Foodcycle
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOODCYCLE'S MISSION IS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AND PREVENT FOOD WASTE BY RECOVERING SURPLUS EDIBLE FOOD AND REDISTRIBUTING IT AT NO COST TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 265
- Highest pay
- $26,000, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 257 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 July 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 (4)
- $828,937 spent. FOODCYCLE'S PRIMARY PROGRAM RECOVERS SURPLUS EDIBLE FOOD FROM GROCERY STORES, FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, MANUFACTURERS, FARMS, AND FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES AND REDISTRIBUTES IT FREE OF CHARGE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING FOOD-INSECURE POPULATIONS. FOODCYCLE OPERATES DAILY RECOVERY AND DELIVERY ROUTES USING TRAINED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, COORDINATING PICKUPS, AGGREGATION, AND DELIVERY TO OVER 200 FOOD PANTRIES, SHELTERS, AND COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION SITES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2025, FOODCYCLE DIVERTED MORE THAN 11 MILLION POUNDS OF EDIBLE FOOD FROM LANDFILLS AND DISTRIBUTED THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN 9 MILLION MEALS TO FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITIES.
- $60,250 spent. FOODCYCLE SUPPORTS ITS FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGES MORE THAN 265 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO ASSIST WITH FOOD RECOVERY AND DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS AND UTILIZES THE CAREIT APP TO TRACK FOOD DONATIONS, COORDINATE LOGISTICS, AND SUPPORT REGULATORY REPORTING RELATED TO FOOD RECOVERY REQUIREMENTS. FOODCYCLE ALSO PROVIDES OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD DONORS AND RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT SAFE FOOD HANDLING, EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION, AND ONGOING PARTICIPATION IN FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMS.
- FOODCYCLE ADVANCES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BY REDIRECTING SURPLUS FOOD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DISPOSED OF IN LANDFILLS, REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD WASTE. THE ORGANIZATION UTILIZES OFF-GRID REFRIGERATED STORAGE AND LOW-EMISSION OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO SUPPORT CLIMATE-SMART FOOD RECOVERY AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS.
- FoodCycle carries out its mission through a coordinated food recovery and redistribution system serving communities across Los Angeles County. The organization rescues surplus edible food that would otherwise be disposed of from grocery stores, food distributors, manufacturers, farmers markets, and food service businesses and redistributes it at no cost to nonprofit organizations serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.FoodCycle operates daily recovery and delivery routes using trained staff drivers and volunteers. Recovered food is aggregated, temporarily stored when necessary, and delivered to a network of nonprofit partners, including food pantries, shelters, after-school programs, and community distribution sites. FoodCycle emphasizes equitable access by prioritizing service in communities most impacted by food insecurity.To support efficient operations and accountability, FoodCycle utilizes the Careit app to coordinate logistics, track food donations, and document recovery and distribution activity. This system supports operational planning and assists partner organizations and municipalities with record-keeping related to food recovery requirements.FoodCycle also engages and trains volunteers to assist with food recovery and distribution activities and provides outreach and technical assistance to food donors and recipient organizations related to safe food handling and ongoing participation in food recovery programs.In addition to addressing food insecurity, FoodCycle advances environmental sustainability by diverting surplus food from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste. The organization incorporates climate-smart practices into its operations, including the use of off-grid refrigerated storage and low-emission or electric vehicles where feasible.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 April 2015.
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.