Maryland Food Bank

What it reported doing in 2024

The Maryland food bank (mfb) provides food assistance to individuals and families in need through a statewide food assistance network of community partners, from the western mountains to the eastern shore. In fy25, mfb, through this food assistance network, distributed 52.3 million pounds of food to individuals in need, enough food to provide 43.6 million meals. Our trucks were on the road nearly every day, distributing donated and purchased food to a network of almost 800 community-based partners. The Maryland food bank served an estimated 1,021,729 neighbors in fy25, across 21 Maryland counties and baltimore city. At mfb, food is just the beginning. We are meeting the need for access to nutritious food and we are building pathways to food security to reduce the need for food access long-term. Distributing food efficiently and equitably will always be vital to our mission. We also recognize the need to solve the hardships that make people food insecure in the first place, opening up pathways toward greater resiliency. By working in close collaboration with partners, neighbors, and supporters, we continue to meet the rising need, while navigating higher food prices and lower access to benefits and resources for our organization and for neighbors. Food access and nutrition: charitable food distribution remains at the heart of what we do: our statewide network of food assistance partners was critical to helping us keep food flowing in fy25. Made up of community- and faith-based organizations (food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools, etc.), these partners are on the ground every day, getting food directly into the hands and homes of those who need it most. They know their communities best, and it's because of these organizations that mfb can reach so many hungry marylanders efficiently and with compassion. In fy25, our partners helped mfb supply enough food to provide 43.6 million meals in their local communities. Building capacity: mfb is proud to help expand the capacity of our community-based partners and other Maryland nonprofits that are working to end hunger. Guided by the expertise and knowledge of our staff, and our research, mfb is effectively directing grant funding to bolster the reach of our partners. In fy25, mfb awarded $1.1 million to 97 community-based partners through various grants. These opportunities increased the capacity of community-based organizations to store and transport fresh, nutritious food; extended the existing food assistance network deeper into "hunger hotspots; and powered organizations outside of the food assistance network to tackle the root causes of hunger. Grantees have reported an average 38% increase in households served, meals distributed, or pounds of food provided, showing that grant dollars from mfb are directly translating into impact for neighbors and communities. Additionally, in fall 2024, mfb brought together more than 200 community-based partners at symposium for a day of in-person learning, information sharing, and skill-building. Opportunities like symposium and regional gatherings, which held quarterly in each region mfb serves, enable partners to hear from one another and for mfb to more deeply understand what partners and communities need, and how to grow partner capacity. In fy25, mfb was awarded an exciting grant from walmart and feeding america to expand food sourced through "retail recovery," in which good but unsold food at grocery stores goes directly to mfb's community-based partners. Donations received through retail recovery reduce wasted food and, because they go directly to community-based partners, get nutritious food to neighbors more efficiently. The grant from walmart provides funding for additional equipment (refrigerated trucks and pallet jacks) and staffing to increase retail recovery pickups. In fy25, mfb sourced 28% of our total pounds of food through retail recovery. Since 2017, mfb has focused on increasing the nutritional content of the food w

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.8%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 89.3%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 28th 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: 79.3%; rating input score 79; 17th 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: 2%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.66; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.7% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings