Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

What it reported doing in 2024

Community Development Programs: We believe hunger and poverty are outcomes of broader systems and local policies that create a sense of powerlessness, resource inequity, and issues of under or over-representation. Our community development work focuses on groups, organizations, and governments to create opportunities for change in these systems. We lead initiatives that increase the capacity, engagement, and self-determination of community members and organizations to determine, enact, and sustain solutions to systemic problems and local issues. In the past fiscal year, we awarded $1,018,619 to partner organizations for projects to maintain or improve services, train and educate community members, address disparities with dignity, and change the conditions that cause food insecurity and poverty. Through Avanzando LLC, we provided fiscal sponsorship and technical assistance to 8 community groups. Each of these projects is in line with CFB's mission to build healthy, hunger-free communities. We continue to engage and train people in community-building events at Las Milpitas Community Farm and at Nuestra Tierra Garden. Our Santa Cruz River Farmers Market generated over $252,722 in direct-to-consumer sales. Of that total, 49% percent consisted of Public Assistance benefits including SNAP/food stamps, Double-Up Food Bucks (SNAP-match), and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons for low-income older adults and families with children. We convened the Farm-to-Institution Value Chain initiative to continue building institutional markets for local farm products, creating more than $650,000 in pre-season contracts with local farmers, and facilitating sales to institutional buyers. Through funding, technical assistance, and leadership development, we help to build resilient organizations and networks. As new leaders emerge and new needs arise, they are better able to weather storms and maintain healthy communities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 95.4%; rating input score 95
• Program expense ratio: 94%; rating input score 94
• Fundraising efficiency: $35.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.7%; rating input score 100; 43rd 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: 0.1%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.5%; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.4% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings