Mother Hubbards Cupboard of Wilmington Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mother Hubbard's Cupboard serves the hungry in the Wilmington area through distribution of emergency food. This service is provided without discrimination by volunteers in collarboration with community organizations and businesses with care to preserve the dignity of the individuals served.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 10.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 130
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $1.7 million spent. Mother Hubbard's Cupboard operates an emergency food distribution program serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the Wilmington area. In 2025, the all-volunteer organization distributed approximately 1,118,613 pounds of food to 76,671 individuals, representing a 5% increase from 2024 and a 14% increase from 2023. Those served included children (38%), seniors (25%), unhoused individuals, and clients with special dietary needs. Food was distributed through regular service hours and community partnerships, including collaboration with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and participation in programs serving high-need Medicaid enrollees.Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is a valued partner of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and is one of the Food Bank's largest distributors for New Hanover County. We are proud of not only the quantity, but the quality of the food we provide our clients. Last year we bought cereal, milk, fresh produce, diabetic food supplies and meat when necessary to supplement the food we received from all other sources. In addition to the organization's regular weekly service for clients, the agency also provided food for a collaboration with Wilmington Housing Authority and Wilmington Police Department to deliver food to elderly Housing Authority residents at Christmas. Additionally, Mother Hubbard's provided food to a local church which sets up warming stations for the unhoused on particularly cold nights.The HOP program ended in August.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 December 2025.
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 October 1988.
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 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.