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West Side Food Bank a Non-Profit Corporation

EIN 95-3685875 · Santa Monica, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WESTSIDE FOOD BANK ADDRESSES HUNGER IN WEST LOS ANGELES COUNTY, AN AREA THAT IS HOME TO OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE. OUR PARTNER AGENCIES OPERATE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN CULVER CITY, INGLEWOOD, THE LAX AREA, MALIBU, SANTA MONICA, VENICE, WEST LOS ANGELES, AND WEST HOLLYWOOD.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED 5,186,210 POUNDS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CONTINUING TO MEET ELEVATED COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT REMAIN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. DEMAND FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE INCREASED FURTHER IN THE WAKE OF THE JANUARY 2025 LOS ANGELES COUNTY WILDFIRES, WHICH DROVE A SHARP SPIKE IN NEED ACROSS THE REGION.APPROXIMATELY 52% OF THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED CONSISTED OF FRESH PRODUCE, HIGH-PROTEIN FOODS, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS, SUPPORTING THE HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED, WHILE LESS THAN 2% CONSISTED OF HIGH-SUGAR OR HIGH-SODIUM SNACK FOODS.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
16
Volunteers
2,300
Highest pay
$183,623, president & ceo

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $6.3 million spent. DURING FY 2024-25, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 5.2 MILLION POUNDS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD, EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY 4.3 MILLION MEALS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. OF THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED, 52% CONSISTED OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS OPTIONS TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.WESTSIDE FOOD BANK SERVED 140,298 UNDUPLICATED PEOPLE DURING THE YEAR, AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 40,000 INDIVIDUALS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR NETWORK BY ADDING FOUR NEW NONPROFIT PARTNER AGENCIES, FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR ABILITY TO REACH COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS OUR SERVICE AREA.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALSO REACHED HISTORIC LEVELS THIS YEAR. WESTSIDE FOOD BANK HOSTED 2,727 VOLUNTEERS DURING FY 2024-25, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WELCOMED IN A SINGLE YEAR IN OUR 42-YEAR HISTORY. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM THE 950 INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTEERED WITH US DURING FY 2023-24.IN ADDITION, DOZENS OF PARTNER AGENCIES WERE ABLE TO FOCUS MORE FULLY ON PROVIDING CRITICAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO THEIR CLIENTS BECAUSE THEY COULD RELY ON WESTSIDE FOOD BANK FOR A CONSISTENT SUPPLY OF FREE, HIGH-QUALITY GROCERIES.IN FY 2024-25, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK WELCOMED FOUR NEW NONPROFIT PARTNERS INTO OUR NETWORK: GRASS ROOTS NEIGHBORS, HOLMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, LA CARE, AND NEW DIRECTIONS MACARTHUR. GRASS ROOTS NEIGHBORS DELIVERS GROCERIES TO MORE THAN 70 FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES, WHILE HOLMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LA CARE, WE ARE HELPING CONNECT HEALTHCARE ACCESS WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD SUPPORT, AND NEW DIRECTIONS MACARTHUR SERVES VETERANS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THESE PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND OUR REACH AND STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT EVEN MORE WESTSIDE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD THEY DESERVE.DURING FY 24-25, OUR SUMMER CHILDREN'S NUTRITION PROGRAM HELPED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACCESS HEALTHY FOOD DURING THE SUMMER BREAK, A TIME WHEN SCHOOL MEALS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND FAMILY BUDGETS ARE STRETCHED THIN. THIS PROGRAM HAS CONSISTENTLY GROWN TO PROVIDE WEEKLY FOOD BOXES TO OVER 1,300 CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER. WHEN WILDFIRES STRUCK THE PALISADES IN JANUARY 2025, OUR COMMUNITY STEPPED UP IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS. IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, VISITS TO OUR FREE MOBILE FOOD MARKETS AND MEMBER AGENCY PANTRIES SURGED BY 30%. EVEN SEVEN MONTHS LATER, WE ARE STILL SEEING ELEVATED NEED AS MANY HOUSEHOLDS CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM DISPLACEMENT, JOB LOSS, AND OTHER HARDSHIPS CAUSED BY THE DISASTER. