Home › Food, agriculture & nutrition
The Houston Food Bank
The Houston Food Bank reported $435.4 million in revenue and $429.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.68 went to program services, $4.88 to management and general costs and $1.44 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.9% of the total. Government grants made up 19.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $434,369 (President/CEO). 25 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 36% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $430MFor context, the median across 349 covered food, agriculture & nutrition charities: $94.56 programs, $3.12 management, $2.32 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $435MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.7% | 94.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.9% | 3.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 2.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.9% | 96.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 19.6% | 10.5% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $434,369 | $213,323 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.10% | 0.61% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 25 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.2 | 6.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFood distribution - food distribution is Houston Food Bank's core function. Food, including fresh produce and other select products, are distributed to hunger-relief agencies and other community service organizations including food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and multi-service centers. These entities then provide direct service to more than 1 million food-insecure individuals each year. The Houston Food Bank distributes the most food in the feeding america network of food banks
Child hunger initiatives - approximately 60% of children in the houston area rely on free and reduced lunch during the school year. Proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of children. Children without proper nutrition have difficulties concentrating in school, experience tardiness, and are more prone to chronic illness that can hinder their growth and advancement. The Houston Food Bank operates five programs that equip children and their families with tools they need to be successful: backpack buddy, kids cafe, school market, teachers aid, and nutrition education. Last year…
Community assistance program - Houston Food Bank's community assistance program (cap), educates the community about available social services and state-funded programs. Through certified community resource navigators, cap provides application and technical assistance for the following benefits: snap (supplemental nutrition assistance program), medicaid, tanf (temporary assistance for needy families), and chip (children's health insurance program). The Houston Food Bank can assist in submitting those applications electronically to the state. Cap also offers the referral partner program to…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $352,208 | $0 | $82,161 | $434,369 |
| Chief Impact Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $224,114 | $0 | $18,888 | $243,002 |
| Executive Gift Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $210,320 | $0 | $15,262 | $225,582 |
| Chief Human Resources Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $205,960 | $0 | $14,443 | $220,403 |
| Director of HR Operations Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $137,227 | $0 | $11,691 | $148,918 |
| Senior Director of Programs Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $127,029 | $0 | $16,752 | $143,781 |
| Director of Donor Engagement Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $129,210 | $0 | $11,897 | $141,107 |
| Director of Marketing and Communications Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $120,755 | $0 | $14,901 | $135,656 |
25 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Houston Food Bank (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5571
- Volunteers Part I, line 6149,970
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TELLEPSEN CORPORATION Architectural Services | $4,219,103 |
| KIRKSEY ARCHITECTS INC Architectural Services | $729,778 |
| RKD GROUP LLC Fundraising Solution | $371,186 |
| ADP LLC Payroll processing | $342,881 |
| FORVIS MAZARS LLP Accounting Services | $326,993 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
169 private foundations reported grants to The Houston Food Bank totaling $5.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Houston Food Bank's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Houston Food Bank, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Houston Food Bank spent in FY2025, $93.68 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Los Angeles Regional Food BankLos Angeles, CA · revenue $373M · programs 96.2% · 2025
- Feeding AmericaChicago, IL · revenue $5.00B · programs 98.3% · FY2025
- Second Harvest of Silicon ValleySan Jose, CA · revenue $310M · programs 94.2% · FY2025
- Second Harvest HeartlandBrooklyn Park, MN · revenue $277M · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- North Texas Food BankPlano, TX · revenue $273M · programs 94.8% · FY2025
All food, agriculture & nutrition charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of The Houston Food Bank's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Houston Food Bank reported that 93.7% of its $429.8 million in expenses went to program services, 4.9% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Houston Food Bank pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Houston Food Bank reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $434,369, for the role of President/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Houston Food Bank get its money?
Of $435.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.9% came from contributions and grants (including 19.6% from government grants) and 0.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Houston Food Bank a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-2181456 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621349349305107 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541359349304784 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411219349301436 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349317614 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241369349312294 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141339349302909 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-2181456: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.