Meals on Wheels America

Analysis

Meals on Wheels America is a registered charity in United States, based in Arlington, VA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1976, 50 years ago. Its declared purposes cover food, agriculture and nutrition, which this site groups under poverty relief. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Meals on Wheels America reported income of $28.3m and spending of $25.4m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $12.0m to $28.3m (+136%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 493%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 62,758 United States charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Meals on Wheels America sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 98th percentile within VA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Medical Debt Resolution Inc ($28.3m), Human Concern International ($28.4m) and Pleasant View Retirement Community ($28.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 88% and program service revenue 9.3% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $2.4m (9.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $4.1m. It paid $2.5m in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $44.7m against liabilities of $7.2m, net assets of $37.5m. It reported 74 employees.