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Buffalo Food Shelf

EIN 41-1888259 · Buffalo, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceWeak42 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MEETING FOOD SECURITY WHILE PROVIDING AND CONNECTING RESOURCES FOR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
6
Volunteers
150

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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. $1.3 million spent. BUFFALO FOOD SHELF IS A CHRISTIAN, NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION SERVING INDIVUDALS AND FAMILIES THAT RECEIVE LIMITED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR ARE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS AND NEED HELP FEEDING THEIR FAMILY. ADDITIONALLY, TO ACT AS A REFERRAL, INFORMATION AND ASSITANCE CENTER BETWEEN PERSONS OR FAMILIES IN NEED AND SOCIAL AGENCIES THAT CAN BEST FILL AND/OR MEET THOSE NEEDS. THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED 485,034 POUNDS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES AND WAS VISITED BY 7,384 FAMILIES DURING 2025. THE BUFFALO FOOD SHELF ALSO DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY CENTER, AND OTHER WRIGHT COUNTY FOOD SHELVES, AND PROVIDED EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES THROUGH LOCAL CHURCH CONGREGATIONS DURING TIMES THE FOOD SHELF WAS NOT OPEN FOR DISTRIBUTION. DURING 2025 BUFFALO FOOD SHELF CREATED AND ADOPTED IMPORTANT POLICIES, INCLUDING A PERSONNEL POLICY, AND POLICIES REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS, BOARD AND STAFF. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DEVELOPED SUBCOMMITTEES TO FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, FINANCE & FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, PERSONNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUILDING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SUPERSHELF STANDARDS. BUFFALO FOOD SHELF IS A CHRISTIAN, NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION SERVING INDIVUDALS AND FAMILIES THAT RECEIVE LIMITED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR ARE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS AND NEED HELP FEEDING THEIR FAMILY. ADDITIONALLY, TO ACT AS A REFERRAL, INFORMATION AND ASSITANCE CENTER BETWEEN PERSONS OR FAMILIES IN NEED AND SOCIAL AGENCIES THAT CAN BEST FILL AND/OR MEET THOSE NEEDS. THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED 485,034 POUNDS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES AND WAS VISITED BY 7,384 FAMILIES DURING 2025. THE BUFFALO FOOD SHELF ALSO DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY CENTER, AND OTHER WRIGHT COUNTY FOOD SHELVES, AND PROVIDED EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES THROUGH LOCAL CHURCH CONGREGATIONS DURING TIMES THE FOOD SHELF WAS NOT OPEN FOR DISTRIBUTION. DURING 2025 BUFFALO FOOD SHELF CREATED AND ADOPTED IMPORTANT POLICIES, INCLUDING A PERSONNEL POLICY, AND POLICIES REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS, BOARD AND STAFF. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DEVELOPED SUBCOMMITTEES TO FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, FINANCE & FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, PERSONNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUILDING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SUPERSHELF STANDARDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 November 2004.

    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 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.