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Foodchain

EIN 45-4088193 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOODCHAIN IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF AN URBAN FOOD DESERT, WHICH CONSTITUTES A LOW-INCOME CENSUS TRACT THAT IS FURTHER THAN 1 MILE FROM A GROCERY STORE, WHERE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE WITH BOTH ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS, WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS AS WELL AS THE FOOD LITERACY THAT ACCOMPANIES A DIET HIGH IN THESE COMPONENTS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, FOODCHAIN AIMS TO FORGE LINKS BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND FRESH FOOD WITH EDUCATION AND DEMONSTRATION OF WAYS IN WHICH FRESH FOOD CAN BE GROWN, ACQUIRED, AND/OR PREPARED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THIS HIGH-RISK POPULATION, ENCOURAGING A MORE ROBUST LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY, AND RESULTING IN A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. OUR MODEL, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS REPLICABLE IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, COMBINES UNIQUE OPERATIONS, INLUDING AN INDOOR AQUAPONICS FARM AND A TEACHING AND PROCESSING KICHEN.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
22
Volunteers
1,080
Highest pay
$69,946, co-executive director

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 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $732,203 spent. MANY OF FOODCHAIN'S NEIGHBORS RELY ON DOLLAR STORES AND CONVENIENCE MARTS FOR THEIR WEEKLY SHOPPING, WITH LIMITED FUNDS AND TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO GET TO HIGHER QUALITY STORES WITH A GREATER ABUNDANCE OF NUTRITIOUS WHOLE INGREDIENTS. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE RELIANCE ON SNAP DOLLARS AND OTHER FEDERAL FOOD BENEFIT PROGRAMS, THE COMMUNITY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON HIGHLY-PROCESSED, SHELF-STABLE "JUNK" FOOD FOR THEIR DAILY MEALS, RESULTING IN GENERATIONAL DIET-RELATED ILLNESSES, INCLUDING HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND MORE. WHILE THIS HUNGER-OBESITY PARADOX IS IN PART A RESULT OF LIMITED FOOD ACCESS, IT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY A DECLINE IN FOOD LITERACY, WHERE FAMILIES NO LONGER HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, EQUIPMENT, AND FAMILIARITY TO PREPARE MEALS FROM FRESH INGREDIENTS. FOODCHAIN AIMS TO ADDRESS THIS DEFICIENCY BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO TEACH COOKING SKILLS, EXPOSING FAMILIES TO A WIDER ARRAY OF CUISINES AND FLAVOR PROFILES, INSPIRING MORE ADVENTUROUS EATING AND KITCHEN CONFIDENCE. WITH THIS MINDSET, WE LAUNCHED NOURISH LEXINGTON AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE SCRATCH-MADE NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR FREE TO FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, ALL WHILE INVESTING RESOURCES INTO OUR LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY THROUGH THE PRIORITIZATION OF LOCALLY FARMED INGREDIENTS, MADE BY AND DISTRIBUTED BY AREA PROFESSIONALS AAND BUSINESSES. OVERTIME, THIS FOOD ACCESS AND FLUENCY PROGRAM WILL CULTIVATE MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSEHOLDS, AS FOOD INDEPENDENCE LEADS TO GREATER WELFARE AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF A COMMUNITY.
  2. $917,229 spent. WHILE ONE ANSWER TO THE LIMITED ACCESS OF OUR FRESH FOOD IS TO INCREASE ITS AVAILABILITY THROUGH RETAIL, FOODCHAIN BELIEVES IT IS EVEN MORE EMPOWERING TO START AT FOOD PRODUCTION. THEREFORE, WE OPERATE OUR INDOOR, STATE-OF-THE-ART AQUAPONICS SYSTEM, GROWING FISH AND GREENS YEAR-ROUND IN A RECIRCULATING SYSTEM THAT REDUCES WASTE AND CONSERVES RESOURCES, WHILE ALSO GENERATING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD THAT CAN BE USED FOR REVENUE GENERATION AND NUTRITIONAL ACCESS. BY RUNNING OUR FARM AS A DEMONSTRATION FACILITY, HOSTING TOURS AND WORKSHOPS FOR THOUSANDS, WE WORK TO GET INDIVIDUALS MORE INVOLVED IN GROWING WHOLESOME FOOD, UNDERSTANDING WHERE FOOD COMES FROM, AND HOW THESE TECHNIQUES COULD BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE TO INCREASE AGRICULTURL PRODUCTIVITY WHILE SUBSEQUENTLY MAKING FRESH FOOD AVAILABLE ALL YEAR-ROUND FOR ALL.

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 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 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 May 2012.

    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.