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS WHO GAVE MONEY, FOOD, AND SUPPLIES, AND TO THE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT LOANED TO US BY OTHER FOOD BANKS, WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.TOGETHER, WE BROUGHT RELIEF TO NEIGHBORS IMPACTED BY THE FIRES BY HOSTING MONTHLY EMERGENCY AID RESOURCE FAIRS WHERE WE DISTRIBUTED MEAL BOXES, FRESH PRODUCE, HYGIENE KITS, DIAPERS, BABY FORMULA, MASKS, WATER, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS. WE PARTNERED WITH CD 11 COUNCILWOMAN TRACI PARK AND HAVE HOSTED MULTIPLE EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION RESOURCE FAIRS AT THE WEST LA MUNICIPAL BUILDING PLAZA WHERE WE CONTINUE MEETING PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE PALISADES FIRE, INCLUDING A GROUP OF PALISADES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT EACH FIRE RELIEF RESOURCE FAIR SINCE WE STARTED HOLDING THEM. WE ALSO HAVE MORE SCHEDULED IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE INVITED COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS TO TABLE AT THESE EVENTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY OR RECOVERING FROM FIRES, JOB LOSS, AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE BUILDING PURCHASED BY WSFB DURING FY 2023-24 AT 1914 14TH STREET IS THE FIRST BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION HAS OWNED IN ITS MORE THAN 40-YEAR HISTORY. DURING FY 2024-25, THE BUILDING CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A CRITICAL OPERATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER HUB, WHERE VOLUNTEERS SORTED AND BOXED DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD FOR PROGRAMS INCLUDING WSFB'S SUMMER FOOD FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM AND FREE MOBILE MARKET DISTRIBUTIONS. THE ADDITIONAL DRY STORAGE SPACE REMAINS ESSENTIAL AS WSFB WORKS TO SUSTAIN ELEVATED LEVELS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC AND THE JANUARY 2025 LA COUNTY WILDFIRES THAT HAVE INCREASED COMMUNITY NEED.DURING FY 2024-25, WSFB WAS IN THE PERMITTING AND PLANNING PHASE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW FREEZER AND COOLER SPACE AT 1914 14TH STREET, WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD NO COLD STORAGE CAPACITY. THIS PROJECT ALLOWS WSFB TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE ITS ABILITY TO ACCEPT AND DISTRIBUTE DONATED FRESH PRODUCE, REFRIGERATED ITEMS, AND FROZEN FOODS THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD TO BE DECLINED DUE TO LIMITED COOLER AND FREEZER SPACE.
  2. $16,709 spent. WESTSIDE FOOD BANK HELD ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT, THE 34TH ANNUAL 5K HUNGER WALK, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2024. THE EVENT WAS DESIGNED TO BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE, WITH NO COST OR FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE, ENSURING BROAD COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FROM FOOD PANTRY CLIENTS AND PARTNER AGENCY STAFF TO DONORS AND CORPORATE SUPPORTERS.A TOTAL OF 763 INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED, WITH MORE THAN 400 PARTICIPANTS IN ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORTED EVENT OPERATIONS. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, CONGREGATIONS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED AN EVENT T-SHIRT AND SWAG BAG.PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAD THE OPTION TO RAISE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF WESTSIDE FOOD BANK'S HUNGER-RELIEF WORK THROUGH A PEER-TO-PEER FUNDRAISING PLATFORM. PARTNER AGENCIES WERE INVITED TO FORM FUNDRAISING TEAMS AND RETAIN 75% OF THE FUNDS RAISED TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS.THE HUNGER WALK CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A KEY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT LOCAL HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

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 October 13, 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 June 1983.

    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 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.