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Redwood Empire Food Bank

EIN 68-0121855 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND LEADING THE COMMUNITY TO END HUNGER. A SAFETY NET SECURING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH MORE THAN 300 MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION SITES AND 130 HUNGER-RELIEF PARTNERS IN SONOMA COUNTY AND BEYOND.

Income
$67.4 million
Spending
$66.8 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
91
Volunteers
8,450
Highest pay
$272,854, 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% 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

    9 of 9 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

  • Hunger-relief programs served over 142,000 children, families, and seniors across five counties.Work delivered
  • Over 300 direct service distributions were conducted.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 (1)
  1. $63.9 million spent. THE REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK IS THE LARGEST HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATIONSERVING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FOOD ANDNOURISHMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE HUNGER-RELIEF PROGRAMS, SERVING OVER142,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS IN SONOMA, LAKE, MENDOCINO,HUMBOLDT, AND DEL NORTE COUNTIES. WITH OVER 300 DIRECT SERVICEDISTRIBUTIONS AND 130 PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER HUNGER-RELIEFORGANIZATIONS, ALL RESIDENTS FACING FOOD INSECURITY HAVE ACCESS TO MORETHAN 300 WEEKLY AND MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION SITES ACROSS THE FIVECOUNTIES. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS CALFRESH APPLICATIONASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES, AND OTHER FOOD ASSISTANCE SUPPORTTHROUGH THEIR FOOD CONNECTIONS RESOURCE CENTER.

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 November 1991.

    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.