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Marthas Kitchen

EIN 91-2091094 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARTHA'S KITCHEN RECYCLES PERISHABLE FOOD DONATED BY RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, FOOD BANKS, AND OTHER SOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HOT, NOURISHING MEALS AND FOOD TO NEEDY PERSONS. FOOD IS PROVIDED AT THE ORGANIZATION'S FACILITIES AS WELL AS FOODSTUFFS GIVEN TO FAMILIES IN HOME SETTINGS. FINALLY, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY RECEIVING PREPARED FOOD DIRECTLY FROM MARTHA'S KITCHEN FOR USE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL FACILITIES.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
16.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
25
Volunteers
1,773
Highest pay
$271,351, executive director

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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.2 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

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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)
  1. $5.9 million spent. MARTHA'S KITCHEN (THE ORGANIZATION") IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOT MEALS AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN IN THE 1960S WHEN FOUNDER LOUISE BENSON GAVE OUT PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES AND OTHER ESSENTIALS TO THE PEOPLE IN NEED FROM HER GARAGE IN THE WILLOW GLEN AREA OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. WHEN NEIGHBORS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LINES OF POOR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SHE MOVED HER MINISTRY TO HER HOME PARISH IN 1981. A FEW YEARS LATER, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABSORBED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES UNTIL 2001 WHEN IT WAS INCORPORATED AS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.THE ORGANIZATION LEASES KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM FACILITIES AT 311 WILLOW STREET, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA FROM THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 - 792,549 MEALS AND 1,451,417 POUNDS OF GROCERIES WERE EITHER SERVED AT THE FACILITY OR DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER FOOD SERVICE FACILITIES.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEALS AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025:-SANTA CLARA-SANTA CRUZ-SAN BENITO-SAN MATEO-FRESNO THE ORGANIZATION MEASURES SUCCESS BY COUNTING THE NUMBER OF MEALS PREPARED AND THE NUMBER OF SERVING SITES. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF MEALS IT PREPARES FROM LESS THAN 250,000 TO OVER 1,206,000 A YEAR; AND NEARLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS-SERVING SITES FROM 30 TO 57 AS OF YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT, THE ORGANIZATION NEARLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF HOT MEALS BEING SERVED. THE AMOUNT OF GROCERIES DISTRIBUTED HAS ALSO INCREASED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE ONSET OF COVID-19 AND THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION POUNDS OF GROCERIES IN THE PAST YEAR.THE ORGANIZATION IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. THIS NONPROFIT FOOD PROVIDER RECEIVED 18503 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME VALUED AT $742,710 DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 TO HELP WITH ITS MISSION OF FEEDING THE HUNGRY. THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME IS BASED ON THE ESTIMATED HOURLY VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AS DETERMINED BY INDEPENDENT SECTOR (INDEPENDENTSECTOR.ORG). THE LOCAL FOOD BANK AND GROCERY STORES AS WELL AS LARGE VENUES DONATED FOOD, PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, RENT AND SUPPLIES WHICH TOTALED $3,431,159 DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.

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

  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 June 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 January 2001.

    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.