Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Bulb Gallery

EIN 81-4676117 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BULB IS A DIRECT-SERVICE NONPROFIT ADVANCING EQUITABLE, BARRIER-FREE ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE THROUGH PLACE-BASED MOBILE FARMERS MARKETS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. OUR MARKETS CENTER AROUND CHOICE AND ARE SHAPED BY COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FARMS, GROCERY PARTNERS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS-SUPPORTING A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE, AND RESILIENT CHARLOTTE.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
11
Volunteers
525
Highest pay
$64,640, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. IN 2025, THE BULB HOSTED 392 MOBILE MARKETS, DISTRIBUTING 430,341 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO MORE THAN 25,000 GUESTS AND REACHING AN ESTIMATED 84,858 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS ACROSS MECKLENBURG COUNTY. GUEST FEEDBACK REFLECTED STRONG IMPACT, WITH 93.62% REPORTING IMPROVED HEALTH, 96.98% INCREASING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE, AND 88.59% REPORTING GROCERY SAVINGS THAT HELPED FREE UP HOUSEHOLD FUNDS FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL NEEDS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EXPANDED OPERATIONAL CAPACITY BY ADDING A THIRD CARGO VAN AND MORE THAN DOUBLING COLD STORAGE WITH A SECOND WALK-IN COOLER, IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD PRESERVATION EFFORTS. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES DIVERTED 68,730 POUNDS OF ORGANIC WASTE THROUGH COMPOSTING PARTNERSHIPS AND REPURPOSED OVER 20,000 CLAMSHELL AND EGG CARTON CONTAINERS THROUGH A SINGLE-USE PLASTICS REUSE PROGRAM. IN 2025, THE BULB HOSTED 392 MOBILE MARKETS, DISTRIBUTING 430,341 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO MORE THAN 25,000 GUESTS AND REACHING AN ESTIMATED 84,858 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS ACROSS MECKLENBURG COUNTY. GUEST FEEDBACK REFLECTED STRONG IMPACT, WITH 93.62% REPORTING IMPROVED HEALTH, 96.98% INCREASING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE, AND 88.59% REPORTING GROCERY SAVINGS THAT HELPED FREE UP HOUSEHOLD FUNDS FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL NEEDS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EXPANDED OPERATIONAL CAPACITY BY ADDING A THIRD CARGO VAN AND MORE THAN DOUBLING COLD STORAGE WITH A SECOND WALK-IN COOLER, IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD PRESERVATION EFFORTS. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES DIVERTED 68,730 POUNDS OF ORGANIC WASTE THROUGH COMPOSTING PARTNERSHIPS AND REPURPOSED OVER 20,000 CLAMSHELL AND EGG CARTON CONTAINERS THROUGH A SINGLE-USE PLASTICS REUSE PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2020.

    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 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 March 2021.

    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.

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.