Food for Thought Ojai
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOOD FOR THOUGHT was organized to improve the nutritional status and food awareness of children in the Ojai Unified School Distict. With the help of staff, board volunteers and donors, our program has helped raise the importance of healthy childhood nutritional practices and the intregal role of agriculture in our community. Our program components are nutrition education, garden-based learning, agricultural literacy through farm field trips, advocating fresh local seasonal produce in all school meals, and minimizing the ecological footprint of our school system by minimizing landfill waste, use of toxic chemicals, conserving energy, water, paper and other resources.
- Income
- $68,433
- Spending
- $102,347
- Reserves
- 13.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $39,995, director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 (1)
- $91,890 spent. Food for Thought Ojai operates and maintains school gardens at public schools in Ojai, CA. for the purposes of educating children about good nutrition, garden-based foods, and healthy eating choices. For the current school year, we were active on 3 Ojai Unified School District elementary school campuses, Topa Topa, Mira Monte, and Meiners Oaks. Our employee duties include setting up activities for school children in the garden on a weekly basis, regular garden maintenance, and interacting with staff and community.Our tools are standard garden tools such as small shovels and rakes, wheelbarrows, watering cans, etc. Twice a year, our staff provides nutrition lessons in the classroom for grades k-6, in addition to the weekly garden lessons.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 2026.
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 March 2006.
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.