The Food Group Minnesota Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FIGHTING HUNGER. NOURISHING OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $13.1 million
- Spending
- $13.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 2,383
- Highest pay
- $155,319, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 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 September 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 (1)
- $11.4 million spent. HUNGER RELIEF-OUR AGENCY SUPPORT TEAM PROUDLY EQUIPS OVER 200 FOOD SHELF AND MEAL PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH HIGH-QUALITY, NUTRITIOUS, AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD, ALONG WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. THE NEED FOR FOOD IN THE TWIN CITIES IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, AND OUR PARTNERS ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE. WE ARE WITNESSING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FACING RISING FOOD PRICES AND REDUCED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. IN RESPONSE, WE ARE PROACTIVELY MEETING THIS DEMAND BY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE QUANTITY OF LOCAL FOODS WE PROVIDE AND ENHANCING OUR COLLABORATION WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING A POWERFUL IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE.AFFORDABLE GROCERY-WE ARE WITNESSING A REMARKABLE SURGE IN DEMAND FOR OUR FARE FOR ALL AND TWIN CITIES MOBILE MARKET PROGRAMS, DRIVEN BY THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION ON GROCERY BUDGETS. TO ADDRESS THIS NEED, WE ARE CONFIDENTLY EXPANDING OUR OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE PREMIUM MEATS AND FRESH PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS. WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW PROPANE-POWERED TWIN CITIES MOBILE MARKET BUSES, WE ARE SUCCESSFULLY REACHING EVEN MORE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LIMITED FOOD ACCESS. THIS EXPANSION HAS LED TO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SALES, EMPOWERING US TO EFFECTIVELY MEET THE RISING DEMAND. BIG RIVER FARMS-BIG RIVER FARMS WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR FARM TEAMS THIS YEAR, OFFERING ACCESS TO LAND, INFRASTURCTURE, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SKILLS. WE ALS WORKED CLOSELY WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PLANNING TRAINING, HANDS ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPANDED MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FARMERS. WE WORK TO KEEP LAND FEES LOW FOR ALL LAND FARMERS AND HAVE CHOSEN TO WAIVE LAND FEES FOR ALL INDIGENOUS FARMERS AS A WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE LANDS THAT WERE STOLEN FROM NATIVE PEOPLES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.
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 August 1976.
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.