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Operation Food Search Inc

EIN 43-1241854 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HEAL HUNGER WITH INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PROVIDE FOOD TODAY AND HELP CREATE A HUNGER-FREE TOMORROW.

Income
$43.7 million
Spending
$40.1 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
75
Volunteers
6,584
Highest pay
$200,966, president & ceo

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Food and services were provided to nearly 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis.Work delivered
  • More than 800,000 meals were distributed through out of school meals programs.Work delivered
  • Nearly 39,000 individuals were served at mobile grocery markets.Work delivered
  • 388 mobile grocery markets were held.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $33.1 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1981, OPERATION FOOD SEARCH (OFS) IS A HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE FOOD, NUTRITION EDUCATION AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS PROVEN TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY. WITH A STRATEGIC FOCUS AIMED AT ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER, OFS EMPOWERS FAMILIES AND INCREASES ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD. THE AGENCY PROVIDES FOOD AND SERVICES TO NEARLY 200,000 INDIVIDUALS ON A MONTHLY BASIS - ONE-THIRD OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN - THROUGH A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 600 COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN 25 MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS COUNTIES.
  2. $1.8 million spent. THE OUT OF SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILDREN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. OFS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 800,000 MEALS THROUGH OUR OUT OF SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMS. OUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WITH MEALS THROUGH SITES THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. OUR AFTERSCHOOL REFUEL PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH A MEAL AFTER THE BELL RINGS, EITHER AT SCHOOL OR AT PARTNER LOCATIONS SUCH AS LIBRARIES. THESE MEALS PROVIDE THE FUEL NEEDED FOR CHILDREN TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. OPERATION BACKPACK PROVIDES WEEKLY SACKS OF KID-FRIENDLY FOOD TO HELP STUDENTS GET THROUGH THE WEEKEND WHEN SCHOOL MEALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
  3. $978,461 spent. METROMARKET IS A MOBILE GROCERY STORE THAT TRAVELS TO AREAS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD. METROMARKET'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH USES A CUSTOMER MODEL TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY TO SHOP AT SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PRICES THAN RETAIL GROCERS. FRESH, AFFORDABLE PRODUCE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY SELECTED FROM LOCAL FARM PARTNERS AND IS BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO PARTNER SITES IN THE COMMUNITY. AS A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FAMILY, METROMARKET IS GROWING ITS PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING RECIPE TASTINGS, NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY NUTRITION OFFERINGS. OFS SERVED NEARLY 39,000 INDIVIDUALS AT 388 MARKETS.

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 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 September 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 January 1982.

    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.