Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Nourish Up

EIN 56-1398498 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To reduce the incidence of hunger and malnutrition in Mecklenburg County by procuring and distributing groceries to people facing economic hardships and to deliver daily meals in a caring and friendly manner to individuals in our community who are unable due to age or infirmary to prepare their own meals.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$11.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
34.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
63
Volunteers
4,000
Highest pay
$171,997, ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $8.5 million spent. Nourish Ups mission is to nourish our neighbors with nutritious food and compassion which we do through our Grocery and Meals On Wheels programs, During our fiscal year through a network of 35 food pantries, including a grocery home delivery program, nutritious food was distributed to 98,676 people in our community in need. Neighbors are able to experience a dignified shopping experience at no cost for the groceries their families will enjoy. Based on the family size they are awarded points for each of the food categories to choose at a pantry to ensure they receive enough food to prepare 21 meals for every member of the household. Through our Meals on Wheels program, healthy prepared meals were delivered to 330 recipients who live in their own homes but are infirm and cannot prepare meals for themselves as well as to three adult/child daycares.
  2. $747,777 spent. Nourish Up delivers more than 300 meals daily to the elderly, handicapped, and convalescing people who are unable or greatly restricted in their ability to prepare or secure meals and who reside within an area we can reach with our corps of drivers. Deliveries are at the lunch hour but the meal is a full one, more like what many people are accustomed to for dinner. This meal consists of two separate containers, one with meat or fish, vegetables and such, the other with carbohydrate, salad or fruit and dessert. Diet orders are obtained for all clients from their doctors, and a range of special diets are available to fill doctor's written orders for certain medical conditions. While all recipients are asked to pay for the meals based on their ability to pay, recipient income alone does not pay for Nourish Up. Sponsors include approximately 80 faith-based communities and organization, as well as civic organizations and businesses. Other groups welcome donations of time as volunteers or as donors of the financial resources that allow us to serve all who need nutritious meals.

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 January 1985.

    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.