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Montgomery County Food Council Inc

EIN 82-4630058 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MCFC BUILDS AN EQUITABLE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND CULTIVATION.MCFC ENVISIONS A VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS HEALTHY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ECONOMY, AND ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
11
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$119,167, executive director

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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

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 (7)
  1. $403,972 spent. FOOD SECURITY - THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD SECURITY PLAN WAS RELEASED IN 2017, AND SERVES AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR HOW EVERY LOCAL BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND RESIDENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING ALL MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. MCFC'S NETWORK INCLUDES MORE THAN 75 FOOD ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND HUNDREDS OF FOOD SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS WHO CONVENE ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. MCFC REGULARLY LEADS CONVERSATIONS AMONG REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
  2. $180,655 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - COMMUNITY-WIDE EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON THE FOOD SYSTEM ELEMENTS HOLISTICALLY IN ORDER TO CULTIVATE A MORE RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE, AND EQUITABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
  3. $148,964 spent. POLICY - THE ORGANIZATION IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN URBAN AND RURAL POLICY AND PROCESS CHANGE.
  4. $95,230 spent. FOOD ECONOMY - THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENEURS, RETAILERS, RESTAURATEURS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS, AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES, AND THE EXPANSION OF THE MOCO MADE PROGRAM. THROUGH THE MOCO MADE PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE MORE THAN 75 MONTGOMERY COUNTY-BASED FOOD BUSINESSES AND FARMS THROUGH CONNECTIONS TO NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, NEW INDIVIDUAL, RETAIL, AND WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND EVENTS, AND MORE.
  5. $32,947 spent. FOOD COUNCIL - THE FOOD COUNCIL PROGRAM MANAGES THE RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND PARTICIPATION OF 25 VOLUNTEER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BRING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE, LEADERSHIP, AND NETWORK ENGAGEMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK.
  6. $15,127 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - MCFC SEEKS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY RELATED TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, BY COLLABORATING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT WILL PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
  7. $14,217 spent. FOOD EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOD EDUCATION INITIATIVES ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE EATING HABITS OF THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK, OR PLAY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THIS ENCOMPASSES EDUCATION RELATED TO GARDENING AND AGRICULTURE, FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, COOKING, SHOPPING FOR AND PREPARING FOOD, AND WASTE AVOIDANCE. HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD EDUCATION AND RESOURCES WILL EMPOWER MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES THAT SUPPORT THEIR HEALTH, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT.

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 March 2018.

    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.