Astoria Food Pantry

What it reported doing in 2025

Every week, we conduct at least 3, usually 5 or 6, food distributions. We purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, rice, and other staples for our three weekly food distributions at our community center on steinway, as well as for distributions at athens square park weekly and astoria houses every other week. Buying food each week allows us to provide consistency in the amount, type, and freshness of the food, and we supplement this purchased food with food that is donated to us. Through these distributions, we provide food to over 500 people per week. We also buy and distribute hot vegan meals at queensbridge houses, and we buy snacks, water, and meals on the go that we distribute on the streets and to people who are unhoused or living in shelters.we operate a community center at 2582 steinway street in astoria, ny. Most of this spending went to our rent, which was $4,000 per month, and the remaining was for office expenses (utilities, maintenance, and supplies to keep the space functional like trash bags, cleaning supplies, and lightbulbs.) we use the space at least 4 days per week for food, clothing, and book distributions. Whenever the space is not being used for a distribution, we offer it to community members to borrow for other mutual aid projects or to offer free or low-cost events to the public. This year, the space was regularly used for an english class, spanish class, a board game night, an open mic, an art supply swap, and a collective that supports transgender people. With our space, we are also able to host team members from the astoria worker project, a local effort of the consortium for worker education. They sublet an office for two of their staff members and use the common space of the community center when it's available to offer classes.every month, we buy and distribute diapers and baby wipes to the community. In 2025 this program was supported by a $15,000 grant from the stranahan foundation. We distribute these first come, first served, and each person gets one pack of diapers and one pack of wipes. We do these distributions during our monday food pantry, so anyone who comes for diapers can also pick up food. The funds are spent on new packages of diapers and wipes, and we also collect donations of baby needs and distribute them at that time. We try to always have formula and baby food available on that day. We also collect and distribute diapers and pads for adults, and occasionally buy those when we are understocked on donations.we operate a truck that is used for picking up and distributing food, clothes, books, or other needs for our programs. We take the truck out on three weekly food pick ups, two from grocery distributors and one from a large bread bakery. We also use the truck to bring food, clothes, and other supplies to distribute at astoria houses and queensbridge houses. The truck is used as needed to do distributions to people on the streets, in shelters, or at public schools. When available, our drivers also support other food pantries and mutual aid efforts with their pick ups and distributions.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 55.4%; rating input score 55
• Program expense ratio: 91.7%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $180.55 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 85.4%; rating input score 85; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 39.8%; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.26; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.37; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 32.1% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 53.6% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 76% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings