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Meat Foundation

EIN 54-1734274 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MEAT FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, CULTIVATE FUTURE LEADERS, AND SUPPORT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$843,110, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $3.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ON NEW ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE MEAT INDUSTRY.
  2. $517,187 spent. BEEF BOARD: THE OPERATING COMMITTEE OF THE BEEF BOARD CONTRACTS WITH THE FOUNDATION TO OVERSEE AND ADMINISTER APPLIED RESEARCH RELATED TO THE POST-HARVEST SAFETY OF U.S. BEEF PRODUCTS AND DISSEMINATE THE RESEARCH AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO BEEF PROCESSORS. FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES PROVIDE PRACTICAL, SCIENCE-BASED RESEARCH THAT CAN BE USED BY IN-PLANT PERSONNEL AND OTHERS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE SUPPLY. THE FOUNDATION OVERSEES A PANEL OF INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS AND PRACTITIONERS TO ESTABLISH RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND EVALUATE PROPOSALS. BASED UPON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, RESEARCH CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED BASED ON MERIT AND PRIORITY NEED. AFTER THE AWARD, FOUNDATION STAFF CLOSELY MONITOR THE RESEARCH CONTRACTS TO ENSURE TIMELY AND COMPLETE RESEARCH WORK PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY. DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IS ALSO UNDERTAKEN BY FOUNDATION STAFF. THE BEEF BOARD REIMBURSES THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DIRECT COSTS OF THE RESEARCH CONTRACTS AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT COSTS INCURRED BY THE FOUNDATION TO ADMINISTER THE RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO REIMBURSED. BY LAW, THE OPERATING COMMITTEE AND THE BEEF BOARD CONTRACT WITH ESTABLISHED NATIONAL, NONPROFIT, INDUSTRY-GOVERNED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS OF PROMOTION, RESEARCH, CONSUMER INFORMATION, INDUSTRY INFORMATION, FOREIGN MARKETING AND PRODUCER COMMUNICATIONS. CONTRACTORS ARE REIMBURSED ONLY FOR THE WORK THEY ACTUALLY DO FOR THE BEEF BOARD AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE A PROFIT FROM A CHECKOFF CONTRACT. CHECKOFF FUNDS CANNOT BE USED TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY OR ACTION, INCLUDING LOBBYING.
  3. $110,962 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE MEAT FOUNDATION AWARDS MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY TO RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY. MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NAMED AFTER IMPORTANT INDUSTRY ICONS; HOWEVER, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY ALSO AWARD ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS. THE SCHOLARSHIP REVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEWS STUDENT APPLICATIONS AND SCORES THEM USING A WEIGHTED RUBRIC. AFTER THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMPLETE THE EVALUATION OF THEIR ASSIGNED STUDENT APPLICATIONS, THEY SEND THE SCORES TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED AND STUDENTS ARE EITHER ASSIGNED A GENERAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP OR ASSIGNED A NAMED SCHOLARSHIP. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS 21 STUDENTS TOTAL $110,000 IN 2024.
  4. $99,867 spent. FOUNDATION RESEARCH: FOUNDATION RESEARCH INCLUDES THE COSTS INCURRED FROM CONTRACTED RESEARCH PROJECTS. THESE PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE FOUNDATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
  5. $764 spent. NATIONAL HOT DOG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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.