Passes our checks

Plant Based Foods Institute

EIN 82-1382938 · San Francisco, CA

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

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE AND DESSEMINATE RESEARCH, AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, IN THE FIELD OF PLANT BASED FOODS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 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 12% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5
Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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

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 million spent. 1.) STRENGTHENED ALIGNMENT WITH THE GOLBAL PLANT-BASED FOOD INDUSTRY. 2.) DEVELOPED PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ADVANCEMENT OF DOMESTIC REGENERATIVE PLANT-BASED VALUE CHAINS. 3.) ADVOCATED FOR PLANT-BASED FOODS POSITIONING WITHIN FEDERAL NUTRITION POLICY. 4.) CONDUCTED RESEARCH THAT MEASURES BUYING PATTERNS OF PLANT-BASED FOODS CONSUMERS AT RETAIL. 5.) PARTNERED WITH RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS TO INFORM MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING STRATEGIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 December 2024.
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 January 2018.
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.