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Second Servings of Houston

EIN 47-1173622 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD A HEALTHIER HOUSTON BY PROVIDING UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WITH CONVENIENT, AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$801,305
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
18
Volunteers
1,066

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: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $788,385 spent. AS HOUSTON'S LEADING PREPARED AND PERISHABLE FOOD RESCUE ORGANIZATION, SECOND SERVINGS PICKS UP UNSOLD AND UNSERVED FOOD FROM MORE THAN 400 FOOD BUSINESSES AND DELIVERS IT DIRECTLY TO 140 LOCAL NONPROFITS. IN OUR FIRST 10 YEARS, WE DELIVERED OVER $110 MILLION WORTH OF FOOD AND DIVERTED OVER 15 MILLION POUNDS AWAY FROM THE LANDFILL. OUR FOOD HELPS NOURISH ABOUT 200,000 HOUSTONIANS ANNUALLY. USING OUR PROVEN, SCALABLE "SAME DAY PICKUP AND DELIVERY" MODEL, WHICH MAXIMIZES FOOD FRESHNESS AND MINIMIZES COSTS, WE HAVE DELIVERED $40 WORTH OF FOOD FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPENT. FOOD RESCUE IS BOTH AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES OF FOOD INSECURITY AND FOOD WASTE. OUR PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO LEAD THE FAST-GROWING ORGANIZATION ON A FULL-TIME PRO BONO BASIS.

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

  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 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 August 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 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.