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Golden Harvest Food Bank Inc

EIN 58-1466516 · Augusta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOLDEN HARVEST FOOD BANK, INC.'S MISSION IS "FEEDING LIVES TOGETHER."

Income
$45.8 million
Spending
$43.2 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
73
Volunteers
2,261
Highest pay
$142,762, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% 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 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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 (1)
  1. $41.1 million spent. SOLICIT, COLLECT, AND WAREHOUSE DONATED FOOD AND GROCERY PRODUCTS AND DISTRIBUTE THESE PRODUCTS THROUGH LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN 30 GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES. GOLDEN HARVEST FOOD BANK, INC.'S CORE ACTIVITY IS ITS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK TO OVER 400 CHURCHES AND OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN ITS SERVICE AREA, WHICH ENCOMPASSES 25 COUNTIES WITHIN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. GOLDEN HARVEST ALSO OPERATES FOUR DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT FEED THE HUNGRY: THE MASTER'S TABLE SOUP KITCHEN, WHICH SERVES OVER 280 PEOPLE A FREE NOON-TIME MEAL DAILY; SENIOR FOOD BOX PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A FREE MONTHLY BAG OF GROCERIES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS; MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, A MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS AGENCIES IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING LOTS OR COUNTY CROSSROADS TO DISTRIBUTE AT LEAST 5,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE NEEDY AT ONE TIME; BACK PACK PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES CHILDREN AT RISK OF HUNGER WITH A SUPPLY OF NUTRITIOUS, EASILY OPENED FOODS FOR THE WEEKEND.

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 October 13, 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 August 1982.

    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 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.