Food & Friends Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS, CANCER, AND OTHER SERIOUS ILLNESSES BY PREPARING AND DELIVERING (FREE OF CHARGE) SPECIALIZED MEALS AND GROCERIES, PROVIDING NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, AND REDUCING SOCIAL ISOLATION.
- Income
- $23.4 million
- Spending
- $15.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 87
- Volunteers
- 4,358
- Highest pay
- $328,857, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
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 September 30, 2024, 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 (2)
- $10.8 million spent. IN FY 2024, FOOD & FRIENDS STAFF AND 4358 VOLUNTEERS PREPARED, PACKAGED, AND HOME-DELIVERED OVER 1,600,000 MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS TO APPROXIMATELY 5,300 ADULTS AND CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, CANCER, AND OTHER LIFE-CHALLENGING ILLNESSES. FOOD & FRIENDS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDED MEALS FOR THE CAREGIVERS AND DEPENDENTS OF THE CLIENTS IT SERVES, WHO ARE OFTEN THE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND CAN'T PERFORM THE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. FOOD & FRIENDS' FRESHLY PREPARED, LIFE-SUSTAINING MEALS ARE DESIGNED BY PROFESSIONAL CHEFS AND DIETITIANS AND DELIVERED FREE OF CHARGE TO RECIPIENTS THANKS TO CARING DONORS, FUNDING FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS.
- $934,928 spent. IN FY 2024, FOOD & FRIENDS' COMMUNITY DIETITIANS WORKED ONE-ON-ONE WITH SERIOUSLY ILL CLIENTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY, PROVIDING: 1,402 NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS TO FOOD & FRIENDS' CLIENTS LIVING WITH LIFE-CHALLENGING ILLNESSES. THIS NUTRITION COUNSELING TYPICALLY INCLUDES A PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF A CLIENT'S HEALTH STATUS, A DIET ANALYSIS, AND IN-DEPTH MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY TAILORED TO EACH CLIENT'S NEEDS. THESE SERVICES ARE ALSO FREE OF CHARGE TO RECIPIENTS, AND IN TANDEM WITH FOOD & FRIENDS' MEAL DELIVERIES, REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION, IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, AND CREATE SUPPORTIVE HUMAN BONDS. FOOD & FRIENDS CULTIVATES RELATIONSHIPS AND FACILITATES A CARING COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS ITS CLIENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.