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Passes our checks

Heart of Alabama Food Bank

EIN 63-0931846 · Montgomery, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOOD BANK OPERATES AS A CLEARING HOUSE FOR THE COLLECTING, SORTING, STORING AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDIBLE FOOD TO QUALIFIED AGENCIES; WHO IN TURN PASS THE FOOD ALONG TO ALABAMA'S "FOOD INSECURE" CITIZENS.

Income
$52.8 million
Spending
$50.3 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
66
Volunteers
2,410
Highest pay
$144,536, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 June 30, 2025, 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

  • More than 29 million pounds of food were distributed to those in need.Work delivered
  • 15,317,585 pounds of food were distributed through the mobile pantry program.Work delivered
  • The senior supplement program provided 37 pounds of food monthly to 720 seniors.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 (3)
  1. $48.3 million spent. THE STRUCTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INCREASED OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AGENCIES WE SUPPORT BY COLLECTING, SORTING (BOTH DRY/STAPLE AND COLD/FROZEN) AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD. ALONG WITH FOUR SMALLER AFFILIATED FOOD BANKS (AFBS) UNDER OUR SUPERVISION, WE HAVE A SERVICE AREA REACHING TO 35 OF ALABAMA'S 67 COUNTIES (WITH A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1,614,000) AND MORE THAN 600 COMMUNITY AGENCIES. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FOOD TO THE CHILDREN, ELDERLY, NEWLY UNEMPLOYED, WORKKING POOR, HOMELESS, MENTALLY CHALLENGED, AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DISASTERS. DURING OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 29 MILLION POUNDS OF VITAL NUTRITION TO THOSE IN NEED.
  2. $90,399 spent. WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA, 21% OF THE POPULATION ARE FOOD INSECURE. OF THAT TOTAL, 20% OF ADULTS AND 25% OF CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. ONE OF OUR MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES IN COMBATING THIS PERVASIVE PROBLEM IS OUR MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GO TO WHERE THE NEEDIEST ARE, AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO TARGET REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN ALABAMA'S "BLACK BELT" AREA (CHRONICALLY AMONG THE MOST POVERTY-STRICKEN REGIONS IN THE NATION) AS WELL AS METROPOLITAN AREAS. IN FY25, WE DISTRIBUTED 15,317,585 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH THIS OUTREACH EFFORT.
  3. $62,132 spent. APPROXIMATELY 23% OF SENIORS (60 YEARS & OLDER) IN OUR SERVICE AREA ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. IN OUR MOST IMPOVERISHED COUNTY, THAT PERCENTAGE JUMPS TO OVER 36%. IN ORDER TO HELP OFFSET THE NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS, WE ESTABLISHED A SENIOR SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM THAT, IN FY25, PROVIDED BETWEEN 37 POUNDS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO 720 SENIORS. WE ALSO PROVIDE TWO EXTRA BOXES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE PREPARATION OF HOLIDAY MEALS.

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

  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 June 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 1987.

    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.