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White Bear Area Food Shelf

EIN 41-1459604 · White Bear Lk, MN

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

TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPORT TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
16
Volunteers
711
Highest pay
$112,134, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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)
  1. $4.6 million spent. SINCE 1977, THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF HAS SERVED AS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE WHITE BEAR AREA. WE WORK TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS THAT TRADITIONALLY LIMIT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR FAMILIES LIVING ON A FIXED OR LOW INCOME. THE FOOD AND SUPPORT NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY. DUE TO RISING COSTS OF LIVING, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE UTILIZING THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF HAS TRIPLED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. FOOD INSECURITY RATES HAVE REACHED HISTORIC HIGHS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. TO TACKLE THIS CHALLENGE, THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF HAS BEEN LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND EVOLVING ITS PROGRAMS FOR TODAY AND FAR INTO THE FUTURE.IN 2025, THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CONTINUED TO ADAPT ITS PROGRAMMING TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS. RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK ABOUT LONG LINES AT ITS POPULAR COMMUNITY MARKET, IT INTRODUCED A "VIRTUAL LINE" ADOPTING A TOOL USED BY RESTAURANTS CALLED "WAITLIST ME". RESIDENTS PLACE THEIR NAME ON THE LIST AND RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE WHEN THEY ARE APPROACHING THE TOP OF THE LIST TO SHOP. THIS REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIME SOMEONE NEEDS TO DEDICATE TO ACCESSING FOOD AND HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE COMMUNITY MARKET CAN SERVE EACH DAY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RELEASED A NEW 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSED ON BUILDING PHYSICAL AND PROGRAMMATIC CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH LEVELS OF SERVICE NUMBERS AS THEY ARE PROJECTED TO CONTINUE AT THIS LEVEL FOR SOME TIME. CURBSIDE PICK-UP: OPEN 5 DAYS/WEEK, PROVIDED FRESH, FROZEN AND STAPLE GROCERIES TO AN AVERAGE OF 146 VISITORS PER MARKET. -COMMUNITY MARKET: CORNER MARKET-STYLE FOOD SHELF OFFERING FOOD RESCUED FROM 9 LOCAL GROCERY STORES PLUS ADDITIONAL PRODUCE AND CULTURALLY CONNECTED STAPLES TO AN AVERAGE OF 143 VISITORS, FOUR DAYS/WEEK. -SENIOR MOBILE MARKETS PROVIDED FRESH GROCERIES TO THREE SENIOR HOUSING FACILITIES TO OVER 90 LOW-INCOME SENIORS MONTHLY. -SUMMER WEEKLY FREE PRODUCE MARKETS SERVED 4,018 VISITORS IN FY25. -SCHOOLS: *PERIODIC COLLEGE POP-UP GROCERY MARKETS SERVED A TOTAL OF 403 VISITORS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.*KIDPACK ELEMENTARY BACKPACK PROGRAM PROVIDED 300 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WITH WEEKEND FOOD PACKS WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. *SCHOOL PANTRIES SUPPLIED HIGH-PROTEIN SNACKS AND GROCERY STAPLES TO THREE HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS. "IT RELIEVES SO MUCH STRESS IN MY LIFE. I DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BILLS OR FOOD. IT ALSO ALLOWS ME TO MAKE AND EAT NUTRITIONAL MEALS." WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTTHE FOOD SHELF IMPACT OVER THE PAST 5 YEARSCHART OF VISITS PER YEAR2021 26,5982022 33,8572023 43,7052024 66,7492025 78,298INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY AGE-34% CHILDREN (0-17)-54% ADULTS (18-64)-12% SENIORS (65+)

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1984.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.