena Food Share Inc

EIN 36-3507623 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HELENA FOOD SHARE SERVES OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED BY PROVIDING FOOD IN A RESPECTFUL AND DIGNIFIED WAY AND BY WORKING WITH OTHERS TO ELIMINATE HUNGER IN THE GREATER HELENA AREA.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
22.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
25
Volunteers
1,211
Highest pay
$110,826, executive director

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $3.8 million spent. GROCERY SHARE MARKET: PROVIDES WEEKLY AND MONTHLY ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS GROCERIES FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SENIORS AND VETERANS, FACING FOOD INSECURITY. IN 2024, OVER 4,000 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED. THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEALS INCLUDING TURKEY AND SIDE DISH ITEMS ARE PROVIDED IN THE MARKET TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP SERVING A HOLIDAY MEAL. IN 2024, 2,396 HOLIDAY MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED.
  2. $207,915 spent. KID PACK PROGRAM: ENSURES SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE FOOD OVER THE WEEKENDS BY DISTRIBUTING KID-FRIENDLY FOOD PACKS TO HEAD START AND PRE-K THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HELENA, EAST HELENA, BOULDER, BASIN, CANYON CREEK, AND LINCOLN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO NEED FOOD SUPPORT OVER THE WEEKENDS. HELENA FOOD SHARE DELIVERED 45,957 KID PACKS DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 1,200 PER WEEK.
  3. $108,571 spent. SENIOR PROGRAMS: USDA SENIOR COMMODITIES FOOD BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO INCOME-ELIGIBLE SENIORS EVERY OTHER MONTH IN 2024, REACHING UP TO 270 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE GREATER HELENA AREA. NEARLY 270 INCOME-ELIGIBLE SENIORS RECEIVED SENIOR FARMERS MARKET COUPONS IN 2024 TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE AT LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL. HELENA FOOD SHARE PROVIDED MOBILE FOOD DELIVERY TO 762 SENIORS AND OTHERS WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
  4. $847,243 spent. NUTRITION & SUSTAINABILITY: OF THE 1.83 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED IN 2024, HELENA FOOD SHARE RESCUED 825,007 POUNDS FROM LOCAL STORESFOOD THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GONE ONTO THE LANDFILL. THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN PREPARED MORE THAN 25,000 MEALS IN 2025 USING RESCUED INGREDIENTS, OFFERING NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR MARKET DISTRIBUTION WHILE REDUCING FOOD WASTE. THE COMMUNITY ROOM AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN HOSTED COOKING CLASSES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS FOR OVER 1,600 PARTICIPANTS.AGENCY COLLABORATION: IN 2024, A PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. PETER'S HEALTH AND HELENA FOOD SHARE PROVIDED 508 FOOD IS CARE BOXES FOR CUSTOMERS MANAGING DIET-SENSITIVE CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, AND HYPERTENSION. IN OTHER COLLABORATIONS, WE DELIVERED RESCUED FOOD TO LOCAL NONPROFITS SERVING UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS OR THOSE ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH. AND, READY-TO-EAT, HIGH-CALORIE EMERGENCY FOOD PACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 16 EMERGENCY AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, SUPPLYING IMMEDIATE NUTRITION FOR 5,958 INDIVIDUALS IN URGENT NEED OF FOOD.

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 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 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 May 1987.

    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.