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Badger Prairie Needs Network Inc

EIN 45-1159288 · Verona, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE DEDICATED TO FIGHTING POVERTY AND ENDING HUNGER. WE ENVISION A STRONG, HEALTHY COMMUNITY WHERE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOOD IS READILY AVAILABLE AND WHERE HUNGER, AT ITS WORST, IS A TEMPORARY STATE AND NOT A WAY OF LIFE. THE BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK FOOD PANTRY AND PROGRAMS SERVE ALL RESIDENTS OF DANE COUNTY.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,100

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $4.4 million spent. FOOD PANTRY IN 2024, WE PROVIDED THE INGREDIENTS FOR OVER 1.9 MILLION MEALS TO MORE THAN 87,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM 25,000 HOUSEHOLDS. INFLATION, HIGH HOUSING EXPENSES, AND REDUCED GOVERNMENT BENEFITS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE. ABOUT 65% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS COMING TO BPNN FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE SPEAK ONLY SPANISH SO WE TRY TO PURCHASE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND FAMILIAR FOOD TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING. WE HAVE RECRUITED BILINGUAL SPEAKERS AND TRANSLATORS TO HELP ON EVERY SHIFT. WE ARE ALSO EMPLOYING TECHNOLOGY TO BRIDGE THE LANGUAGE GAP WHEN BILINGUAL VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALMOST A THIRD (32%) OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVED WERE CHILDREN AND 8% ARE SENIOR CITIZENS. SEVENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS HAVE SOMEONE WORKING FOR WAGES, BUT INFLATION AND ECONOMIC SETBACKS MAKE OUR SERVICES ESSENTIAL.
  2. $544,519 spent. PRAIRIE KITCHEN NUTRITION/INCUBATOR PROGRAMSTHE COMMERCIAL-GRADE KITCHEN SERVES 4 STRATEGIC PROGRAMS: 1) FOOD REPACKAGING: SURPLUS PREPARED FOOD IS DONATED BY CORPORATE CAFETERIAS TO OUR KITCHEN TO TABLE INITIATIVE WHERE IT IS SAFELY REPACKAGED INTO MICROWAVEABLE GRAB-N-GO MEALS. ALMOST 150 TONS OF QUALITY FOOD HAS BEEN DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, 2) COMMUNITY MEAL: WE ARE A LICENSED RESTAURANT SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY MAY JOIN US FOR FREE HOT LUNCH ON SATURDAYS WHEN SCHOOL LUNCHES AND SENIOR MEALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. OVER 25,000 MEALS HAVE BEEN SERVED, 3) NUTRITION EDUCATION: THE CHOPCHOP COOKING CLUB IS OFFERED FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. THE CLUB PROMOTES FAMILY MEAL PREPARATION AND HEALTHY EATING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UW-HEALTH, AND 4) BUSINESS INCUBATOR: THE KITCHEN IS RENTED AT BELOW-MARKET RATES TO LOCAL START-UP FOOD-BASED BUSINESSES. WE ARE CURRENTLY FULLY SUBSCRIBED WITH SEVEN BUSINESSES USING THE KITCHEN WHEN BPNN'S KITCHEN PROGRAMS ARE NOT OPERATING. REVENUE EARNED HELPS PAY OUR UTILITY BILLS.
  3. LEGAL ADVOCACYWE ASSIST LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES, PREDATORY LENDING ABUSES, FAMILY CONFLICT, EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS, ETC. REFERRALS ARE ACCEPTED FROM DANE COUNTY JOINING FORCES FOR FAMILIES SOCIAL WORKERS AND LOCAL CLERGY. PARTICIPATING ATTORNEYS PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES AND, AS NEEDED, COVER CASE RELATED EXPENSES. THIS PROGRAM LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR POOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE VICTIMIZED BY UNFAIR/ILLEGAL TREATMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 2011.

    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.