Petes Garden
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Pete's Garden recovers wholesome surplus prepared and perishable food from local businesses, repackages the food into family-sized meal portions, and distributes the free take-home meals to food-insecure families through various social service organizations. Pete's Garden also engages local food businesses and culinary arts students to prepare fresh healthy meals for Pete's Garden to distribute for free to food-insecure families through various social service organizations.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $86,677, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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, 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 (2)
- $861,809 spent. FOOD RECOVERY. Pete's Garden recovered and distributed approximately 180,000 pounds of healthy prepared foods in 2024. Recovered food consisted of approximately 50% prepared proteins, such as grilled chicken, grilled beef and turkey burgers, and meatballs, 10% prepared vegetables, 15% prepared starches such as mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, and cooked rice, and 25% mixed items such as soups and casseroles containing mixed ingredients. Recovered food portioned for family-size meals and distributed for free through various social service agencies that serve food-insecure families.
- $176,706 spent. Kids Feeding Kids. Pete's Garden distributed approximately 10,000 heat-and-serve meals in 2024. Each meal consisted of one serving of meat or plant-based protein and 1-2 servings of vegetables and/or starch. Meals were prepared by high school Family & Consumer Science and Culinary Arts students. Meals were donated to and distributed by various social service agencies that serve food insecure families.
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
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 October 13, 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 March 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 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.