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Refed Inc

EIN 83-1579781 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REFED CATALYZES THE FOOD SYSTEM TOWARD EVIDENCE-BASED ACTION TO STOP WASTING FOOD FOR THE CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, AND THE ECONOMY.

Income
$13.2 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
32
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$297,550, president

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.5 million spent. CAPITAL & INNOVATION PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S CAPITAL & INNOVATION DIVISION CONTINUED TO FUND AND UNLOCK ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCING SOLUTIONS TO FOOD WASTE THROUGH THE CATALYTIC GRANT FUND. TO DATE THE FUND HAS UNLOCKED AT LEAST $30M IN FUNDING FOR ITS PORTFOLIO OF GRANTEES REPRESENTING A 15X IMPACT OF REFED'S INITIAL GRANT INVESTMENT. IN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CAPITAL PROVIDERS AND THOSE SEEKING CAPITAL, REFED CURATED 17 CONNECTIONS LEADING TO FUNDING. MORE BROADLY, WE IDENTIFIED AND PROMOTED 132 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES VALUED AT OVER $240M THROUGH DEAL FLOW REPORTS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. DATA & INSIGHTS PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S INSIGHTS ENGINE HAS NOW REACHED OVER 195,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS DOCUMENTED NEARLY 3,000 MEANINGFUL USE CASES OF STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGING WITH AND APPLYING THE DATA AND INSIGHTS SHARED WITHIN. REFED ALSO MIGRATED ITS DATA COLLECTION CAPABILITIES TO A WEB-BASED APPLICATION IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE FOOD BUSINESS DATA REPORTING, ENHANCE SECURITY CAPABILITIES, AND INCREASE DATA PROCESSING EFFICIENCIES. REFED ALSO ADVANCED NEW RESEARCH TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD WASTE AND RELATED SOLUTIONS IN METHANE EMISSION FACTORS, PRODUCTION LOSSES IN BEEF AND DAIRY, ENHANCED SOLUTION MODELING IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, AND WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSES OF BEEF, YOGURT, POTATOES, STRAWBERRIES, PLUMS, AND BANANAS.
  3. $1.9 million spent. BUSINESS INITIATIVES PROGRAM SERVICES ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED NOTABLY EXPANDED THE MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES OF THE U.S. FOOD WASTE PACT, A NATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT DESIGNED TO HELP WASTE-GENERATING BUSINESSES ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. MEMBERSHIP NOW INCLUDES FOOD BUSINESSES FROM RETAIL, FOOD SERVICE, MANUFACTURING, AND QSR SECTORS, INCLUDING REPRESENTING OVER 60% OF THE U.S. RETAIL MARKET SHARE AS MEASURED BY RETAIL SALES. REFED ALSO CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CLIENT-FACING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL FOOD BUSINESSES, HELPING TO ALIGN FOOD WASTE REDUCTION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES. IN TOTAL, REFED ENGAGED 46 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE YEAR.
  4. $420,722 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND MOVEMENT BUILDING EFFORTS HAVE HELPED TO BUILD AN ENGAGED AUDIENCE OF NEARLY 27,000 STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM. THE ANNUAL FOOD WASTE SOLUTIONS SUMMIT WELCOMED 727 ATTENDEES, ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE TO-DATE. REFED ALSO HOSTED 7 WEBINARS AND ENGAGED IN 36 ADDITIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. OUR MEDIA REACH INCLUDED 429 MEDIA MENTIONS AND AN OVERALL REACH OF 5 BILLION.

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 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 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 July 2019.

    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.