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Kauai Food Bank Inc

EIN 99-0317431 · Lihue, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FOOD BANK IS TO EDUCATE, PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY, AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
19.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
7

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $484,385 spent. THE KAUAI INDEPENDENT FOOD BANK (KIFB) UTILIZES GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND FOOD DRIVES TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY PEOPLE OF KAUAI. KIFB OPERATES FOUR CORE PROGRAMS: EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION, KEIKI (CHILDREN) CAF, BACKPACK PROGRAM, AND KUPUNA (SENIOR ADULTS) PROGRAM. BOTH PURCHASED AND DONATED FOODS ARE STORED AT OUR WAREHOUSE AT 3285 WAAPA ROAD IN LIHUE, HI, WHERE FOOD IS INVENTORIED, CATEGORIZED BY TYPE OF FOOD USING OUR FOOD BANK CATEGORIES. IN 2024, KIFB PROVIDED 322,490 POUNDS OF FOOD VIA OUR FOUR CORE PROGRAMS. THIS EQUATES TO MORE THAN 392,000 MEALS FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ON KAUAI. KIFB CONTINUES TO SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN DEMAND FOR URGENT/EMERGENCY FOOD RESOURCES DUE TO CUTS IN FOOD SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS, JOB LOSSES, AND THE EXTREMELY HIGH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD PURCHASES ON KAUAI. IN 2024, 3,105 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY OUR EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, INCLUDING OUR BI-MONTHLY COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY "ON- DEMAND" DISTRIBUTIONS DIRECTLY FROM THE WAREHOUSE DOOR, AND SPECIAL "EVENT" DISTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS HOLIDAY DRIVE THROUGH DISTRIBUTION HELD IN NOVEMBER. THE KAUAI INDEPENDENT FOOD BANK (KIFB) UTILIZES GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND FOOD DRIVES TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY PEOPLE OF KAUAI. KIFB OPERATES FOUR CORE PROGRAMS: EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION, KEIKI (CHILDREN) CAF, BACKPACK PROGRAM, AND KUPUNA (SENIOR ADULTS) PROGRAM. BOTH PURCHASED AND DONATED FOODS ARE STORED AT OUR WAREHOUSE AT 3285 WAAPA ROAD IN LIHUE, HI, WHERE FOOD IS INVENTORIED, CATEGORIZED BY TYPE OF FOOD USING OUR FOOD BANK CATEGORIES. IN 2024, KIFB PROVIDED 322,490 POUNDS OF FOOD VIA OUR FOUR CORE PROGRAMS. THIS EQUATES TO MORE THAN 392,000 MEALS FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ON KAUAI. KIFB CONTINUES TO SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN DEMAND FOR URGENT/EMERGENCY FOOD RESOURCES DUE TO CUTS IN FOOD SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS, JOB LOSSES, AND THE EXTREMELY HIGH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD PURCHASES ON KAUAI. IN 2024, 3,105 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY OUR EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, INCLUDING OUR BI-MONTHLY COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY "ON- DEMAND" DISTRIBUTIONS DIRECTLY FROM THE WAREHOUSE DOOR, AND SPECIAL "EVENT" DISTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS HOLIDAY DRIVE THROUGH DISTRIBUTION HELD IN NOVEMBER.
  2. $71,239 spent. THE KEIKI CAF PROGRAM SERVED BETWEEN 611-700 KEIKI A NUTRITIOUS SNACK EVERY PROGRAM DAY AT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE ISLAND. THESE LOCATIONS INCLUDED BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, A+ PROGRAMS, AND COUNTY OF KAUAI PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM IS YEAR-ROUND, FOLLOWING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE), STATE OF HAWAII SCHOOL CALENDAR AND COVERED 8 WEEKS DURING SUMMER BREAK. PROGRAM NUMBERS FOR ALL PROGRAMS FLUCTUATE DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, IN RESPONSE TO DEMAND, ENROLLMENT, AND OTHER FACTORS.
  3. $49,573 spent. THE BACKPACK PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO PREVENT HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY ON WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, WHEN LOW- AND NO-COST MEALS AND SNACKS ARE UNAVAILABLE. IN 2024, KIFB SENT HOME 225 FOOD-FILLED BACKPACKS EVERY WEEK FOR KEIKI TO PROVIDE FOOD SECURITY FOR WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. IN 2024, THIS PROGRAM RAN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE DOE SCHOOL CALENDAR AND DID PROVIDE BACKPACKS AS NEEDED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
  4. $46,068 spent. THE KUPUNA PROGRAM PROVIDES MONTHLY DELIVERY OF FOOD TO HOMEBOUND KUPUNA. IN 2024, 250 KUPUNA RECEIVED MONTHLY FOOD BOXES/BAGS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR FOOD RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM RAN YEAR-ROUND IN 2024 AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.
  5. THE KUPUNA PROGRAM PROVIDES MONTHLY DELIVERY OF FOOD TO HOMEBOUND KUPUNA. IN 2024, 250 KUPUNA RECEIVED MONTHLY FOOD BOXES/BAGS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR FOOD RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM RAN YEAR-ROUND IN 2024 AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1995.

    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.