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Food for the Poor Inc

EIN 59-2174510 · Coconut Creek, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO LINK THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST WORLD WITH THE CHURCH OF THE THIRD WORLD IN A MANNER THAT HELPS BOTH THE MATERIALLY POOR AND THE POOR IN SPIRIT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).THE MATERIALLY POOR ARE SERVED BY LOCAL CHURCHES, CLERGY, AND LAY LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED AND SUPPLIED WITH GOODS BY FOOD FOR THE POOR. THE POOR IN SPIRIT ARE RENEWED BY THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH AND SERVICE TO THE POOR THROUGH OUR DIRECT MINISTRY OF TEACHING, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND PRAYER. ULTIMATELY, WE SEEK TO BRING BOTH BENEFACTORS AND RECIPIENTS TO A CLOSER UNION WITH OUR LORD.

Income
$412.1 million
Spending
$417.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
364
Volunteers
1,789
Highest pay
$342,434, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Shipped 304 tractor-trailer loads of medicines, medical supplies and equipment, and other essentials.Work delivered
  • Shipped 2,160 tractor-trailer loads of essential goods.Work delivered
  • Provided food for 207.9 million meals for hungry children and families.Work delivered
  • Volunteers packed 19,000 personal hygiene kits.Work delivered
  • Purchased items for an additional 30,000 hygiene kits.Work delivered
  • Purchased supplies to assemble 15,000 women's care kits.Work delivered
  • Purchased 140 pallets of MannaPack rice meals, more than 5,000 cases.Work delivered
  • Dispatched 17 trucks of donations in April to distribution centers.Work delivered
  • Sent 27 trucks in May to the South, the North and Artibonite.Work delivered
  • Port-au-Prince office provided aid to 1,450 organizations.Work delivered
  • 260 organizations received aid from the Caracol office.Work delivered
  • Currently implementing 15 sustainable community development projects.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $219.8 million spent. HEALTH - IN 2024, FOOD FOR THE POOR SHIPPED 304 TRACTOR- TRAILER LOADS OF LIFESAVING MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT SUCH AS MASKS, SANITIZER, AND OTHER CRITICAL ESSENTIALS TO HELP MAINTAIN CLINICS, HOSPITALS, AND MEDICAL-CARE CENTERS TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL CARE TO POVERTY-STRICKEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.IN A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD IMPROVING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, FFTP, CEPUDO, AND FUNAZUCAR LAUNCHED THE "FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY" CAMPAIGN. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO DISTRIBUTE PRENATAL VITAMINS PROVIDED BY FFTP DONORS TO MORE THAN 135,000 PREGNANT AND BREASTFEEDING WOMEN ACROSS SIX DEPARTMENTS IN HONDURAS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).THE CAMPAIGN IS BEING ADMINISTERED THROUGH 80 HEALTH CENTERS WITH THE BACKING OF SIX SUGAR COMPANIES AND REGIONAL HEALTH OFFICES. THE "FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY" CAMPAIGN ALSO IS CONDUCTING AWARENESS SESSIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS. THESE SESSIONS, SUPPORTED BY MEDICAL STAFF AT EACH HEALTH CENTER, WILL EDUCATE WOMEN ON THE BENEFITS OF PRENATAL VITAMINS FOR THE GROWTH OF BABIES AND THE STRENGTHENING OF THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
  2. $107.9 million spent. BASIC NEEDS - THE CHARITY SHIPPED 2,160 TRACTOR-TRAILER LOADS OF ESSENTIAL GOODS VALUED AT MORE THAN $314 MILLION IN 2024.FFTP PROVIDED FOOD FOR 207.9 MILLION MEALS FOR HUNGRY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ALSO IN 2024, FFTP CONTINUED TO RAMP UP PURCHASING FOOD LOCALLY IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE IT SERVES, REDUCING INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COSTS AND GETTING RESOURCES SOONER TO THE FAMILIES WHO NEED THEM MOST. FFTP DISTRIBUTES AID TO SUPPORT THE FEEDING, CLOTHING, AND SHELTERING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY. FOR THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THE HARDSHIP OF POVERTY IN HAITI, THE SUFFERING WAS AMPLIFIED IN 2024 WITH CIVIL UNREST AND GANG VIOLENCE DISPLACING MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).FFTP IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO RESPOND IN HAITI BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND PROVIDING SUPPORT IN THE COUNTRY SINCE 1986 AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED AID. