Bread for the World Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide analysis and education on hunger issues in the United States and around the world.
- Income
- $8.4 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $403,333, president/ceo
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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 36 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 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 (3)
- $1.2 million spent. Public Education:Bread for the World Institute educates our network about hunger and how to end it. The Institute informs Bread's current policy change agenda and advocacy with clear, evidence-based policy solutions that include relevant context and thoughtful analysis, and tracks emerging issues and trends related to ending hunger. (To be continued in Schedule O)Public Education:In 2025, The Institute organized numerous briefings and panel events to educate the public including: - Two Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue World Food Prize events titled: - School Meals as an Engine for Economic Impact and Trade - Hunger Hotspots and the Humanitarian-Development Nexus- A Nutrition for Growth Summit event titled Hunger Hotspots Briefing on Child Nutrition and Migration in the DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad.- A Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) conference event titled The Future of SNAP: What We Know, What We Don't, and What to Do.Bread Institute's monthly newsletter, "Institute Insights," featured a range of topics, including an overview of recent changes in U.S. nutrition policy, reducing food waste for a more effective food system, regenerative agriculture as a tool to improve global nutrition, and the impact of tax remittances on hunger.
- $969,631 spent. Outreach & Advocacy:Bread's bipartisan network includes 320,000 people and churches that are active in every congressional district. Our network engages digitally, in person, and through prayer to achieve remarkable policy impact. (To be continued in Schedule O)Outreach and Advocacy:In June 2025, we hosted our annual June events in Washington, D.C. We held a Latino Consultation, Pan-African Convening, and Advocacy Summit to educate advocates about policies and programs that address hunger and poverty. The training sessions and presentations by renowned experts enhanced summit participants understanding of the issues, equipping them with the knowledge to advocate effectively for policies that address nutritional health in the U.S. and globally. The fostering of strategic and geographic connections at the summit strengthened the U.S. advocacy network to address global poverty. Focused gatherings increased the number of faith and community leaders from Pan-African/Black and Latino groups who are engaged in food insecurity advocacy.
- $4.1 million spent. Public Policy:Solving a complex problem such as hunger requires a clear understanding of the impact of specific policies and how policies affect each other. Bread's Policy and Research Institute's (PRI) nonpartisan analysis and identification of action steps help strengthen Bread as a trusted voice. (To be continued in Schedule O)Public Policy:The Institute contributed to research and thought leadership through briefings, coalition meetings, webinars, blogs, and policy papers on a variety of hunger-related policy and programs that came through Congress. Here are a few highlights from 2025: In September, Bread published its Nourish Our Future Policy Roadmap, a comprehensive framework focused on ending child hunger in the United States and around the world. The roadmap outlines practical, evidence-based policy solutions to ensure all children have consistent access to nutritious food, with particular emphasis on strengthening federal nutrition programs, improving maternal and child health, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity. Grounded in research and informed by the lived experiences of families, it has served as a unifying guide for Bread's advocacy, helping to align partners and equip policymakers with a clear, actionable path to ensure every child can thrive.In April, the Institute hosted its inaugural Climate and Nutrition Symposium to learn about and identify solutions to hunger and climate challenges in the U.S. and abroad. Featuring expert panelists with backgrounds in agricultural research, rural development, humanitarian response, and foreign aid policy, the 3-day Symposium brought together nearly 100 participants from the humanitarian, research, hunger response, and private sector to learn about how more effective food systems, better climate finance, and strategic climate mobility policies can help end hunger during a climate crisis. The final day of the Symposium culminated in bringing attendees to congressional offices to provide education on how climate is a hunger issue.In November, Bread brought together faith leaders, advocates, policy experts, and community members gathered in Frankfort, KY for a daylong conference focused on addressing hunger and strengthening our shared commitment to ending food insecurity. The event highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing Kentucky families, especially in light of the ongoing government shutdown and cuts to federal nutrition programs. Throughout the day, participants engaged in thoughtful workshops and discussions, built relationships, and identified concrete actions to ensure every Kentuckian has access to nutritious food.A delegation from Bread participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), where they hosted three events highlighting how well-designed school meal programs can stabilize local food systems, support smallholder farmers, and improve long-term child health. In addition to our Bread-organized panels, we co-hosted a side event titled "Faith-based Partnership Advancing the Paris Agreement in the United States with Global Solidarity." This gathering emphasized how faith-based organizations are advancing climate priorities at both local and international levels. Bread also convened a listening session with grassroots leaders to inform our climate priorities and future scope of work. These conversations reinforced the importance of ensuring that climate-smart food policies reflect the lived realities of communities most affected by climate disruption.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 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 June 1985.
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 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.