The Shepherds Table Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 3,122
- Highest pay
- $161,832, executive director former
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: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 221% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 2523 of 23 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 (3)
- $3.2 million spent. At the core of our work is food service, often the first point of connection for our meal guests. Our Daily Meals Program in downtown Silver Spring provides three nutritious, chef-curated meals from Monday to Friday, along with brunch and dinner on weekends, holidays, and snow emergency days. To extend our reach beyond our dining room, our Beyond the Table Program delivers meals to children and families in need, identified through partnerships with schools, government agencies, and nonprofits. In 2024, we served 168,900 meals in our main dining room, representing a 16% increase over the previous year.
- $627,734 spent. We recognize that food is just the beginning. A meal can serve as the first step toward stability, healing, and self-sufficiency, which is why we provide comprehensive social services to help individuals regain stability and their well-being. Through our Resource Center, guests can access daily necessities and a mailing address. This year, the Resource Center assisted 1,800 unique individuals by providing essential services, including prescription refills, hygiene products, referrals, and weekly distributions of underwear and socks. The Clothing Closet alone, which can be visited by clients by appointment on Fridays, saw 1,873 instances of shopping. Our Clothing Closet offers clean, weather-appropriate clothing for those in need.? Our Eye Clinic offers free eye exams and prescription glasses.
- $173,891 spent. The Culinary Skills Training Program is a self-empowerment program that teaches marketable culinary skills to cohorts of about 8 students. The program includes 12 weeks of hands-on training in a professional kitchen combined with courses that support life skills, discipline in the workplace, and professionalism. As part of the program, students also obtain a ServSafe food handler certification. After 12 weeks of training, students go through a 4-week externship in a professional kitchen. About two thirds of the programs graduates have found employment.
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 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 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.