Teen Kitchen Project

What it reported doing in 2024

Tkp's main program is the medically-tailored meals program. In this program, volunteer and employed teens between the ages of 14-18 join professional chefs in a commercial kitchen to prepare nutritious, medically tailored meals that are delivered to individuals and families impacted by illness.clients served: in fiscal year (fy) 2024-2025, tkp delivered 203,119 meals to individuals and families in santa cruz county impacted by life-threatening illness. In total, 1,098 households received medically tailored food deliveries including meals, groceries, and produce boxes.the medically tailored meals program meets the needs of critically and chronically ill people in santa cruz county who are low-income, lack a support network of family or friends, and/or do not qualify for other free meal delivery services. Among tkp clients served, 100% had a medical diagnosis (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart disease, recent surgery), 86% were low-income (earning less than 200% below the poverty level), 58% were seniors aged 60 and above, 40% were people of color, and 20% were spanish speakers.during fy 2023-2024, post-service surveys showed 75% of clients served learned more about healthy cooking and eating and 88% saw improvements in their health condition as a result of eating healthier foods. The impact of the meal delivery program is illustrated in the following quote from one of tkp's clients: "tkp was crucial in keeping me nourished in the final stages of my cancer treatment. Having a reliable meal, prepared with love, really reduced my stress and aided my recovery."teen engagement: the meal delivery program also benefits local teens by providing them with valuable life skills and the opportunity to give back to their community. During fy 2024-2025, tkp engaged 175 teen employees/volunteers in preparing and packaging meals. All teens went through an interview process, attended a kitchen orientation, and participated in knife skills and food safety training. Teen chefs each spend an average of 140 hours during the 20-week cohort learning how to prepare healthy food. Post-participation surveys consistently showed that teen chefs reported increased confidence in their cooking skills and cooking more healthy meals from scratch at home. They also report eating healthier in general.since january 2022, tkp contracted with a local medi-cal managed care plan to provide their members a medically tailored meal benefit. In fy 2025, tkp continued to invest in additional staffing, technology, and kitchen equipment to increase meal capacity. The contract with the medi-cal health plan, and other local government contracts, enabled tkp to stabilize its earned income through contracts in fy 25. Continued work on strategic plan: over the next year, tkp will continue to focus on three strategic goals: 1) expanding facilities to increase meal capacity and prepare for future growth; 2) increasing awareness, involvement, and support of the organization by target audiences; and 3) attracting and retaining a qualified, mission-driven workforce and board of directors capable of strengthening systems and processes.policy work: tkp is a member of the California food is medicine coalition (calfimc), and is actively working at the state level to advocate for medically tailored nutrition programs, including meals, groceries, produce boxes, and nutrition counseling and education for all californians.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.7%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 79.5%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.5 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -1.4%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.73; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.54; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.4%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 27.9% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings