American Culinary Federation Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FOR EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES RELATED TO THE CULINARY PROFESSION
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 27.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $171,634, executive director
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
Strong: 91 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $116,481 spent. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHEFS:THE HONOR SOCIETY OF ACF, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHEFS (AAC) REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE ORGANIZATION,SOCIETY AND INDUSTRY. THE ACADEMY'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF ALL CULINARIANS BY MENTORING CULINARIANS, AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS SEEKING A FUTURE IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY, AND BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO PROFESSIONAL WORKING CHEFS LOOKING TO FURTHER THEIR CAREER.
- $163,337 spent. CULINARY TEAM COMPETITIONS:THE AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION, INC. (ACF), ESTABLISHED IN 1929 AND THE PREMIER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CULINARIANS IN NORTH AMERICA, IS HOME TO THE ACF CULINARY TEAM USA, THE OFFICIAL REPRESENATIVE FOR THE UNITED STATES IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CULINARY COMPETITIONS. THE ACF CULINARY TEAM USA CONSISTS OF A NATIONAL, MILITARY,REGIONAL AND YOUTH TEAMS. EACH OF THESE TEAMS WILL REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AT THE INTERNATIONALE KOCHKUNST AUSSTELLUNG (IKA) INTERNATIONAL CULINARY EXHIBITION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "CULINARY OLYMPICS" IN ERFURT, GERMANY.
- $511,448 spent. EDUCATION AND OTHER:ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION ACCREDITING COMMISSION (ACFEAC) ASSURES THAT A PROGRAM IS MEETING AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF STANDARDS AND COMPETENCIES SET FOR FACULTY, CURRICULUM AND STUDENT SERVICES.THE ACFEF APPRENTICESHIP OPERATES A 1,000 HOUR, A TWO YEAR (4,000 HOUR), THE THRE YEAR (6,000 HOUR) AND A HYBRID PROGRAM THAT COMBINES ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WITH RELATED INSTRUCTION. THE ACFEF CHEFAND CHILD PROGRAM SEEKS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN UNDERSTANDING PROPER NUTRITION THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES LED BY AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION CHEF MEMBERS, AND TO BE THE VOICE OF THE CULINARY INDUSTRY IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD HUNGER, MALNUTRITION AND OBESITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.