Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

What it reported doing in 2024

Community food partners - our work includes activities conducted to fulfill second harvest's mission to nourish and empower people in 46 counties across middle and west Tennessee so they can thrive. Specific programs within this category include: partner agencies - second harvest provided nearly 51 million pounds of food during the year ended june 30, 2025 (or more than 42 million meals) to approximately 410 not-for-profit agencies, including food pantries, congregate meal sites, and emergency food programs. These partners work throughout their respective communities to assist food insecure families. Grocery rescue - this program collects perishable and non-perishable food from over 515 retail partners for distribution to partner agencies and program sites. Products rescued and distributed include meat, produce, dairy, bread, bakery items, and dry products. During the year ended june 30, 2025, second harvest picked up directly or facilitated pickup by partner agencies over 14.7 million pounds of food (equivalent to more than 12.2 million meals).snap outreach - second harvest offers snap outreach through our neighbor care pantries, mobile pantry distributions, and partner agencies. Snap, previously known as food stamps, assists low-income individuals and families by providing monthly assistance to purchase food. Second harvest's client outreach staff share information about the nutrition benefits of snap, pre-screen participants, and help individuals complete the snap application. Outreach staff assisted in completing approximately 1,544 applications during the year ended june 30, 2025.manufacturing - second harvest operates a cook/chill operation, which is a method of food manufacturing and shelf-life extension that involves heating food, pumping the product into form-fill plastic bags that are heat sealed, then super cooled for approximately 45 minutes prior to freezing the product. For the year ended june 30, 2025 this program utilized more than 162,000 pounds of donated ingredients that would have otherwise been wasted. Additionally, this operation produces tray pack meals for children's feeding, senior nutrition and partner agencies that do direct home distribution to clients in need.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.6%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 95.8%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: $21.78 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 88.2%; rating input score 88; 21st 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: 4.5%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.59; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.1%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings