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Ballard Food Bank

EIN 91-1428805 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BALLARD FOOD BANK'S MISSION IS TO BRING FOOD AND HOPE TO OUR NEIGHBORS... BECAUSE THERE CAN BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$17.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
34
Volunteers
1,785
Highest pay
$215,546, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 September 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 (2)
  1. $14.9 million spent. FOOD DISTRIBUTION - THE FOOD BANK, WHICH OPERATES LIKE A COMMUNITY MARKET, DISTRIBUTES HEALTHY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REQUIRING FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. FOR ITS HOME DELIVERY AND WEEKEND FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAMS, THE ORGANIZATION SERVICES EIGHT SEATTLE ZIP CODES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF BALLARD, MAGNOLIA, QUEEN ANNE, SOUTH LAKE UNION, FREMONT, PHINNEY RIDGE, GREENWOOD, GREENLAKE, AND LICTON SPRINGS. THE FOOD BANK AND HOME DELIVERY PROGRAMS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 5.08 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 127,212 VISITS AND DELIVERIES, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION'S KINDNESS CAFE PROVIDED 148,478 MEALS IN ITS THIRD YEAR. THE WEEKEND FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAM PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 25,363 BAGS OF FOOD TO APPROXIMATELY 778 STUDENTS IN THE SEATTLE AREA. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE INCREASED NUMBERS WITH MANY STILL RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC. DEMAND HAS ALSO INCREASED DUE TO A REDUCTION IN SNAP BENEFITS AND INFLATION. BALLARD FOOD BANK HAS 857 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS.
  2. $693,497 spent. CLIENT SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUB HAD OVER 14,693 CLIENT TOUCHPOINTS THROUGH ITS STAFF TEAM AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED MORE THAN $543,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH INCLUDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, RENT DEPOSITS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND ID LICENSE VOUCHERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 March 1989.

    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.