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Food Strong

EIN 83-1580187 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE FOOD JUSTICE IN NORTHEAST OHIO AND BEYOND BY BUILDING ENDURING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS FROM THE GROUND UP. WE BELIEVE FRESH, LOCAL FOOD, LIKE-MINDED RESIDENTS AND PASSIONATE PARTNERS CAN TRANSFORM UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THRIVING, SELF-SUSTAINING COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$648,139
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
7
Volunteers
834
Highest pay
$60,010, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 78% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $27,196 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - CARE-A-VAN, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATIONFOOD STRONG'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING BRINGS RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER AROUND FOOD ACCESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS, EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION. THROUGH CARE-A-VAN EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES, FOOD STRONG CREATES WELCOMING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN EAT, LEARN, GATHER, AND CONNECT WITH LOCAL FOODS AND VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES.CARE-A-VAN EVENTS FEATURE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, NUTRITION EDUCATION, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY-BUILDING, AND CONNECTIONS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES PROVIDED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS THE CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM AND CARE ALLIANCE, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS, ATTENDEES HAVE ACCESS TO FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS, EDUCATION, AND INFORMATION.FOOD STRONG ALSO OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION RELATED TO GARDENING, COOKING, COMPOSTING, FOOD SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS. THESE ACTIVITIES STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONSHIPS, INCREASE ACCESS TO PRACTICAL FOOD AND HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, AND SUPPORT RESIDENTS IN BUILDING HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
  2. $139,654 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION - FOOD SOVEREIGNTY SCHOOL PROGRAMFOOD STRONG'S FOOD SOVEREIGNTY SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS-ON EDUCATION IN GARDENING, CULINARY ARTS, NUTRITION, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR YOUTH ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED INSTITUTIONS, FOOD STRONG GUIDES YOUNG LEARNERS THROUGH PLANNING, BUILDING, PLANTING, MAINTAINING, AND HARVESTING FRESH FOOD, HERB, AND NATIVE FLOWER GARDENS.PROGRAMMING EMPHASIZES STEM, THE ARTS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, NUTRITION, FOOD JUSTICE, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. STUDENTS ALSO LEARN HOW TO PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS FROM SCRATCH USING MINIMALLY PROCESSED WHOLE FOODS. LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO SHOW THAT HEALTHY FOOD CAN BE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, QUICK TO PREPARE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, AND DELICIOUS.IN 2025, FOOD STRONG CONTINUED SERVING HUNDREDS OF YOUTH THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMMING, FIELD TRIPS, GARDEN LESSONS, COOKING EDUCATION, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. STUDENTS GAINED PRACTICAL SKILLS IN GROWING FOOD, PREPARING MEALS, UNDERSTANDING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, AND EXPLORING CAREER PATHWAYS CONNECTED TO AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $275,198 spent. URBAN RESTORATION - SUPERIOR AVENUE COMMUNITY FARM AND COIT ROAD LEARNING GARDENFOOD STRONG'S URBAN RESTORATION WORK FOCUSES ON TRANSFORMING LAND AND COMMUNITY SPACES INTO PLACES FOR FOOD PRODUCTION, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING.IN 2025, FOOD STRONG CONTINUED ITS WORK AT THE FOOD STRONG LEARNING GARDEN AT COIT ROAD FARMERS MARKET, WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED VOLUNTEER EVENTS, FIELD TRIPS, EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, GARDEN-BASED LEARNING, AND PRODUCE-GROWING ACTIVITIES. THE SITE SUPPORTED CULINARY EDUCATION, YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY MAINTENANCE EFFORTS. FOOD STRONG CONCLUDED ITS REGULAR OPERATIONS AT THE COIT ROAD LEARNING GARDEN IN FALL 2025 AS THE ORGANIZATION TRANSITIONED TOWARD DEEPER INVESTMENT IN ITS LONG-TERM HOME AT SUPERIOR AVENUE COMMUNITY FARM.FOOD STRONG ALSO ADVANCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERIOR AVENUE COMMUNITY FARM, A 2.85-ACRE SITE IN CLEVELAND'S ST. CLAIR-SUPERIOR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROPERTY INCLUDES AGRICULTURAL SPACE, HIGH-TUNNEL HOOP HOUSES, A FARMHOUSE, AND A LARGE FORMER CHURCH/SCHOOL BUILDING THAT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION. THIS SITE IS BEING DEVELOPED AS FOOD STRONG'S FUTURE HEADQUARTERS AND A COMMUNITY CAMPUS FOR FOOD ACCESS, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, AND URBAN AGRICULTURE.IN 2025, FOOD STRONG FOCUSED ON PHASE I RESTORATION AND LAND USE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SITE CLEANUP, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AGRICULTURAL PLANNING, INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND EARLY-STAGE IMPROVEMENTS. THIS WORK LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR A MULTI-PHASE RESTORATION PROCESS THAT WILL EXPAND FOOD STRONG'S CAPACITY TO SERVE YOUTH, FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS, AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS TO COME.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.