Food Gatherers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND ELIMINATE ITS ROOT CAUSES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
- Income
- $23.7 million
- Spending
- $23.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 4,073
- Highest pay
- $197,324, president an
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $20.5 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES DIRECT DONATIONS OF FOOD, ADMINISTERS SOME GOVERNMENT FOOD PROGRAMS (TEFAP/USDA/SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM) AND PURCHASES FOOD FROM WHOLESALERS. FOOD IS SORTED, PACKED AND DELIVERED TO MORE THAN 140 OTHER NONPROFIT AGENCIES SUCH AS HOMELESS SHELTERS, FOOD PANTRIES, AND LOW INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHO THEN DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGHOUT WASHTENAW COUNTY. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, OVER 10.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED, MORE THAN 60% OF WHICH WAS PRODUCE AND PROTEIN ITEMS. ADDITIONALLY, 1,666,404 IN THE FORM OF CREDITS FOR FOOD PURCHASING WERE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTNER AGENCIES.
- $957,526 spent. FOOD GATHERERS OPERATES A COMMUNITY KITCHEN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE ROBERT J. DELONIS CENTER, HOME OF THE SHELTER ASSOCIATION OF WASHTENAW COUNTY. VOLUNTEERS TRANSFORM RESCUED AND BULK FOOD INTO USEFUL FOOD RESOURCES AND PREPARE AND SERVE APPROXIMATELY 12 MEALS PER WEEK TO THOSE IN NEED.
- $564,318 spent. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM - THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) WAS CREATED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN IN LOWER-INCOME AREAS COULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS DURING LONG SCHOOL VACATIONS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH OR SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS. THE SFSP IS A PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE MEALS AT ELIGIBLE SITES. FOOD GATHERERS IS THE LARGEST SPONSOR OF THE SFSP FOR CHILDREN IN WASHTENAW COUNTY. FREE MEALS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER OR PERSONS UP TO AGE 26 WHO ARE ENROLLED IN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY A STATE OR LOCAL PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.