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ASSISTANCE IN 2024 INCLUDE: -ASSEMBLING VOLUNTEERS IN FFTP'S COCONUT CREEK, FLA., HEADQUARTERS TO PACK 19,000 PERSONAL HYGIENE KITS. ITEMS FOR THE KITS WERE SUPPLIED BY MAP INTERNATIONAL, AND FFTP PURCHASED ITEMS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30,000 KITS, WHICH INCLUDE ESSENTIAL ITEMS SUCH AS SOAP, TOOTHPASTE, AND SANITARY PRODUCTS.-PURCHASING SUPPLIES TO ASSEMBLE 15,000 WOMEN'S CARE KITS, AS WELL AS 140 PALLETS OF MANNAPACK RICE MEALS, EQUAL TO MORE THAN 5,000 CASES, FROM PARTNER FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN. -SECURING COMMITMENTS FOR 20,000 HYGIENE KITS FROM HEART TO HEART INTERNATIONAL AND 3,200 FAMILY EMERGENCY KITS OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS, SUCH AS HYGIENE PRODUCTS, WATER PURIFICATION SACHETS, BUCKETS, AND SOLAR-POWERED LIGHTS, FROM GLOBALMEDIC.-SUPPORTING FFTP-HAITI AS IT DISPATCHED 17 TRUCKS WITH DONATIONS IN APRIL TO DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN THE SOUTH, THE NORTH AND THE CENTRE; IN MAY, 27 TRUCKS WERE SENT TO THE SOUTH, THE NORTH AND ARTIBONITE, USING A BARGE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME. FFTP-HAITI'S PORT-AU-PRINCE OFFICE ALSO PROVIDED AID TO 1,450 ORGANIZATIONS, WHILE 260 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED AID FROM THE CHARITY'S CARACOL OFFICE.
  3. $33.2 million spent. COMMUNITY SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT - WATER WELLS, AGRICULTURAL TOOLS, SEEDS, TRAINING, AND OTHER GRANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED ENABLING ENTIRE COMMUNITIES TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD. AQUACULTURE PONDS, FISHING VILLAGES, FRUIT TREE NURSERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PROJECTS AND OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE FUNDED GIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY FRESH HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.THE CHARITY CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON BUILDING LIVES AS WELL AS BUILDING HOMES AND SCHOOLS, MONITORING ITS PROGRESS TO ENSURE BETTER OUTCOMES AND SUSTAINED IMPACT, AND BEING RESILIENT IN HOW IT RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).IN EARLY 2024, FFTP BEGAN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (SCD) PROJECT IN GUATEMALA. SCDS, WHICH TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE, INVOLVE IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL CHALLENGES THAT ARISE IN A COMMUNITY, AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND ABLE TO THRIVE LONG-TERM. FFTP IS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING 15 SCD PROJECTS, WITH LOCATIONS IN GUATEMALA, COLOMBIA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA. ON DEC. 7, 2024, FFTP MARKED A HISTORIC MILESTONE WITH A CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE ZION ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY, THE CHARITY'S FIRST SCD IN JAMAICA. THE DEVELOPMENT IS BEING CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS BORDERS AND THE UPMOBILITY FOUNDATION. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE DIOCESE OF MONTEGO BAY GENEROUSLY DONATED THE LAND FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS LOCATED ON JAMAICA'S NORTHERN COAST WITHIN THE MARTHA BRAE COMMUNITY IN THE PARISH OF TRELAWNY. PALMA REAL, LOCATED IN GRANADA, COLOMBIA, IS THE FIRST LARGE-SCALE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTED BY FFTP AND A TRUSTED PARTNER. THE CHARITY ALSO PARTNERED IN A SEED-TO-MARKET PROGRAM FOR RURAL SMALLHOLDER FARMING FAMILIES. THE RESULTING FOOD IS DIRECTED TO EXISTING FFTP FEEDING PROGRAMS, PROVIDING LOCALLY SOURCED MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN IN COLOMBIA AND HAITI.
  4. $6.3 million spent. EDUCATION - IN 2024, FFTP BUILT 84 NEW CLASSROOMS AND REPAIRED TWO SCHOOLS. THE CHARITY ALSO SHIPPED ONE CONTAINER OF EDUCATION-RELATED GOODS, INCLUDING SCHOOL FURNITURE, BOOKS, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES TO SCHOOLS, PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH VALUABLE TOOLS FOR LEARNING.IN ADDITION TO BUILDING SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING SUPPLIES, FFTP ALSO SUPPORTS SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE WE SERVE. FOR MANY VULNERABLE CHILDREN, THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THEY RECEIVE AT SCHOOL MAY BE THEIR ONLY MEAL OF THE DAY. THE MEALS NOT ONLY HELP A CHILD CONCENTRATE, LEARN, AND DEVELOP, BUT THEY ALSO SERVE AS A POWERFUL INCENTIVE FOR PARENTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.