Community Kitchen Pittsburgh
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COMMUNITY KITCHEN PITTSBURGH IS A NONPROFIT FOOD SERVICE COMPANY. BECAUSE POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY AND EMPLOYMENT ARE ENTWINED ISSUES, WE WORK ACROSS THESE FOCUS AREAS, ENGAGING IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: "CULINARY BASED WORKFORCE TRAINING: WE OFFER A 12 WEEK CULINARY BASED TRAINING PROGRAM TARGETING CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED, LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. OUR CLIENTS ARE TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION, HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION AND OTHER BARRIERS. WE PROVIDE APPLIED TRAINING IN OUR COMMISSARY KITCHEN BASED ON AN ESTABLISHED, PROVEN CURRICULUM, ALONG WITH REMEDIAL MATH, FINANCIAL LITERARY, SERVICE REFERRALS & EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS. WE WORK WITH CLIENTS ON JOB SEARCH & PLACEMENT,AND FOLLOW THEM FOR 12 MONTHS POST-PLACEMENT TO ENSURE RETENTION. "FOOD SERVICES: WE UTILIZE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF SHORT-SHELF-LIFE FRESH PRODUCT EVERY MONTH THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE THROWN AWAY, AND USE THAT TO PREPARE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH C
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 135
- Highest pay
- $109,000, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
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 June 30, 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)
- $3.8 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM WE OPERATE TWO WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO SEVERAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS LINES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. WE ALSO OPERATE FOUR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP TRACKS THOUGH PA DEPT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY. WE COVER ABOUT 50% OF OUR BUDGET THROUGH EARNED REVENUE FROM OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, AND THE REST COMES FROM CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND GOVERMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING CONTRACTS. WE PROVIDE CULINARY TRAINING TO HARDTO-SERVE, CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED ADULTS. OUR CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM IS A 12-WEEK FULL-TIME PROGRAM THAT PREPARES ADULTS FOR WORK IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY. OUR CLIENTS COME TO US EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION, ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS, POVERTY, TRAUMA, LACK OF EDUCATION (INCLUDING A PERCENTAGE WITHOUT A GED OR HS DIPLOMA), AND USUALLY A COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE OF THESE MAJOR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT TO ADULTS WITH CULINARY EXPERIENCE WHO ARE SERVING THE LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS OF A JAIL/PRISON SENTENCE AND DEALING WITH REENTRY CHALLENGES. WE PROVIDE TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT TO BRIDGE THEIR RELEASE, ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONAL DIFFICULTIES (OFTEN THIS INCLUDES SECURING APPROVED HOUSING POSTRELEASE), AND HELP THEM OBTAIN PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. COMMUNITY KITCHEN PITTSBURGH IS A KEY PARTNER IN A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CAREER PATHWAY SYSTEM FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND OTHER CHRONICALLY UN/UNDER-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. WE INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING MODELS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY BEGINNING WITH RECRUITING AN INDIVIDUAL (CLIENT), IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS, FOLLOWING THEIR SPECIFIC TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, SUPPORTING THEM IN RETENTION AND ASSISTING THEM WITH WAGE PROGRESSION. WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH DEPARTMENT WORKING IN SCHOOLS AND IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS PROVIDING COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND PROMOTIONAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTING OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND ENGAGING CHEFS AND OTHER INDUSTRY PEOPLE IN OUR MISSION. THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAMMING IS CONSISTENTLY RATED VERY HIGH BY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. WE INTERACT WITH AROUND 200 STUDENTS PER MONTH. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM WE OPERATE TWO WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO SEVERAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS LINES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. WE ALSO OPERATE FOUR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP TRACKS THOUGH PA DEPT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY. WE COVER ABOUT 50% OF OUR BUDGET THROUGH EARNED REVENUE FROM OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, AND THE REST COMES FROM CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND GOVERMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING CONTRACTS. WE PROVIDE CULINARY TRAINING TO HARDTO-SERVE, CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED ADULTS. OUR CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM IS A 12-WEEK FULL-TIME PROGRAM THAT PREPARES ADULTS FOR WORK IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY. OUR CLIENTS COME TO US EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION, ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS, POVERTY, TRAUMA, LACK OF EDUCATION (INCLUDING A PERCENTAGE WITHOUT A GED OR HS DIPLOMA), AND USUALLY A COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE OF THESE MAJOR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT TO ADULTS WITH CULINARY EXPERIENCE WHO ARE SERVING THE LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS OF A JAIL/PRISON SENTENCE AND DEALING WITH REENTRY CHALLENGES. WE PROVIDE TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT TO BRIDGE THEIR RELEASE, ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONAL DIFFICULTIES (OFTEN THIS INCLUDES SECURING APPROVED HOUSING POSTRELEASE), AND HELP THEM OBTAIN PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. COMMUNITY KITCHEN PITTSBURGH IS A KEY PARTNER IN A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CAREER PATHWAY SYSTEM FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND OTHER CHRONICALLY UN/UNDER-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. WE INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING MODELS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY BEGINNING WITH RECRUITING AN INDIVIDUAL (CLIENT), IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS, FOLLOWING THEIR SPECIFIC TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, SUPPORTING THEM IN RETENTION AND ASSISTING THEM WITH WAGE PROGRESSION. WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH DEPARTMENT WORKING IN SCHOOLS AND IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS PROVIDING COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND PROMOTIONAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTING OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND ENGAGING CHEFS AND OTHER INDUSTRY PEOPLE IN OUR MISSION. THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAMMING IS CONSISTENTLY RATED VERY HIGH BY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. WE INTERACT WITH AROUND 200 STUDENTS PER MONTH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 2013.
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 November 4, 2026.
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