Nashville Food Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NASHVILLE FOOD PROJECT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GROW, COOK, AND SHARE NOURISHING FOOD, WITH THE GOALS OF CULTIVATING COMMUNITY AND ALLEVIATING HUNGER IN OUR CITY.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 1,619
- Highest pay
- $137,533, chief executive officer
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 79% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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, 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 (2)
- $3.3 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
- OUR COMMUNITY MEALS PROGRAM COOKS AND SHARES THOUSANDS OF MADE-FROM-SCRATCH, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS EACH WEEK IN COLLABORATION WITH ANTI-POVERTY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY. BY ALIGNING FOOD SUPPORT WITH THESE VITAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES -- SUCH AS JOB TRAINING, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ESL CLASSES, SENIOR SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, AND GED PREP, AMONG OTHERS -- WE ARE ABLE TO ENHANCE THE IMPACT OF PARTNERS WORK WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE BASIC NEED OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. OUR MEALS PROGRAM IS SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTED BY TNFPS FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS, THROUGH WHICH WE COLLECT EXCESS PRODUCE AND OTHER PERISHABLE FOODS FROM LOCAL FARMS, GROCERY STORES, AND RESTAURANTS. WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL FOOD VENDORS TO RECOVER THE EXCESS FOODS THEY CANNOT SELL, PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF FRESH INGREDIENTS FOR OUR MEALS, WHILE GREATLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM INCLUDES VIBRANT PRODUCTION, COMMUNITY AND MARKET GARDEN PROGRAMMING. IN PRODUCTION GARDENS, VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT ALL ASPECTS OF GROWING ORGANIC PRODUCE FOR OUR KITCHENS, INCLUDING TURNING THE GROUND, PLANTING SEEDS, WEEDING AND HARVESTING FRESH PRODUCE. IN THREE COMMUNITY GARDENS, WE PROVIDE A SPACE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO GROW FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, SHARING RESOURCES OF LANDS, TOOLS, AND GARDEN TRAINING. AND THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE MARKET GARDEN PROGRAM, GROWING TOGETHER, WE SUPPORT NEW AMERICANS FROM FARMING BACKGROUNDS IN GROWING PRODUCE TO SELL FOR PERSONAL INCOME AND BUILDING COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY ALONG THE WAY. BEYOND THE VALUE OF THEIR EARNINGS, FARMERS ARE ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH THE PRACTICE OF GROWING FOOD, EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO IMRPOVE THEIR WELL-BEING THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.