Foodwise Community
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Foodwise grows thriving communities through the power and joy of local food. We envision a world that nourishes all people, local economies, and the living earth.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 48%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 181
- Highest pay
- $165,640, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 March 31, 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)
- $977,424 spent. Education Programs: Foodwise's educational initiatives inspire eaters of all ages to participate in cultivating a healthy food system. Our elementary school program Foodwise Kids is a free field trip and cooking class that uses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as a classroom for empowering the next generation of healthy eaters. This year we were able to return to fully in-person education to nurture childrens love for fruits and vegetables, teach them to prepare healthy, seasonal foods, and raise their awareness of their role in a sustainable food system. Foodwise Teens, a youth development and entrepreneurship program, gives high school students the opportunity learn about gardening, sustainability, and nutrition and gain valuable job skills in business, marketing, and sales. This year we increased more of our adult-focused programming with free cooking demos, and sustainability talks to connect people and build community around healthy, seasonal food. Our goal in all of our programs is to provide the opportunity for our community to deepen their understanding of and engagement in sustainable food systems.
- $694,583 spent. Farmers Market Programs: Foodwise Community has managed the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco since 1994, and the Mission Community Market in San Francisco since 2017. Foodwise's markets are certified farmers markets renowned for diverse offerings of high-quality, delicious local products. We pride ourselves on activation of our farmers markets as educational tools for cultivating a healthy food system (see Education programs narative). At Foodwise we help make healthy food affordable through food access programs like Market Match, which doubles shoppers' CalFresh (food stamp) benefits at the farmers market,while directly supporting our local farmers. Since the pandemic the need for this program has tripled, as more families need assistance putting fresh, delicious food on the table. We also support early stage BIPOC food entreprenues through our Building Equity program, which offers business development resources and opportunities for these entrepreneurs to market-test and sell their products and build a customer base at our farmers markets. The goal of the program is to support business growth, economic viability, and asset-building for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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 March 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 July 1996.
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.