Operation Bbq Relief
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OPERATION BBQ RELIEF PROVIDES COMFORT TO THOSE IN NEED BY CONNECTING, INSPIRING, SERVING, AND EDUCATING IN COMMUNITIES FAR AND WIDE.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $9.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 2,220
- Highest pay
- $284,802, co-founder/ceo
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 110% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $5.8 million spent. FROM MISSOURI TO JAMAICA, OBR DELIVERED 305,568 HOT MEALS ACROSS 12 DISASTER DEPLOYMENTS IN 2025 AT AN AVERAGE PROGRAM COST OF UNDER $11 PER MEAL, A FIGURE THAT INCLUDES FULL MOBILIZATION, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, FUEL, EQUIPMENT, AND LOGISTICS, MAKING OBR ONE OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE LARGE-SCALE DISASTER FEEDING OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. A CAPABILITY FEW VOLUNTEER BASE DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD CAN MATCH.
- $1.1 million spent. CAMP OBR'S PROGRAMS UTILIZE CULINARY THERAPY, A STRUCTURED, EVIDENCE-INFORMED APPROACH USING HANDS-ON COOKING TO BUILD PEER CONNECTION, PROCESS SHARED TRAUMA, AND RESTORE PURPOSE ALONGSIDE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. POST-PROGRAM FEEDBACK CONSISTENTLY REFLECTS MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN PARTICIPANTS' REPORTED SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND WELL-BEING. HOUSED AT OBR'S PERMANENTLY OWNED LAKE OF THE OZARKS FACILITY, A $5.26 MILLION LONG-TERM ORGANIZATIONAL ASSET. CAMP OBR IS BUILT FOR SUSTAINED, SCALABLE IMPACT FOR YEARS TO COME.
- $81,544 spent. THE ALWAYS SERVING PROJECT IS A YEAR-ROUND INITIATIVE OF OPERATION BBQ RELIEF DEDICATED TO SERVING MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND COMMUNITIES FACING HUNGER. THROUGH CULINARY THERAPY, COMMUNITY BARBECUE EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, THE ALWAYS SERVING PROJECT CONNECTS, INSPIRES, EDUCATES, AND SERVES COMMUNITIES WITH THE HEALING POWER OF BBQ BEYOND MOMENTS OF DISASTER. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES THE BBQ ACADEMY, WHICH EQUIPS SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS WITH HANDS-ON BARBECUE SKILLS AS A MEANS OF CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND DAYS OF GIVING EVENTS THAT PROVIDE HOT MEALS YEAR-ROUND TO FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITIES. DURING 2025, THE ALWAYS SERVING PROJECT ENGAGED 2,215 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS 127 EVENTS, CONTRIBUTING 31,435 HOURS OF SERVICE OVER 886 DEPLOYMENT DAYS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.