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Brackens Kitchen Inc

EIN 46-2633171 · Garden Grove, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Through food rescue, culinary training and our community feeding program, we are committed to rescuing, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
59
Volunteers
469
Highest pay
$225,111, president

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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    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. $2.9 million spent. Community Feeding ProgramAt the heart of our work is a commitment to feed our friends and neighbors in need. In Orange County over 400,000 people struggle with food insecurity and the ability to put a meal on their tables. In LA County and Southern California as a whole that number is much, much higher. We come to work every day excited to do what we love most, cook tasty and nutritious meals for our friends and neighbors in need. From breakfast for our seniors right here in Garden Grove, to hot lunches for our struggling college students in Santa Ana to a complete hot dinner for families, seniors and veterans all across southern California we are honored to work in this space. We are able to do this not only by cooking meals but with our food truck and a network of community partners who help to get our meals into the hands of those who need it most. Looking forward our goal in 2024 is to provide more than 2.2 million meals to our friend and neighbors in need through our distribution network of over 45 community and agency partners.
  2. $3.1 million spent. Rescued Food ProgramOur rescued food program powers all that we do here at the kitchen. In America today it is estimated that up to 40% of our food supply ends up in landfills having never been consumed by humans. Perfectly good food that was produced at enormous cost to you is left to rot in the dumpster. Food that if properly managed could have been used to feed our friends and neighbors in need. We leverage existing relationships and build new and exciting ones to ensure that high quality edible food comes to us and not the dumpster. Once rescued we're able to turn these food items into nutritious meals for our friends and neighbors in need. Ugly produce, meat and chicken that didn't sell and had to be frozen, overproduction of sauces, dressings and convenience items, off spec items and produce left in the field are just a few examples of the many areas in which we rescue food. Our goal in 2025 is to rescue more than 380 tons of food.
  3. $309,518 spent. Culinary Training ProgramNow in our 7th class of students our culinary training program has grown into a very important part of the work we do. Like the age old saying, give a man a fish and you've fed him for a day, teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime. The perfect statement to describe our work in culinary training. While we recognize that not every student may become a famous Chef, every student will have the foundation for, not only a career in food service, but they'll have a better understanding and appreciation for how to cook and provide for their own families.

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 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 February 2014.

    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.