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How to donate to a food bank
Cash beats food in almost every case. Here's the math + the IRS rules + how to verify any charity before donating.
Cash vs food donations
Food banks like Houston Food Bank or Feeding South Florida buy in bulk at $0.10-0.20/pound — far below grocery retail. So $1 cash buys ~3-5x more food than $1 of donated cans. Plus they pick the right items (no expired peanut butter, no tuna salad mix-ins your local pantry can't use).
Exception: Fresh produce + protein from local farms or hunters can't be bought wholesale, so direct donations of those still help.
Tax deduction mechanics
- Cash: deduct full amount up to 60% of AGI (most donors)
- Food/goods: deduct fair market value at time of donation. Need a receipt for ≥$250.
- Appreciated stock: deduct full FMV, avoid capital-gains tax. Best for gifts >$500.
- QCDs from IRA (age 70.5+): up to $105K/year direct from IRA, satisfies RMD, doesn't count as income.
Verify before donating
- Match the charity's exact EIN on IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
- Check their Candid (formerly GuideStar) profile for governance + financials
- Look for ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer entry — current Form 990