The Community Kitchen
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDING FOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY, CONVERSATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LONELY, REST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, AND A VOICE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.
- Income
- $596,661
- Spending
- $674,834
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 866
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $490,952 spent. EVERY SINGLE DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, MORE THAN 160 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, RELY ON THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN FOR A HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEAL AND A SAFE PLACE TO BELONG. BECAUSE WE ARE LOW-BARRIER, NO DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED, AND OPEN DAILY, WE ARE OFTEN THE FIRST PLACE AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY TURNS TO WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT ENOUGH FOOD. FOR SOME, THIS NEED ARISES SUDDENLY DUE TO JOB LOSS, A REDUCTION IN BENEFITS, OR AN UNEXPECTED ADDITION TO THE HOUSEHOLD. FOR OTHERS, IT MAY BE TIED TO ONGOING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.ONCE PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH OUR SERVICES, WE WORK TO CONNECT THEM WITH LONGER-TERM SUPPORT. FOR SOME, THE KITCHEN IS A TEMPORARY LIFELINE UNTIL STABILITY IS RESTORED. FOR OTHERS, SUCH AS ELDERLY OR DISABLED GUESTS, IT REMAINS A CONSISTENT SOURCE OF BOTH NOURISHMENT AND COMMUNITY.OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ENSURE PEOPLE HAVE THE FOOD THEY NEED TO SURVIVE TODAY, WHILE OFFERING THAT FOOD IN A WAY THAT FOSTERS DIGNITY AND HUMAN CONNECTION. OUR LONGER-TERM VISION IS TO HELP GUESTS ACCESS PATHWAYS TO STABILITY, REDUCING THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY FOOD SERVICES IN THE FUTURE.IN 2025, THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1469 UNDUPLICATED GUESTS EACH MONTH, ANTICIPATING OVER 173,000 MEALS TO HELP MEET THEIR FOOD GOALS. NEARLY HALF OF THESE GUESTS WILL ALSO BE CONNECTED TO OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, 4,000 MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS FACING MOBILITY OR TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS. WITHOUT THE KITCHEN, NEARLY 70% OF GUESTS REPORT THEY WOULD SKIP MEALS, AND 18% WOULD DILUTE THEIR FOOD TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER. BY OFFERING FREE, NUTRITIOUS MEALS, THE KITCHEN ENSURES THAT NO ONE IN THE COMMUNITY GOES WITHOUT FOOD, FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.