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Meals on Wheels New Mexico

EIN 85-0307043 · Albuquerque, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Delivering healthy meals and friendship neighbor to neighbor. The Organization cooks, prepares, and delivers meals to hungry people across New Mexico and provides contact with these people to ensure that their dietary health and other needs are met.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
43
Volunteers
470
Highest pay
$141,159, executive dir.

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% 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

    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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.7 million spent. Meals Program: In 2025 Meals on Wheels New Mexico delivered 267,730 meals to over 2,100 hungry neighbors across Albuquerque and New Mexico. We are the only home delivered meal program in our area providing eight different types of special diets. We provide these special diets for a variety of needs, including diabetes, renal failure, heart issues, chewing and swallowing problems, etc. Through grants, donations, and the support of the community we can provide free or subsidized meals to those who meet income guidelines.
  2. $166,425 spent. Forage: Forage is a fresh food vending machine featuring grab-and-go food items from both local vendors and in-house products. These fresh food vending machines are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week at various locations across the city where fresh food may be hard to come by (such as emergency rooms, ambulance bays, and large office buildings). Organizations pay a fee to have a Forage machine on site, and Meals on Wheels NM stocks and manages the machine weekly. Any profit made from the Forage brand goes directly back to the Meals on Wheels program in support of our home-delivered meal program. In 2025, Forage had 15 machines across the City of Albuquerque.
  3. $77,782 spent. Local Harvest: Through our Local Harvest program, Meals on Wheels New Mexico is purchasing locally farmed fruits and vegetables for use in our meals. The program allows us to support local farmers, our economy, and the environment while providing our clients with fresh and healthy produce that they would be unable to obtain on their own. In 2025, Meals on Wheels purchased over 50,000 pounds of local product for use in our foods!
  4. $54,169 spent. Pet Program: Our Pet Program provides healthy food and more to our clients pets. Having a pet is proven to ease depression and relieve feelings of isolationsomething many of our clients struggle with daily. Services include food, mobile or emergency veterinary care, mobile grooming, dog walks, emergency boarding, pet pantry items, and more. In 2025 we provided Pet Program services to over 286 pets!

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 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 2025.

    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 May 1986.

    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.