Passes our checks

The Cookery Project Inc

EIN 82-3252250 · Mobile, AL

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

What it says it does

Engage and empower our youth through multicomponent culinary interventions including food sourcing, nutrition education, and culinary experiences.

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

Reserves
20 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Strong: 94 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 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
0 of 5
Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (4)

$38,187 spent. HEAT (Health Equity Advancement Training) workshops - Less immersive food preparation than our SALT program with a focus on nutrition. Snacks and meals prepared are cold served or no bake recipes that kids can easily recreate on their own. Geared towards larger audiences as well as caregivers and educators.
$16,787 spent. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) culinary learning camps - STEAM culinary learning fosters creativity, encourages curiosity, builds resilience, sparks experimentation, develops problem solving skills, and lays higher learning foundation.
$6,713 spent. SALT (Strategic Alliances for Life Training) program - Very immersive nutrition and cooking interventions for adolescents transitioning to living on their own. Our focus is on safe food prep, sourcing, budgeting, and preservation with an emphasis on the health benefits of the food we choose.
Our CART program was developed for young chefs ages 11-18 including children and adolescents with disabilities that display an early aptitude and interest in a career in culinary arts. We instill the importance of safe food prep, food sourcing, budgeting, and from scratch cooking. We work with local Culinary Training certification programs to mentorships that segue these budding culinary artists into local programs.

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 November 6, 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 June 2020.
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 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.