Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK'S MISSION IS TO END HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION BY EDUCATING AND INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $30.1 million
- Spending
- $28.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 61
- Volunteers
- 2,522
- Highest pay
- $299,419, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 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 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 2514 of 16 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
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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 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 (2)
- $24.2 million spent. Community Distributions Second Harvest Food Banks mission is to inspire and support Santa Cruz County in providing nourishment for all community members. SHFB acquires and distributes donated and purchased food, as well as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodities, to individuals and families in need throughout Santa Cruz County, Driven by measurable impact, SHFB distributed 10.5 million pounds of food during the reported fiscal year. The organization responds rapidly to food insecurity caused by natural disasters and external disruptions, including the SNAP benefit hold in the fall. SHFB continues to strengthen its network through partnerships with 67 community-based organizations, expanding access to food and essential services. Ongoing collaborations with local farmers and fisheries further reinforce a resilient, community-centered food system while helping to keep resources circulating within the local economy.
- $2.4 million spent. Programs The Second Harvest Food Bank Programs Team provides a comprehensive range of services designed to support community members in improving their health and well-being. Through programs such as the Healthy Food Box Program, participants receive nutritious food along with nutrition education and weekly healthy recipes that promote long-term healthy habits. The CalFresh Outreach Team plays a critical role in supporting community members with applications for SNAP (CalFresh) and Medi-Cal, helping to increase access to essential benefits. In addition, we partner with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Watsonville Community Hospital to expand access to services by offering resources and operating school- and hospital-based pantry sites. These partnerships ensure that families can access nutritious food and supportive services in trusted, community-centered locations.
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 March 1993.
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.