San Francisco Food Bank
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO END HUNGER IN SAN FRANCISCO AND MARIN COUNTIES BY SOLICITING FOOD DONATIONS NATIONALLY, DISTRIBUTING THIS FOOD TO QUALIFYING PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD PANTRIES, ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED GOVERNMENT FOOD PROGRAMS, AND RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS.
- Income
- $167.1 million
- Spending
- $169.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 277
- Volunteers
- 55,000
- Highest pay
- $410,617, 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: 73 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 (4)
- $137.7 million spent. PANTRY PROGRAMS:2,165,844 INDIVIDUALS SERVED.ONGOING PANTRY PROGRAMSTHE FOOD BANK HAS A VARIETY OF ONGOING FOOD PANTRY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A LIFELINE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP. OVER 225 PANTRIES PROVIDE FOOD TO LOW INCOME SENIORS, FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS, ENABLING THEM TO PLAN AND PREPARE MEALS IN THEIR OWN HOMES, AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH, NORMALCY AND DIGNITY. RELYING LARGELY ON THE SUPPORT OF GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS, THE FOOD BANK OPERATES THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PANTRIES: (PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)-HEALTHY CHILDREN PANTRIES--THIS PROGRAM COMBATS CHILD HUNGER BY DISTRIBUTING NUTRITIOUS FOODS EVERY WEEK IN FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, PARENTING SUPPORT CENTERS AND OTHER CHILD FOCUSED LOCATIONS. -SENIOR PANTRIES AND HOME DELIVERED GROCERIES--THESE PROGRAMS ENABLE THE FOOD BANK TO HELP LOW INCOME SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES SECURE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES WEEKLY GROCERIES TO THOUSANDS OF OLDER ADULTS STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE.-NEIGHBORHOOD PANTRIES--THE FOOD BANK ESTABLISHED A NETWORK OF WEEKLY PANTRIES TO SERVE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES AND REACH TARGET POPULATIONS IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE. THE COMMUNITY FOOD PARTNERS PANTRIES DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO FAMILIES LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PANTRIES DISTRIBUTE EASILY PREPARED FRESH AND PACKAGED PRODUCTS TO FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN PERMANENT HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY NETWORK PANTRIES DISTRIBUTES SUPPLEMENTAL WEEKLY GROCERIES TO WORKING POOR FAMILIES AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS. POP-UP PANTRIES PROVIDED WEEKLY GROCERIES THROUGH 15 LARGE SCALE PANTRIES ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC FOR THOSE WHO LOST ACCESS TO FOOD OR FOUND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. THESE PANTRIES CLOSED IN JUNE 2025 AS BOTH FEDERAL AND LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM (BOTH FOOD AND FINANCIAL) HAD ENDED.
- $8.7 million spent. AGENCY DISTRIBUTION SHOPPING PROGRAM: MORE THAN 225 OF THE FOOD BANK'S MEMBER AGENCIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY CENTERS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SENIOR PROGRAMS, AIDS SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS, VISIT THE WAREHOUSE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SELECT BREAD, DRY GOODS, MEAT AND FRESH PRODUCE FOR THEIR CLIENTS.
- $8.0 million spent. SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR SENIORS: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A MONTHLY BOX OF NUTRITIOUS USDA FOOD TO MORE THAN 10,500 LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS.
- $3.8 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, ADVOCACY, AND VOICETHE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND VOICE (SPAV) DEPARTMENT COLLABORATES WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, PARTNERS, AND PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES, ACTIONS, AND SOLUTIONS AIMED AT REDUCING BARRIERS AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO FOOD AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, IT ADVOCATES WITH COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPANTS FOR POLICY CHANGES AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF HUNGER. THE FOOD BANK IS LEADING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER THROUGH MULTIPLE INNOVATION PILOTS THAT WILL CHANGE THE FOOD BANKING INDUSTRY. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HERE ARE THE INNOVATION PILOTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY:-COMMUNITY MARKETS: THE FOOD BANK IS PILOTING COMMUNITY MARKETS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY CENTERED FOODS TO ADDRESS ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND CULTURAL FOOD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, PAIRED WITH COORDINATED SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY. COMMUNITY MARKETS ARE A TRANSFORMATIVE VISION OF GOING FROM A TRADITIONAL 'PANTRY' MODEL THAT IS TRANSACTIONAL AND OPEN LIMITED HOURS WITH NO WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, TO LARGER MARKET-STYLE AGENCIES THAT ARE OPEN MULTIPLE DAYS AND/OR EXTENDED HOURS TO BE MORE CONVENIENT AND RELATIONAL. COMMUNITY MARKETS ARE DESIGNED TO BE EQUITY-CENTERED AND COMMUNITY-LED. -CAPACITY SEED FUNDING: CAPACITY SEED FUNDING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCELERATE THEIR EXISTING EFFORTS IN FOOD PROGRAMMING AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THEY ARE ABLE TO SERVE THROUGH ONE-TIME FUNDING AWARDS.THE FOOD BANK RECOGNIZES THAT TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER, POLICY CHANGES ON LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS MUST GIVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS AND ADDRESS GOVERNMENT BARRIERS IN ACCESSING BENEFIT PROGRAMS. ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE OPTIMIZING GOVERNMENT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (E.G., CALFRESH, THE STATE'S FOOD STAMP PROGRAM, AND SAN FRANCISCO'S PUBLIC SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM), ELIMINATING BUREAUCRACY AND BARRIERS THAT PREVENTS LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS FROM RECEIVING ASSISTANCE, IMPROVING PROGRAM QUALITY AND PARTICIPATION, AND OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO FOOD FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF SAN FRANCISCO AND MARIN. THE SF MARIN FOOD BANK'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS, IN COLLABORATION WITH COALITION PARTNERS, HAVE RESULTED IN REDUCING FOOD INSECURITY AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL GAPS WITHIN STATEWIDE PROGRAMS. HERE IS SOME OF WHAT IS INCLUDED FROM OUR FOOD EQUITY AGENDA IN THE STATE'S BUDGET FOR FY 25-26:-$60 MILLION TO SUSTAIN CALFOOD FUNDING, WHICH SUPPORTS FOOD BANKS IN PURCHASING CALIFORNIA GROWN OR PRODUCED FOOD.-$35 MILLION FOR THE CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVES PROGRAM (CNIP), WHICH ENCOURAGES THE PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION OF HEALTHY, CALIFORNIA-GROWN FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND NUTS BY NUTRITION BENEFIT CLIENTS. -ADDITIONAL $90.7 MILLION FOR SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL AND $160 MILLION FOR KITCHEN UPGRADES AT SCHOOLS. -$40 MILLION FOR SUN BUCKS, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING TO FAMILIES DURING THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL LUNCHES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
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 1992.
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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