Dc Central Kitchen Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE USE FOOD AS A TOOL TO STRENGTHEN BODIES, EMPOWER MINDS, AND BUILD COMMUNITIES. DCCK PREPARES PEOPLE FACING HIGH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR CULINARY CAREERS, AND CREATES JOBS FOR OUR GRADUATES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS.
- Income
- $31.1 million
- Spending
- $41.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 433
- Volunteers
- 10,000
- Highest pay
- $798,036, 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
Fair: 64 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 2515 of 15 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 (7)
- $13.3 million spent. HEALTHY SCHOOL FOODS: DCCK PROVIDES HEALTHY BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES, AND SUPPERS TO 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SIX CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS SERVICE AIMS TO BRING LOCAL, SEASONABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COST-EFFECTIVE DINING SERVICE TO LOCAL SCHOOLS THAT WANT TO SERVE HEALTHY, LOCALLY SOURCED MEALS TO LOW-INCOME STUDENT POPULATIONS. IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING ACCESS TO GOOD NUTRITION, THE PROGRAM CREATES AND SUSTAINS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AT-RISK MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE COMPLETED DCCK'S CULINARY JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THIS PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 1,488,000 MEALS TO FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
- $12.8 million spent. COMMUNITY MEALS: DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, DCCK PREPARED, SERVED, AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 1,405,000 MEALS TO FRONT-LINE SHELTERS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING FOOD INSECURE AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
- $3.1 million spent. CAFES & CATERING: DCCK CREATES JOB AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THESE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES. SINCE 2019, DCCK'S CAFE IN WARD 8 HAS ALSO HOSTED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING SERVICES FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH WHILE PROVIDING A DIGNIFIED FOOD ACCESS POINT AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE IN AN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD. IN 2022, DCCK OPENED A SECOND CAFE IN THE FLAGSHIP LOCATION OF DC PUBLIC LIBRARY, EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO HIRE DCCK CULINARY GRADUATES, HOST DCCK CULINARY INTERNS, AND SUPPORT LOCAL FARM PURCHASING. IN 2023, DCCK OPENED ITS THIRD CAFE IN OUR NEW SW DC HEADQUARTERS, ALLOWING US TO HIRE MORE GRADUATES AND HOST MORE INTERNS.
- $2.6 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: DCCK OPERATES AN INTENSE, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOURTEEN-WEEK CULINARY JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT SUCH AS HISTORIES OF INCARCERATION, ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS, AND TRAUMA. THE PROGRAM OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN CULINARY ARTS AND FOOD SAFETY AND SANITATION IN COMBINATION WITH JOB READINESS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THIS PROGRAM OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, PRODUCING 161 GRADUATES ACROSS 7 CLASSES, 85% OF WHOM SECURED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT UPON GRADUATION.
- $1.7 million spent. HEALTHY CORNERS: DCCK OFFERS AN AFFORDABLE WHOLESALE DELIVERY SERVICE FOR FRESH PRODUCE AND HEALTHY SNACK ITEMS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE HEALTHY RETAIL OPTIONS ARE SCARCE. DCCK DELIVERS NUTRITIOUS OPTIONS TO 56 CORNER STORES AND OTHER SMALL RETAILERS, PRIMARILY THOSE LOCATED IN THE UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS OF WARDS 5, 7, AND 8. WE PROVIDE THESE SMALL BUSINESSES WITH DISCOUNTED HEALTHY FOOD ITEMS, FREE INFRASTRUCTURE, NUTRITION EDUCATION, MARKETING SUPPORT, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. OUR PARTICIPATING RETAILERS SOLD MORE THAN 421,000 UNITS OF HEALTHY FOOD IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
- $907,594 spent. IMPACT & EVALUATION: THIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DCCK'S PROGRAM EVALUATION ACTIVITIES, CROSS-CUTTING CASE MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL SERVICES, AND MANAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL, COMMUNITY-FACING PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE COLLECTING AND ANALYZING PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK AND OUTCOMES, TRACKING PROGRESS TOWARD ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS, ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND CREATING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE PROGRAM RESOURCES WITH FOOD INSECURE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
- $645,643 spent. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND GROWTH: A PROGRAM AREA THAT STARTS AND SUSTAINS MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 50 NONPROFITS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE DC AREA. THEIR COLLABORATIONS ALLOW US TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AMONG ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS, REFER POTENTIAL STUDENTS TO OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, CONDUCT FIVE OR MORE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AT ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY LOCATIONS EACH MONTH, AND COLLECT SURVEY DATA AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT INFORMS OUR CONTINUED PROGRAMMING.
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 October 1988.
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.