Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

What it reported doing in 2024

The food bank's nutrition programs focus on vulnerable populations, including rural neighbors, children, and seniors, and over 1.55 million pounds of food were acquired and distributed through these programs. Close to 9,000 children and their families were fed each month on average through several programs, including: the family backpack program which meets the needs of hungry children and their families by providing the foundation of family meals for weekends and extended breaks when children cannot access school-based programs; good food school markets partner with schools to provide to teens distributions, monthly and at school breaks, of nutrient-rich foods including fresh produce, at high school based pantries; kids cafe provides nutritious snacks and meals for at-risk children in after school programs; summer kid packs and summer feeding programs serve nourishing meals and snacks and provide bags of shelf-stable food at neighborhood recreation and community centers and churches when school is not in session. The senior nutrition programs delivered boxes of food monthly to 2,700 homebound and low-income seniors as well as individuals with special needs. The food pharmacy program supplies in-clinic food pantries in service of clinician referred patients with chronic health conditions and food insecurity with foods that meet their nutritional needs. The super pantry program is a six-week course managed by the Virginia cooperative extension which instructs low-income families in food preparation, basic budgeting, food safety and other life skills.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92.9%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 94.5%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $30.83 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 1.2%; rating input score 1; 6th 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; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.5%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.61; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.6%; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.7% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings