Vine Life Ministries Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FOOD RELIEF TO THE HUNGRY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. TO TRAIN, COUNSEL, AND PROVIDE RELIEFTO THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SAFE AFTER SCHOOL SPACES, ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING IN LIFE SKILLS. TO PROVIDE A BOBUST HOMELESS CARE PROGRAM TO THE HOMELSS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. TO OPERATE A THRIFT SHOP IN WHICH WE RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR OTHER CHARITABLE ACITVITIES.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $85,280, president & ceo
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
Weak: 24 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 20 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 253 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $1.0 million spent. VINE LIFE MINISTRIES PURPOSE AND MISSIN OF ENHANCING AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, DIRECTS THE SALT MINE, A SUBSIDIARY OF VINE LIFE MINISTRIES, INC. IN ADVANCING TOWARD THIS GOAL BY OFFERING CHILDRENS PROGRAM, YOUTH PROGRAM, AND ADULT TRAINING AND TEACHING, AS WELL AS AN AGGRESSIVE FEEDING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD FOR NEEDY FAMILIES IN THE TARGET AREA. THE SALT MINE HAS FURNISHED OVER TWO MILLION MEALS TO LOCAL FAMILIES, AND OF THIS NUMBER, SIXTY - SEVEN PERCENT WERE FOR YOUTH AND CHILDERN. THE SALT MINE PROVIDES A FOOD BOX FOR NEEDY FAMILITES THAT WILL FEED EACH PERSON IN THAT PARTICULAR FAMILYY THREE MEALS A DAY FOR A WEEK. FOOD BOXES FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS ARE LIMITED TO ONE BOX PER MONTH. IN ADDITION, THE SALT MINE ADMINSTERS THE USDA DISTRIBUITION PROGRAM, AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE TWO USDA DISTRIBUITION EACH MONTH. IN ADDITION TO THE ORGANIZED AND REGULATED FOOD PROGRAM, THE SALT MINE OFFERS DAILY MEALS TO TRANSIENT AND DISTRIBUITES TRUCKLOAD OF FOOD ON SATURDAY ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED AT THE SALT MINE BY STAFF AND AN ARMY OF VOLUTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY. EACH WEEK, OUR ORGANIZATION RECEIVE AROUND FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS OF DONATED FOOD FROM THE COMMUNITY, FOOD WE PURCHASE FROM THE FOOD BANK, AND THE FOOD WE RECEIVE FROM DIRECT CONTACTWITH FOOD VENTORS. THE VOLUNTEERS THEN SORT, PACKAGE, AND BOX FOOD FOR NEEDY FAMILIES. OTHER WORKERS SCREEN THE REQUESTS FOR FOOD AND KEEP RECORDS OF WHO RECEIVES FOOD AND HOW OFTEN. FUNDING FOR THE SALT MINE COMES FROM GRANTS, DONAITONS FROM FIRENDS OF THE SALT MINE, AND THE PROCEEDS FROM TWO THRIFTS SHOP, THE SALT SELLER AND THE SALT MINE THRIFT SHOP BOTH LOCATED IN LINCOLN.
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 October 13, 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 October 1985.
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 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.