Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEDICATED TO ALLEVIATING HUNGER THROUGH ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND GROCERY PRODUCTS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF HUNGER, AND MEANINGFUL ACTION ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD.
- Income
- $172.1 million
- Spending
- $173.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 225
- Volunteers
- 42,443
- Highest pay
- $341,341, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 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 (4)
- $152.8 million spent. GENERAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION: COLLECTION, WAREHOUSING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCT FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL FOOD INDUSTRY DONORS, COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVES, AND PURCHASES TO NON-PROFIT AGENCIES WITH FEEDING AND/OR FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. THE FOOD IS PROVIDED TO PARTNER AGENCIES AT A GREATLY REDUCED COST. THE PARTNER AGENCIES PROVIDE THE FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED AT NO COST. 62,661,975 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED WHICH PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 52,786,693 MEALS.
- $2.6 million spent. VENDED MEAL PROGRAM: A HEALTHY MEAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES PREPARED UNITIZED MEALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVING SENIORS AND CHILDREN. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION MEALS.
- $1.9 million spent. RETAIL RESCUE: A FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM WHERE OUR TEAM PICKS UP NUTRITIOUS PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD PRODUCTS IN REFRIGERATED VEHICLES MONDAY-FRIDAY FROM OVER 490 DIFFERENT RETAIL STORE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA. THE FOOD IS THEN BROUGHT BACK TO OUR FACILITIES AND INSPECTED FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY. ONCE THE PRODUCTS ARE APPROVED BY ON-SITE TRAINING PROFESSIONALS AT THE FOOD BANK, IT IS DISTRIBUTED EITHER AT NO-COST, OR AT A VERY MINIMAL COST TO MORE THAN 600 SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK MEMBER AGENCIES WHO IN-TURN DISTRIBUTE TO CLIENTS. THE GROCERY ALLIANCE PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 32,942,922 POUNDS OF FOOD THAT PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 27,452,435 MEALS.
- $8.2 million spent. BENEFITS CONNECTION IS A SNAP OUTREACH PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND ASSIST POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM. OUR SPECIALISTS PROVIDE SERVICE AT PARTNER AGENCIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO ASSIST POTENTIAL APPLICANTS. THESE NEIGHBORS MIGHT LACK ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, NEED SUPPORT NAVIGATING AN ONLINE APPLICATION, HAVE TRANSPORTATION/MOBILITY CHALLENGES, BE MISINFORMED ON ELIGIBILITY FACTORS, AND THOSE WITH LITERACY OR LANGUAGE BARRIERS. LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE TEAM PROCESSED 4,155 APPLICATIONS IN (ORANGE, BREVARD, OSCEOLA, SEMINOLE,VOLUSIA, AND LAKE) COUNTIES RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED $11.7 MILLION IN ANNUALIZED SNAP BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS OVER 3 MILLION SNAP MEALS.KIDS CAFE: A HEALTHY MEAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOOD EXCLUSIVELY TO NEEDY CHILDREN DURING AFTER SCHOOL HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. 27 KIDS CAFES SITES IN 5 COUNTIES SERVED 185,429 MEALS IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SITE FOR CHILDREN WITH NUTRITION EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES. FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS FROM OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN ARE PREPARED AND DELIVERED DAILY DURING THE COUNTY ACADEMIC YEAR. DONATED FOOD ALSO HELPS SUPPORT KIDS CAFES AT 2 LOCATIONS THAT PREPARE THEIR OWN MEALS.DIRECT HOME DELIVERY: BRING HOPE HOME (BHH) IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO DELIVERING NUTRITIOUS GROCERY BOXES TO NEIGHBORS AND PATIENTS IN NEED ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS. THIS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TARGETS INDIVIDUALS FACING HEALTH-RELATED CHALLENGES OR TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS THAT LIMIT THEIR ACCESS TO FOOD. BHH OPERATES THROUGH TWO MAIN ARMS: COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE. UNDER THE COMMUNITY ARM, THE INITIATIVE SERVES SENIORS AGED 60 AND ABOVE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OR HAVE VETERAN STATUS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS FOOD INSECURE AND LACK RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. IN THE HEALTHCARE ARM, BHH FOCUSES ON MATERNAL AND DIABETIC HEALTH. