Organic Soup Kitchen

What it reported doing in 2025

Organic soup kitchen program description basic needs food security soupmeal delivery program: organic soup kitchen's flagship program provides nutrient-dense soupmeals to food-insecure individuals throughout santa barbara county. This essential service addresses the basic need for reliable, healthy nutrition among low-income seniors, and individuals facing chronic illness, each soupmeal is handcrafted using locally sourced, organic ingredients and is delivered weekly, ensuring clients receive consistent nourishment to support overall health and well-being. The program operates on a zero-waste model, incorporating food recovery practices to reduce environmental impact while feeding the community.medically tailored meals program: in partnership with healthcare providers including cencal health, organic soup kitchen's medically tailored meals program serves individuals diagnosed with cancer and other critical illnesses. Each soupmeal is designed by nutritionists and chefs to meet specific dietary needs based on a client's medical condition, treatment plan, and recovery goals. Meals are anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and easy to digestproviding therapeutic nourishment that supports healing and enhances quality of life. Clients also receive wellness support and nutrition education as part of a holistic care approach. This program not only improves health outcomes, but also reduces hospital readmissions and lowers healthcare costs.together, these programs form a critical safety net for the most vulnerable in our communityensuring that no one facing illness, poverty, or isolation is left hungry.return to vitality: education lecture series: this is organic soup kitchen's educational lecture series designed to empower low-income seniors and individuals living with cancer or chronic illness with practical, evidence-based nutrition and wellness knowledge. Grounded in osk's food-as-medicine approach, the series translates complex health information into accessible, actionable tools that participants can apply in their daily lives.led by registered dietitians, healthcare professionals, and wellness experts, each lecture explores topics such as anti-inflammatory nutrition, immune-supportive foods, managing symptoms through diet, hydration and digestion, and strategies for sustaining energy and vitality while living with serious illness. The series emphasizes whole-food, organic nutrition and complements osk's medically tailored soupmeal programs.return to vitality goes beyond information-sharingit fosters confidence, connection, and resilience. Participants engage in interactive discussions, ask questions specific to their health needs, and receive culturally appropriate resources that reinforce long-term food security and wellness. By pairing education with nourishment, organic soup kitchen helps clients not only survive, but move toward improved quality of life, independence, and renewed vitality.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75%; rating input score 75
• Program expense ratio: 88.1%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $43.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • 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: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.2%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.66; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 32.8%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 19.4% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 19.7% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.1% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings