Golden Empire Gleaners
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SPECIFIC AND PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO OPERATE A FOOD COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEEDY INDIVIDUALS AND NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE CORPORATIONS.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $86,100, executive director
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $5.3 million spent. THE GOLDEN EMPIRE GLEANERS DISTRIBUTES FOOD COUNTYWIDE THROUGH THREE MAIN SERVICE PROGRAMS:1. AGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION: WE PARTNER WITH 76 LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FACING FOOD INSECURITY. EACH DAY, WE PREPARE OVER 150 FAMILY FOOD BASKETS, CAREFULLY PACKED TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF EACH HOUSEHOLD BASED ON FAMILY SIZE. THESE BASKETS CONTAIN NUTRITIOUS, SHELF-STABLE ITEMS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES DURING TIMES OF CRISIS.2. SENIOR SACK PROGRAM: OUR SENIOR SACK PROGRAM PROVIDES FOOD DIRECTLY TO 20 LOCATIONS THAT SERVE LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS. WE DELIVER TWICE A MONTH, ENSURING THAT SENIORS HAVE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THIS PROGRAM ADDESSES FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SENIORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND STRUGGLE TO AFFORD BASIC GROCERIES.3. DAILY FOOD SUPPORT AND SURPLUS DONATIONS: IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY PREPARATION OF 150 FAMILY FOOD BASKETS FOR THOSE FACING IMMEDIATE HUNGER, WE ALSO DONATE SURPLUS FOOD TO LOCAL CHARITIES, INCLUDING THE MISSION, CHURCHES, AND OTHER CHARITABLE GROUPS, UPON REQUEST. THIS OUTREACH EXTENDS OUR IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND HELPS REDUCE FOOD WASTE.THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED ENTIRELY BY DONATIONS FROM GENEROUS LOCAL BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO SHARE OUR GOAL OF ENDING HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY.THE GLEANERS DOES NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024, WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 134,000 PEOPLE, DISTRIBUTED OVER TWO MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, AND BENEFITED FROM OVER 4,500 VOLUNTEER SHIFTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.