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1141 CATALINA DR STE 137
Livermore CA 94550-5928
Livermore CA | IRS ruling year: 2002 | EIN: 94-3396038
SERVE PREPARED, NUTRITIOUS MEALS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE HUNGRY PEOPLE OF THE TRI-VALLEY AREA.
Great
This charity's score is 97%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 90% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated has earned a 97% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 10/10 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 10/10 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 8.21% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 8.21% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 86.83% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 86.83% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated) or EIN (943396038) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Staffing
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Open Heart Kitchen applied and received the PPP loan and thus were able to continue meal services and employ a full staff. The entire PPP loan was forgiven as of April 21, 2021. Volunteers contributed their time and experience to the organization's program services and fundraising campaigns valued at $323,239 at June 30, 2020.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
We were able to expand the Street Outreach Program from delivering hot meals and breakfast bags once a week to six days a week. Senior Meals and Hot Meals continued without interruption. Overall, we served 542,924 meals in 2020; tantamount to a 60% increase in meals served compared to 2019. In 2021, we served a record total of 2,033,379 meals.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
Meals are prepared from scratch by a small staff and can be picked up curbside and taken to-go. The main challenge we faced during the pandemic was in distributing meals in the safest way possible to protect the health and safety of our workforce and our clients. We require that all diners wear a mask when picking up their to-go meals curbside by driving up or walking up. Trays are sanitized between clients and all kitchen surfaces and equipment are cleaned with either a sanitizer solution or with a water and bleach solution. Our staff and volunteers are required to wear masks and food preparation gloves at all times.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We have seen the most dramatic need from our senior clients during the pandemic. In our Senior Meals Program we saw a trending uptick in new senior clients. 964 new senior clients utilized our Senior Meal services for the first time in 2020 and 698 new senior clients in 2021. From March to May 2020 alone, we surpassed the 50,000 meal mark during the beginning of the pandemic. We also expanded our Street Outreach to people living in homeless encampments from one delivery a week to 6 days a week with a hot meal and breakfast items such as cereal, fresh fruit, boxed milk and juice included. Our three main programs will continue: Hot Meals Program, Senior Meals Program, and Street Outreach Program.
Not Currently Scored
Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
HOT MEAL PROGRAM: OPEN HEART KITCHEN IS THE LARGEST HOT MEAL PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE TRI-VALLEY AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, FEEDING THE HUNGRY 7 DAYS A WEEK ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN PLEASANTON ... (More)
HOT MEAL PROGRAM: OPEN HEART KITCHEN IS THE LARGEST HOT MEAL PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE TRI-VALLEY AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, FEEDING THE HUNGRY 7 DAYS A WEEK ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN PLEASANTON, LIVERMORE AND DUBLIN. THERE IS NO QUALIFYING PROCESS AND MEALS MAY BE EATEN AT NUMEROUS SERVING SITES OR TAKEN TO GO. GUESTS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND OPEN HEART KITCHEN HAS BECOME A SAFETY NET TO THOSE IN NEED DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
CHILDREN'S WEEKEND BAG LUNCH PROGRAM: THE WEEKEND BAGGED LUNCH PROGRAM FILLS THE NUTRITIONAL GAP FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON THE USDA SCHOOL PROGRAMS. CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE FREE/REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES D ... (More)
CHILDREN'S WEEKEND BAG LUNCH PROGRAM: THE WEEKEND BAGGED LUNCH PROGRAM FILLS THE NUTRITIONAL GAP FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON THE USDA SCHOOL PROGRAMS. CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE FREE/REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES DURING THE WEEK ARE LEFT WITHOUT ON THE WEEKENDS. TO SUPP (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM: THE SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE NUTRITIONAL GAP FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS. OPEN HEART KITCHEN PREPARES AND SERVES LUNCH AND DINNER FOR LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS 60+ YEARS OF A ... (More)
SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM: THE SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE NUTRITIONAL GAP FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS. OPEN HEART KITCHEN PREPARES AND SERVES LUNCH AND DINNER FOR LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS 60+ YEARS OF AGE, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. WE CURRENTLY SERVE AT FOUR SE (Less)
Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback or Equity Practices strategies.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Learn More
Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore Incorporated has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Equitable access to nutritious food today, while building a food secure tomorrow.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Open Heart Kitchen will work with Community Partners to meet the most basic needs of vulnerable people in our community and empower them to build better futures.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: End Hunger by Providing Nutritious Food
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: End the Cycle of Poverty through Advocacy and Partnerships
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: Strengthen Organizational Capacity
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
All of the staff involved with preparing or serving our meals are trained and certified in food handling, and they train and oversee onsite volunteers. Each department has a budget for professional development to take trainings as needed and complete ServSafe certification.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Raising Awareness
Policy Advocacy
Open Heart Kitchen is a member agency of the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) and the Tri-Valley Anti-Poverty Collaborative. Open Heart Kitchen has formally partnered with CityServe of the Tri-Valley to assist our Street Outreach clients. CityServe provides personalized attention to our most vulnerable clients by assisting with coordination of resources like vital documents collection and housing or detox facility referrals. The Valley Humane Society distributes free pet food and supplies every Wednesday during our Hot Meal Program service at the Robert Livermore Community Center. OHK has supported bills such as SB 364 School Meals For All and SB 107 CalFresh - Simpler for Seniors to help our most vulnerable community members access the food assistance they desperately need. We have shared relevant local resources on our social media accounts, such as free grocery distributions, housing/rental assistance, pop-up clinics, etc.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Our Senior Meals and Hot Meals Program adapted to a curbside pick up to-go model to safely distribute meals. We expanded our service to our Street Outreach clients from one delivery a week to six days a week; delivering up to 110 hot meals and breakfast bags at 17 locations throughout the Tri-Valley. In November 2020, OHK assumed oversight of the free grocery distribution at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, in parternship with Tri-Valley Haven and the Alameda County Community Food Bank. We relocated the grocery distribution temporarily to the Pleasanton Senior Center in October 2021, and then partnered with Workday to utilize their parking lot through December. This grocery distribution ended December 2021 and served approximately 3,040 unique households. Last year, our board and staff completed training with the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits to learn how to become and organization that embodies the principles of IDEAL - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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