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Good Food Institute Inc

EIN 81-0840578 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceIndependently evaluatedHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HARNESS THE POWER OF FOOD INNOVATION AND MARKETS TO MAKE THE GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM BETTER FOR THE PLANET, PEOPLE, AND ANIMALS BY SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND DELICIOUS.

Income
$28.1 million
Spending
$35.4 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
14 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
132
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$252,040, president and founder

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

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

    6 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Independently evaluated. An independent evaluator has assessed its work and recommends it.

  • Giving Green: Named a top climate nonprofit. See the evaluation Checked September 29, 2026.
Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $10.3 million spent. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - GFI'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT ACCELERATES THE SCIENCE OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES. GFI'S SCIENTISTS ARE THE GLOBAL EXPERTS IN THIS SECTOR AND WORK TO ENSURE THAT A ROADMAP EXISTS FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN INNOVATION, THAT THE BEST SCIENTISTS ARE ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE HIGHEST-IMPACT AREAS OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN RESEARCH.GFI'S SCITECH TEAM IS FOCUSED ON THREE PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:1. ANALYZING CURRENT AND FUTURE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AND IDENTIFYING THE MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS.2. MOBILIZING FUNDING FOR OPEN-ACCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS.3. INSPIRING AND SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS IN THE ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN INDUSTRY.
  2. $5.6 million spent. POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS - GFI'S POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT IS FOCUSED ON REMOVING PUBLIC POLICY HURDLES AND DIRECTING PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS ON THE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS. THE POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM PRIMARILY EDUCATES PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND REGULATORS, AND USES IMPACT LITIGATION AS A STRATEGIC TOOL WHERE WARRANTED.
  3. $4.5 million spent. CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT - GFI'S CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WORKS TO EDUCATE COMPANIES AND INVESTORS TO PRIORITIZE ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS, ACCELERATE ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN INNOVATION, AND SCALE THE SUPPLY CHAIN. THE CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT TEAM'S WORK HELPS ENABLE FOOD INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND BRING TO MARKET ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN PRODUCTS THAT ARE AS ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND DELICIOUS AS CONVENTIONAL MEAT, EGGS, AND DAIRY. THE CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT TEAM EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS ENTITIES IN ALL STAGES OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN, INCLUDING ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS, INVESTORS, FOOD AND MEAT MANUFACTURERS, INGREDIENT COMPANIES, GROCERY RETAILERS, FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, AND EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS.
  4. $3.6 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS - GFI'S COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT POSITIONS GFI AS A GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADER AND TRUSTED SOURCE OF DATA AND INSIGHTS ACROSS THE FIELD OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS AND THROUGHOUT THE ADJACENT FIELDS OF CLIMATE, BIODIVERSITY, GLOBAL HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABLE, SECURE FOOD SYSTEMS. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ELEVATES THE EXPERTISE OF OUR STAFF AND WORKS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND FIELD TO PUBLISH AND DISSEMINATE ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND REPORTS, SECURE MEANINGFUL MEDIA COVERAGE, CONVENE AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY-BUILDING EVENTS, AND THOUGHTFULLY ENGAGE DECISION-MAKERS AND OTHER INFLUENCERS ACROSS THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO POSITION ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS AS AN ESSENTIAL SOLUTION FOR A BETTER FOOD FUTURE.
  5. $2.4 million spent. INTERNATIONAL - GFI'S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FROM ITS U.S. TEAM TO ITS FOREIGN AFFILIATES, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES LED DIRECTLY BY THE U.S. TEAM SUCH AS MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SUB-GRANTS AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES AIMED TO ACCELERATE WORLDWIDE ENGAGEMENT OF SCIENTISTS IN ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN RESEARCH, DRIVE GLOBAL POLICY AND REGULATORY ADVANCEMENTS, FOSTER SUCCESSFUL GENERATION OF INNOVATORS, AND AMPLIFY MEDIA COVERAGE OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN INNOVATION.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 2016.

    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.

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