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Cultivate Culinary School and Catering Inc

EIN 81-3306113 · South Bend, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, CULTIVATE FOOD RESCUE WILL BE THE LEADER IN PERISHABLE FOOD RESCUE, PROCUREMENT, REDISTRIBUTION, AND EDUCATION IN ORDER TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$14.3 million
Spending
$12.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
50
Volunteers
6,413
Highest pay
$130,656, executive director

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $9.4 million spent. CULTIVATE SERVES AS A FOOD AND LOGISTICS HUB BETWEEN FOOD SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXCESS FOOD AND THOSE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. WE DISTRIBUTE OUR RESCUED FOOD TO TWO PRIMARY SOURCES: SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO ARE ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES LIKE PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS WHO FEED THE FOOD INSECURE ON A DAILYBASIS. THE FOCUS OF THE CULTIVATE CARES FOOD NETWORK (CCFN) IS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE, MUCH NEEDED, PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS LIKE MEAT, CHEESE, FRESH FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND PROTEINS. WE RESCUE, STORE AND DELIVER THIS FOOD AT NO COST TO THE AGENCIES THAT ARE IN OUR NETWORK. WE DO THIS SO LESS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY KIDS, GO HUNGRY AND TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL IMPACT THAT FOOD WASTE HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 06/30/2025, THE CCFN PROGRAM DONATED 4,398,275 MILLION POUNDS OF PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND 292,553 FROZEN MEALS TO APPROXIMATELY 200+ PANTRIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND 70 SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE INDIANA COUNTIES OF ST. JOSEPH, ELKHART AND MARSHALL.
  2. $2.1 million spent. THE BACKPACK PROGRAM IS A FROZEN MEAL PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOR STUDENTS IN K-2ND GRADE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 06/34/2025, 247,299 FROZEN MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED USING RESCUED FOOD. THESE MEALS WERE DONATED TO 11 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN ST. JOSEPH, ELKHART AND MARSHALL COUNTY AND TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WHO SERVE CHILDREN.

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 December 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 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.