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 577,810 MEALS. MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS (MTM) IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES MEALS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND PREPARED TO MEET THE MEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS. THIS PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2023, DEDICATED TO PROVIDING WEEKLY MEALS FROM OUR MERCY KITCHEN PRODUCTION KITCHEN, FOR FOOD-INSECURE PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE. THIS PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN IN ORANGE COUNTY, HAS SUCCESSFULLY SERVED 158 PATIENTS AND DELIVERED A OVER 8,000 MEALS. REMARKABLY, 96% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED NO HOSPITALIZATIONS SINCE JOINING THE PROGRAM, DEMONSTRATING ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND PROMOTING BETTER HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTED A HEALTH AND HUNGER PILOT BY PROVIDING AND DELIVERING 2,597 MEALS TO PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION.BITES CAMERA ACTION: THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM DELIVERS FOOD BOXES AND FRESH PRODUCE TO 98+ VULNERABLE COMMUNITY SITES REACHING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, VETERANS, SENIORS AND ADULTS. COLLECTIVELY, 277,761 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED WHICH PROVIDED 231,468 MEALS.SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM: PROMOTES A STUDENT-CENTERED, STIGMA-REDUCING APPROACH TO INCREASING FOOD ACCESS AMONG STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HUNGER. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, OUR MODEL EMPHASIZES STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOL-BASED MARKET OPERATIONS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2017, THE SECOND HARVEST SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM HAS SERVED OVER 3.5 MILLION MEALS TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS 76 PARTNER SITES IN SEVEN COUNTIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH TWO PROGRAM MODELS (SCHOOL MARKETS, AND FRESH MARKETS).SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM: PROVIDES HEALTHY BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES TO CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME AREAS DURING SUMMER RECESS WHEN SCHOOL CAFTERIAS ARE CLOSED. LAST YEAR 117,529 MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AT 85 SITES IN 5 COUNTIES. CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM: SECOND HARVEST OPERATES A CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM AND PRODUCES MEALS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVING CHILDREN AND SENIORS. OUR CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PATHWAYS TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE FORM OF QUALITY JOBS. THE PROGRAM IS A 16-WEEK PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES ON FOOD SERVICE-BASED TECHNICAL, LIFE, AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS TRAINING FOR ADULTS. IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, THE CULINARY TEAM ASSIST STUDENTS WITH JOB PLACEMENT THAT PAY A STANDARD LIVING WAGE OR ABOVE LIVING WAGE, HAVE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, AND UPWARD MOBILITY. IN HOPES OF CLOSING WORKFORCE EQUITY GAPS BY FOCUSING ON JOB QUALITY, WE PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO THRIVE IN A CHANGING ECONOMY. THE PROGRAM GRADUATES APPROXIMATELY 31 CENTRAL FLORIDA ADULTS ANNUALLY. GRADUATES SECURE EMPLOYMENT WITH AN AVERAGE WITH AN AVERAGE PAY RATE OF $19.08 PER HOUR PLUS BENEFITS. SNAP-ED:SECOND HARVEST HAS CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE SNAP EDUCATION SERVICES TO SNAP ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS. THE SNAP-ED SERVICES ARE FOR THE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OBESITY PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM USING A COMBINATION OF APPROACHES. THESE APPROACHES INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES AND ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTS, DESIGNED TO FACILITATE VOLUNTARY ADOPTION OF FOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHOICES AND OTHER NUTRITION-RELATED BEHAVIORS CONDUCIVE TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF SNAP PARTICIPANTS, LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SNAP, AND INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN COMMUNITIES WITH A SIGNIFICANT LOW-INCOME POPULATION. IN FY24-25, WE HAD 8 NUTRITION EDUCATORS WORKING IN ALL 7 OF OUR SERVICE AREA COUNTIES PROVIDING EDUCATION IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, AND HEALTHCARE LOCATIONS. OVER 860 NUTRITION WORKSHOPS AND OVER 368 COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD. ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES VIA 4 HEALTH PROMOTION COORDINATORS THAT REACHED MORE THAN 184,000 NEIGHBORS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND HAVE EDUCATED 4 COHORTS OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDES ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HAVE 16 PANTR
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 1982.
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.
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