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Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Inc

EIN 52-1202644 · Verona, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOOD BANK PURCHASES FOOD AND OBTAINS DONATIONS OF FOOD FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS, GROWERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN 25 COUNTIES AND EIGHT CITIES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN VIRGINIA THROUGH A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 220 PROVIDERS, SOUP KITCHENS, AND SHELTERS AND THROUGH NUTRITION PROGRAMS WITH MORE THAN 170 COMMUNITY PARTNERS. OVER 31 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SERVING ON AVERAGE 148,200 PEOPLE EACH MONTH.

Income
$75.2 million
Spending
$73.2 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
84
Volunteers
1,776
Highest pay
$222,566, former 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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (3)
  1. $63.0 million spent. THE FOOD BANK ACQUIRED AND DISTRIBUTED 29.3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGH A NETWORK OF 220 FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, AND COMMUNITY SHELTERS. MORE THAN NINE MILLION POUNDS OF THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED WAS FRESH PRODUCE. THIS REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 24.4 MILLION TOTAL MEALS SERVED TO AN AVERAGE OF 171,200 PEOPLE EACH MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, NEARLY 2.8 MILLION POUNDS OF RESCUED FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO OBTAIN VARIOUS QUANTITIES OF FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS THROUGH RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE. THE FOOD BANK HAS RECEIVED A FOUR-STAR RATING FROM CHARITY NAVIGATOR AND A PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY FROM GUIDESTAR.
  2. $3.1 million spent. IN ADDITION TO DISTRIBUTION THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNER PANTRIES, THE FOOD BANK'S MOBILE FOOD PANTRY AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRODUCE MARKET PROGRAMS DISTRIBUTED OVER 1.6 MILLION TOTAL POUNDS OF FOOD TO AN AVERAGE OF OVER 7,900 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS. FOOD DISTRIBUTED INCLUDED FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, MEAT, AND SHELF-STABLE ITEMS.
  3. $3.1 million spent. THE FOOD BANK'S NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING RURAL NEIGHBORS, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS, AND OVER 1.55 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE ACQUIRED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. CLOSE TO 9,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE FED EACH MONTH ON AVERAGE THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: THE FAMILY BACKPACK PROGRAM WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF HUNGRY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION OF FAMILY MEALS FOR WEEKENDS AND EXTENDED BREAKS WHEN CHILDREN CANNOT ACCESS SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS; GOOD FOOD SCHOOL MARKETS PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TO TEENS DISTRIBUTIONS, MONTHLY AND AT SCHOOL BREAKS, OF NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE, AT HIGH SCHOOL BASED PANTRIES; KIDS CAFE PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND MEALS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS; SUMMER KID PACKS AND SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS SERVE NOURISHING MEALS AND SNACKS AND PROVIDE BAGS OF SHELF-STABLE FOOD AT NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHURCHES WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS DELIVERED BOXES OF FOOD MONTHLY TO 2,700 HOMEBOUND AND LOW-INCOME SENIORS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE FOOD PHARMACY PROGRAM SUPPLIES IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRIES IN SERVICE OF CLINICIAN REFERRED PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND FOOD INSECURITY WITH FOODS THAT MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. THE SUPER PANTRY PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK COURSE MANAGED BY THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WHICH INSTRUCTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN FOOD PREPARATION, BASIC BUDGETING, FOOD SAFETY AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS. THE FOOD BANK'S NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING RURAL NEIGHBORS, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS, AND OVER 1.55 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE ACQUIRED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. CLOSE TO 9,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE FED EACH MONTH ON AVERAGE THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: THE FAMILY BACKPACK PROGRAM WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF HUNGRY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION OF FAMILY MEALS FOR WEEKENDS AND EXTENDED BREAKS WHEN CHILDREN CANNOT ACCESS SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS; GOOD FOOD SCHOOL MARKETS PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TO TEENS DISTRIBUTIONS, MONTHLY AND AT SCHOOL BREAKS, OF NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE, AT HIGH SCHOOL BASED PANTRIES; KIDS CAFE PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND MEALS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS; SUMMER KID PACKS AND SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS SERVE NOURISHING MEALS AND SNACKS AND PROVIDE BAGS OF SHELF-STABLE FOOD AT NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHURCHES WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS DELIVERED BOXES OF FOOD MONTHLY TO 2,700 HOMEBOUND AND LOW-INCOME SENIORS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE FOOD PHARMACY PROGRAM SUPPLIES IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRIES IN SERVICE OF CLINICIAN REFERRED PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND FOOD INSECURITY WITH FOODS THAT MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. THE SUPER PANTRY PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK COURSE MANAGED BY THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WHICH INSTRUCTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN FOOD PREPARATION, BASIC BUDGETING, FOOD SAFETY AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS.

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

  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 June 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 1981.

    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.