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Congressional Hunger Center

EIN 52-1842738 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP, INSPIRE, AND CONNECT LEADERS IN THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT CREATE A FOOD-SECURE WORLD.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
13
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$276,735, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. EMERSON NATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM - THE BILL EMERSON NATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWSHIP TRAINS AND INSPIRES NEW LEADERS IN THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. FELLOWS GAIN VITAL FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE THROUGH PLACEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS POLICY-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE PROGRAM BRIDGES GAPS BETWEEN LOCAL EFFORTS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY, AS FELLOWS SUPPORT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WITH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH, EVALUATION, OUTREACH, ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY PROJECTS.
  2. $981,102 spent. LELAND INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM - THE MICKEY LELAND INTERNATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWS PROGRAM TRAINS EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FIGHT TO END HUNGER WORLDWIDE. IT IS A UNIQUE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THAT COMBINES FIELD AND POLICY WORK. LELAND FELLOWS DEVELOP NEW SKILLS WHILE ACTIVELY WORKING TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND POVERTY IN ASIA, AFRICA, AND LATIN AMERICA. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, FELLOWS WORK DIRECTLY TO BUILD FOOD SECURITY IN THE FIELD. IN THE SECOND YEAR, FELLOWS APPLY THEIR FIELD EXPERIENCE TO THE DESIGN OF SOUND DEVELOPMENT POLICY AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION TO THEIR FIELD AND POLICY WORK, FELLOWS TAKE PART IN ANNUAL CENTER-SPONSORED TRAINING SESSIONS AND A RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AIMED AT FURTHER ADDING TO THEIR SKILLS AND EXPERTISE.
  3. $327,957 spent. ZERO HUNGER ACADEMY PROGRAM - ZERO HUNGER INITIATIVE SERVES AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND NETWORKS WHO WANT TO BECOME LEADERS IN THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER DOMESTICALLY AND WORLDWIDE. THE INITIATIVE IS COMPOSED OF THREE PARTS: ZERO HUNGER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS A SUMMER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. ZERO HUNGER ACADEMY IS AN ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES THE HUNGER CENTER'S U.S. FOOD SECURITY CURRICULUM AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONTENT AVAILABLE TO NEW AUDIENCES. ZERO HUNGER CAMPUS NETWORK CURRENTLY COMPRISES OF FIVE COLLEGES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THEIR STUDENTS ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER AND POVERTY AND MOBILIZING THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLICIES THAT IMPROVE THE FOOD SECURITY OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  4. $44,058 spent. ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 April 1994.

    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 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.