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Passes our checks

Loaves and Fishes for St Louis Inc

EIN 43-1251264 · Maryland Hts, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LOAVES AND FISHES FOR ST. LOUIS, INC.'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS TO BECOME FINANCIALLY SECURE AND HAVE A STABLE HOME.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
14
Volunteers
1,272
Highest pay
$118,419, executive di

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    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. $2.7 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1982, LOAVES AND FISHES FOR ST. LOUIS, INC. PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA. DELIVERING RESULTS: OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO FAMILIES WITH MINOR CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. DURING THE YEAR, MORE THAN 320 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES, WITH 57% OF RESIDENTS BEING CHILDREN. FAMILIES RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED HOUSING PLANS, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE AVERAGE SHELTER STAY WAS APPROXIMATELY 26 DAYS, AND 77% OF FAMILIES EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. LOAVES AND FISHES PROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, HOUSING NAVIGATION, LANDLORD MEDIATION, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. MORE THAN 16,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO HELP PREVENT EVICTIONS AND MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY. SERVICES FOCUSED ON RESOLVING HOUSING CRISES WHILE CONNECTING HOUSEHOLDS TO LONG-TERM RESOURCES. AS ONE OF FOUR COORDINATED ENTRY ACCESS POINTS FOR THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE, LOAVES AND FISHES ASSESSED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND CONNECTED THEM TO EMERGENCY SHELTER, RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 1,196 REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COORDINATE SERVICES. THE FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 712,000 MEALS TO OVER 4,100 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SENIORS, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, VETERANS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. IN ADDITION TO FOOD, CLIENTS RECEIVED HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES, AND SEASONAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND DONATIONS. FOUNDED IN 1982, LOAVES AND FISHES FOR ST. LOUIS, INC. PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA. DELIVERING RESULTS: OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO FAMILIES WITH MINOR CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. DURING THE YEAR, MORE THAN 320 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES, WITH 57% OF RESIDENTS BEING CHILDREN. FAMILIES RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED HOUSING PLANS, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE AVERAGE SHELTER STAY WAS APPROXIMATELY 26 DAYS, AND 77% OF FAMILIES EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. LOAVES AND FISHES PROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, HOUSING NAVIGATION, LANDLORD MEDIATION, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. MORE THAN 16,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO HELP PREVENT EVICTIONS AND MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY. SERVICES FOCUSED ON RESOLVING HOUSING CRISES WHILE CONNECTING HOUSEHOLDS TO LONG-TERM RESOURCES. AS ONE OF FOUR COORDINATED ENTRY ACCESS POINTS FOR THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE, LOAVES AND FISHES ASSESSED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND CONNECTED THEM TO EMERGENCY SHELTER, RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 1,196 REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COORDINATE SERVICES. THE FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 712,000 MEALS TO OVER 4,100 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SENIORS, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, VETERANS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. IN ADDITION TO FOOD, CLIENTS RECEIVED HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES, AND SEASONAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND DONATIONS.

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 November 6, 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 August 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 November 4, 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.