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Arkansas Foodbank

EIN 71-0596734 · Little Rock, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NONE

Income
$85.2 million
Spending
$84.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
112
Volunteers
11,213
Highest pay
$245,480, 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% 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 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $67.8 million spent. OUR FOOD FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CONNECTING OUR PARTNER AGENCIES WITH LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES WITH FOOD AND FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PROGRAMS, ULTIMATELY ENABLING THEM TO BETTER SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. TO DO THIS, WE EMPLOY THE FOLLOWING TACTICS: WORK TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO FAMILIES; PARTNER WITH OVER 330 AGENCIES THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS AND SHELTERS ACROSS 33 COUNTIES; PROVIDE MINI-GRANTS TO BUILD AGENCY CAPACITY THAT CAN SERVE AS FOOD CREDITS AND/OR PURCHASE EQUIPMENT; CONDUCT FOODBANK UNIVERSITY TRAINING SESSIONS TO IMPROVE PANTRY SERVICES THROUGH AN ARRAY OF BEST PRACTICE TOPIES; AND DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAM INITIATIVES TO TACKLE BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY.
  2. $11.0 million spent. USDA COMMODITIES: LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR CITIZENS. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT HELP FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE INCLUDE: SNAP, WIC, TEFAP AND CSFP COMMODITIES. LOCALLY, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SOUP KITCHENS AND PANTRIES AND PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT HUNGRY PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES. COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING HUNGER. THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP) IS AN EFFECTIVE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS SUPPLEMENT THE DIETS OF LOW INCOME AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EMERGENCY FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE VIA FOOD BANKS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP REDUCE FEDERAL FOOD INVENTORIES AND STORAGE COSTS WHILE ASSISTING LOW INCOME PERSONS. TEFAP IS THE BACKBONE OF THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM.
  3. $613,635 spent. OUR FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFICIENT AND REPLICABLE HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS TO TARGET CHILDREN. AS WE RESEARCHED THE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS, FOUR STRATEGIES EMERGED THAT CLEARLY MET THE CRITERIA. BACKPACK PROGRAM: IN 1994, THE ARKANSAS RICE DEPOT LAUNCHED THE BACKPACK PROGRAM, SENDING HUNGRY CHILDREN HOME WITH BACKPACKS FILLED WITH FOOD EVERY WEEKEND. IN 2022 THE BACKPACK PROGRAM, SERVED OVER 3,000 KIDS IN 67 SCHOOLS. SCHOOL PANTRIES: SCHOOL PANTRIES ARE READILY ACCESSIBLE SOURCES OF FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AGED 0-18 AND THEIR FAMILIES. SCHOOL PANTRIES OPERATE MUCH LIKE OTHER FOOD PANTRIES, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THE PANTRY ONLY SERVES SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SITES ARE EITHER LOCATED ON A SCHOOL'S CAMPUS OF CLOSE BY, HAVE SET DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULES, AND OFFER ONGOING FOOD ASSISTANCE SERVICES. SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS: PROVIDE FOOD BOXES TO KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS AND OTHER PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS.
  4. $307,030 spent. INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR SENIORS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE ARKANSAS FOODBANK. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES SENIORS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE, PARTNER AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE THREE PRIMARY STRATEGIES TO SERVE SENIORS AND SERVE SENIORS BETTER. THE FIRST STRATEGY IS THORUGH CAPACITY BUILDING. WE HAVE AWARDED SENIOR FOCUSED MINI-GRANTS TO AGENCY MEMBERS. THE SECOND STRATEGY IS THORUGH SENIOR FOOD BOXES. ARKANSAS FOODBANK PARTNERS WITH CARELINK AND SOUTHEAST AREA ON AGING TO PROVIDE MONTHLY SENIOR SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BOXES TO HOME-BOUND SENIORS WHO ARE MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENTS. THE THIRD STRATEGY IS THROUGH SENIOR SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. WE TARGET SENIORS FOR SNAP OUTREACH AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE.

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 October 13, 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 July 1984.

    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 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.