Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

PVLF operates three primary programs that together address food insecurity and strengthen community well-being:1.Hot Lunch Program: PVLF provides a complete, freshly prepared noontime meal five days a week, including holidays. Meals include salads, vegetables, fruits, breads, and protein sources such as meat, beans, or eggs. Most ingredients are provided by the USDA, Second Harvest Food Bank, and local donors.During the fiscal year, PVLF served approximately 25,000 meals to hungry individuals, an additional 2,000 meals to staff, volunteers, and trainees, and nearly 5,000 second helpingstotaling over 32,000 hot meals. These meals reduce hunger and provide consistent nutrition for vulnerable neighbors.2.Pantry Program: PVLFs pantry distributes groceries three days each week, offering fresh produce, protein, and culturally appropriate staples. In total, the pantry provided more than 425,000 meals equivalent throughout the year. During the holidays, PVLF provides bountiful boxes of chicken, ham, sliced turkey, pistachios, dried fruits, fresh vegetables, and hearty canned goods. Over 500 households (about 2,000 individuals) receive holiday food boxes each year.3.Community Support and Volunteer Engagement: PVLF collaborates with agencies including the County Health Services Agency, Homeless Persons Health Project, Dignity Health Mobile Outreach, Community Action Board, and Second Harvest Food Bank to connect program participants with health care, mental-health support, nutrition education, and application assistance for Medi-Cal and CalFresh. PVLF also provides referrals for immigration, housing, and utility assistance as needed.Over 300 volunteers contributed more than 14,000 hours of service, the equivalent of seven full-time employees. Volunteer opportunities are offered for students and adults seeking community service hours, job training, or personal fulfillment. In partnership with community agencies, PVLF provides placements for unemployed or under-employed youth and adults, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and adults transitioning from the CalWORKS program to gain work experience and re-enter the workforce.Together, these programs foster health, stability, and community connection for thousands of residents across southern Santa Cruz and northern Monterey Counties.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 58%; rating input score 58
• Program expense ratio: 85.3%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $35.27 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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; 63rd 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 35.2%; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.82; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.1%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 19.1% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings