Plentiful
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
1. HELP KITCHEN'S MISSION IS TO HELP END HUNGER BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE WITH AVAILBLE PROVIDERS AND RESOURCES THAT FIT INTO THE BUSY SCHEDULES OF LOW INCOME, FOOD INSECURE FOLKS. SO OFTEN, EMERGENCY FOOD IS OPTIMIZED TO REDUCE COSTS FOR PROVIDERS, INSTEAD OF PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF THE BENEFICIARY AND MAKING IT EASY TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- 14.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $350,000, ceo
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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. IN 2024, HELP KITCHEN OFFERED TWO PRIMARY PRODUCTS TO HELP SUPPORT AND CONNECT THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM. THE FIRST IS AN ON DEMAND, EMERGENCY SERVICE APP TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE FIND FOOD IN REAL TIME. SOMEONE IN NEED CAN ACCESS THIS PROGRAM BY TEXTING "FOOD" TO PANTRY, AND THEN THROUGH A SERIES OF SIMPLE EXCHANGES THEY WOULD BE MATCHED WITH A NEARBY FOOD ACCESS POINT, USUALLY A FOOD PANTRY BUT IN SOME CASES THEY WERE DIRECTED TO HOT MEALS THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP AT RESTAURANTS. FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS CAN ALSO ACCESS THIS PROGRAM THROUGH AN APP (IOS OR ANDROID) OR ON THE WEB IN NINE LANGUAGES. THE SECOND PROGRAM IS AN APP FOR FOOD ACCESS POINTS TO MANAGE THEIR CHECK-IN, COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, AND HANDLE REPORTING ON THEIR IMPACT. THE MAJORITY OF FUNDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF THE HOT MEAL PROGRAM PAID FOR THE COST OF THE MEALS. THE MAJORITY OF FUNDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS PAID FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION ACTIVATION, ONBOARDING, AND SUPPORT. THESE PROGRAMS WERE ACTIVE IN A HANDFUL OF GEOGRAPHIES, BUT PRIMARILY NEW YORK CITY AND METRO DENVER.
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 December 2021.
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.