Kitchens for Good
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To transform lives through culinary arts.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $7.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 38%
- Employees
- 156
- Volunteers
- 2,763
- Highest pay
- $189,532, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 54% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 June 30, 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 (5)
- $2.7 million spent. Project Kitchen: This program contains the Organizations revenue-generating food enterprises, which provide paid on-the-job training hours to the apprentices. Previously, this program included the Organizations catering enterprise. This program currently includes the concession contract at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park concert venue in San Diego. This contract is managed and operated by a culinary graduate and provides paid on-the-job training to the hospitality apprentices.
- $2.6 million spent. Project Launch: Our tuition-free, CA state certified, 20-month Apprenticeship Programs help individuals facing barriers to employment gain the skills needed to create sustainable careers. The Organization offers support services to the apprentices for the duration of their journey. We currently have three Apprenticeship tracks: Culinary, Hospitality and Baking.
- $661,474 spent. The SHOP: This is a retail store opened in January 2022 that resells donated gently-used (and new or never-used) kitchenware, cookware, dinnerware, select home dcor, and specialty items made by social enterprises, mission-aligned partners, or current/former apprentices..
- $389,511 spent. WORKS: This program launched in April 2022 and is a staffing social enterprise that builds a bridge between individuals facing barriers to employment and San Diegos robust hospitality industry by placing the Organizations apprentices into jobs. It provides human resources and support services to our apprentices and mitigates the challenges of onboarding for our employer partners.
- Project Nourish: The Organization rescues surplus and cosmetically imperfect food from wholesalers and farmers and transforms these ingredients into nutritious meals. These healthy meals are distributed to high-need communities including at risk youth, low-income seniors, and various unsheltered and low-income individuals through partnerships with local nonprofit agencies.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 July 2014.
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.