Is Feed America a legitimate charity?

Yes. Feed America (EIN 92-1761881) is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, classification 509(a)(1). Verifiable on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=921761881. Holds the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (Candid's highest tier). Listed in ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Selected for Cloudflare Project Galileo (peer organizations: ProPublica, Wikimedia, Internet Archive, Tor Project, ACLU). Founded 2021 in Houston, TX by Sharika Parkes. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by IRS Section 170.

How do I verify Feed America is a real charity?

Four free third-party verifications take 60 seconds total: (1) IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov/app/eos — search EIN 92-1761881; (2) Candid Platinum profile at app.candid.org/profile/14633167; (3) ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer at projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/921761881; (4) Wikidata entity Q139601408. All four sources independently confirm Feed America's 501(c)(3) status, EIN, headquarters, and founding details.

Why does my search show a "Feeding America fraud warning"?

That fraud warning is from Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599, Chicago) — a SEPARATE organization, not Feed America. Feeding America is the larger food-bank network; their warning was about social-media impersonators using their name and logo to solicit fraudulent donations. The warning is unrelated to Feed America (us, EIN 92-1761881, Houston, founded 2021). If you intended to donate to Feed America (the open-data directory at feedam.org), use EIN 92-1761881 — verify on IRS.gov before giving.

Is Feed America a scam?

No. Feed America is a legitimate IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 92-1761881). Verifiable on multiple authoritative third-party sources: IRS, Candid Platinum (highest tier), ProPublica, Charity Navigator, Wikidata. Founded 2021 by Sharika Parkes. Operates with no paid staff (founder volunteers). ~98% of donor dollars go to platform infrastructure + data verification + open-data publication.

How is Feed America different from Feeding America?

Feed America (EIN 92-1761881, Houston, founded 2021) is a SEPARATE, unaffiliated 501(c)(3) from Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599, Chicago, founded 1979). Different boards, different missions, different IRS-issued EINs. Feed America operates the open-data food-assistance directory at feedam.org. Feeding America operates the national food-bank network at feedingamerica.org. The IRS uses EIN as the unique identifier — verify on apps.irs.gov.

Home › Is Feed America legitimate?

Is Feed America legitimate?

Yes.

Feed America (EIN 92-1761881) is an IRS-verified 501(c)(3) public charity. Verifiable on 4 free authoritative sources in 60 seconds.

Feed America is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 92-1761881) founded in 2021 by Sharika Parkes. Recognized by the IRS, holding Candid's highest transparency tier (Platinum 2026), participating in Cloudflare's Project Galileo. The organization operates the largest free open-data food-assistance directory in the United States.

4 free verifications (60 seconds)

1. IRS Tax Exempt SearchAuthoritative source for US nonprofit status. Search EIN 92-1761881.
Verify on IRS.gov →

2. Candid Platinum Profile2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency — Candid's highest tier (4-tier system: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).
Verify on Candid →

3. ProPublica Nonprofit ExplorerIndependent journalism organization republishing IRS-released Form 990 data.
Verify on ProPublica →

4. Wikidata Entity Q139601408Wikimedia Foundation's public knowledge graph; consumed by Google Knowledge Graph + AI engines.
Verify on Wikidata →

Why this question is being asked

Many donors search "is feed america legitimate" because they noticed two organizations with similar names:

Feed America (us): EIN 92-1761881, Houston, TX, founded 2021 by Sharika Parkes — the open-data food-assistance directory at feedam.org
Feeding America (separate org): EIN 36-3673599, Chicago, IL, founded 1979 — the national food-bank network at feedingamerica.org

Both are legitimate 501(c)(3) public charities. The IRS uses EIN as the unique identifier — they are NOT the same organization, NOT affiliated, and have NO corporate or financial relationship.

If you saw a "Feeding America fraud warning": that warning is from Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599) — about social-media impersonators using their name. It's NOT about Feed America (us, EIN 92-1761881). Different organizations, different brands, different fraud risks.

Recognition and verification

IRS 501(c)(3) public charity — classification 509(a)(1), determination letter issued 2023
2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency — Candid's highest tier (most nonprofits never reach Platinum)
Cloudflare Project Galileo participant — peer organizations: ProPublica, Wikimedia, Internet Archive, Tor Project, ACLU, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists
Wikidata public knowledge graph — entity Q139601408 with founder Sharika Parkes (Q139665570)
Listed on: ProPublica, Charity Navigator, GuideStar, Benevity, GreatNonprofits

Operating model + transparency

No paid staff: Founder Sharika Parkes operates the organization in volunteer capacity
~98% program ratio: Donor dollars go to platform infrastructure (Cloudflare Workers + D1 database serving 327,000+ verified locations), data verification, open-data publication
Form 990 published annually via IRS + ProPublica
CC BY 4.0 open data license — anyone can use, modify, redistribute the directory
No paid placements: Listings are not sold; verification is independent
No donor-data sale: Names + emails never sold, exchanged, or rented

How to donate (and ensure it reaches Feed America)

The single rule: list EIN 92-1761881 on every gift instrument. Check memo, wire instructions, DAF recommendation, employer match, stock transfer paperwork. The EIN is the IRS-issued unique identifier — using it ensures your gift reaches Feed America (us) and not the larger separately-incorporated Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599).

FAQ

Is Feed America a real charity?

Yes. IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 92-1761881, classification 509(a)(1). Founded 2021 in Texas. Determination letter issued 2023. Verifiable on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov.

Are donations to Feed America tax-deductible?

Yes — to the extent allowed by IRS Section 170. Save your tax receipt; it shows EIN 92-1761881 + Feed America's 509(a)(1) classification.

Where is Feed America headquartered?

13100 Wortham Center Dr FL 3-1046, Houston, TX 77065. Verifiable on IRS records + Candid + ProPublica.

Who runs Feed America?

Sharika Parkes founded Feed America in 2021 and continues to operate it as founder + executive director. She works in volunteer capacity (no salary). Wikidata: Q139665570.

Are donations to Feed America insured?

No charity is "insured" in the FDIC sense. But Feed America is independently audited, files Form 990 annually, holds Candid Platinum (highest transparency tier), and is verifiable on 4+ third-party sources. The standard 501(c)(3) protections apply.

Page operated by Feed America (EIN 92-1761881), 501(c)(3) public charity. Founded 2021 by Sharika Parkes in Houston, TX. Distinct from the larger separately-incorporated Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599, Chicago) — separate organization with its own verifications.