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Food Bank for Monterey County

EIN 77-0270228 · Salinas, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER, PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD SERVICES DURING A NATURAL DISASTER, AND CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAMS RELATING TO HUNGER ISSUES IN MONTEREY COUNTY.

Income
$27.9 million
Spending
$30.2 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
63
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$185,370, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

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. $13.6 million spent. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EFAP) - THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES USDA FOOD COMMODITIES AT 112 SITES THROUGHOUT MONTEREY COUNTY ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. ON AVERAGE, THIS ONE PROGRAM ALONE SERVES 24,330 HOUSEHOLDS PER MONTH, WITH A TOTAL OF 8.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD ANNUALLY.
  2. $12.8 million spent. AGENCY CLEARINGHOUSE PROGRAM - THIS IS A NETWORK OF APPROXIMATELY 112 MONTEREY COUNTY NON-PROFIT AGENCIES THAT RELY ON THE FOOD BANK AS THEIR PRIMARY FOOD RESOURCE TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT SERVE THE ELDERLY, CHRONICALLY ILL, HOMELESS, UNEMPLOYED, AND WORKING POOR. THE AGENCIES SERVED 152,750 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 3.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD.
  3. $2.8 million spent. FAMILY MARKET - THIS IS THE FOOD BANK'S DIRECT FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM AND OPERATES LIKE A FARMER'S MARKET. FOOD DISTRIBUTED CONSISTS OF FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AND OTHER PRODUCE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IT IS TO HELP WITH THE GROWING HEALTH CONCERNS AMONG THE POPULATION SERVED, SPECIFICALLY DIABETES AND OBESITY. THERE ARE NOW A TOTAL OF 10 SITES COUNTYWIDE THAT EACH SERVE BETWEEN 200-400 PEOPLE WITH EACH HOUSEHOLD RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-100 POUNDS OF FOOD.
  4. $17,824 spent. EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY - THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES THE FOOD BANK'S MISSION IN THE COMMUNITY BY EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE PERSONAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO HUNGER.

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 February 1996.

    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.