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Feed the Children

CharityWatch rating issued
August 2026

D
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
38%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$47
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Feed the Children
333 N. Meridian
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Providing hope and resources for those without life's essentials. Delivers food, medicine, clothing & other necessities to individuals, children & families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disaster.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2025

Program Percentage: 38%

The percentage of Feed the Children's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$65,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $47

How many dollars Feed the Children spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$49,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Feed the Children, Inc. Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
Feed the Children, Inc. IRS Form 990 73-6108657
Entity: Feed the Children, Inc.
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: Feed the Children, Inc.
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 73-6108657

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
Feed the Children
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Feed the Children
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Travis Arnold Past President / CEO $530,257
2 Bregeita Jefferson President of International Programming $413,329
3 Colleen Ridenhour Chief Growth and Strategy Officer $404,761
1
Name: Travis Arnold
Title: Past President / CEO
Compensation: $530,257
2
Name: Bregeita Jefferson
Title: President of International Programming
Compensation: $413,329
3
Name: Colleen Ridenhour
Title: Chief Growth and Strategy Officer
Compensation: $404,761

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Feed the Children (FTC) consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 1, Nature of Business):

"...The Organization includes for-profit subsidiaries, FTC Transportation, Inc. (FTCT) and Friends That Care Holding Co. Ltd. (FTCHC), along with Feed the Children Philippines; Feed the Children Honduras; Feed the Children El Salvador; and its international operations in Malawi, Guatemala, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, which receive substantial support under Feed the Children, Inc.'s global governance structure..."


According to the Feed the Children (FTC) consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, Principles of Consolidation):

"The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Organization, including the accounts of Feed the Children, Inc.; FTCT; FTCHC; and all controlled international entities and offices. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation."

According to the Feed the Children (FTC) consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 11, Gifts-in-kind Donations):

FTC received gifts-in-kind donations during the fiscal year-ended June 30, 2025, on which it placed a total value of $330,164,165. Of this amount, $141,744,584 and $81,087,094 was attributed to "Food, beverages, and nutrition" and "Hygiene and home essentials," respectively. 

"...For the year ended June 30, 2025, and 2024, gifts-in-kind donations from 19 and 16 donors represented approximately 63 and 61 percent, respectively, of total gifts-in-kind revenue..." 

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Feed the Children (FTC) consolidated audit of June 30, 2025 (Note 13, Related Party Transactions):

"The Organization derives support from members of the board of directors. The Organization paid for consulting services from a board member totaling approximately $462,000 for the year ended June 30, 2025. These services supported public education initiatives and outreach for the Organization's community service programs, including public service announcements, discounted marketing placements, and community meetings and events to expand their global movement to end childhood hunger. This relationship is no longer active as of August 31, 2025."


According to the Feed the Children (FTC) tax filing of June 30, 2025, IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Part IV & V, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons & Supplemental Information:

The "Name of interested person" is reported as "Jordan Associates."

The "Relationship between interested person and the organization" is "Entity more than 35% owned by a board member."

The "Amount of transaction" is reported as "$462,000."

The "Description of transaction" is reported as "Brand and marketing services provided by Jordan Associates were contracted on terms equivalent to those prevailing in the marketplace. These services are now complete and the agency is no longer under contract."

According to the Feed the Children (FTC) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, FTC reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance or change-of-control payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"Bob Thomas received [severance] in the amount of $77,357."

FTC reports Bob Thomas as the former Chief Corporate Procurement Officer, who received $219,861 in total compensation in calendar year 2024 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).


FTC reports providing "bonus & incentive compensation" during 2024 to six individuals. Travis Arnold, Past President & CEO, received $51,088 of bonus and incentive compensation, with total reported compensation of $530,257. The remaining five individuals received $250 to $33,000 with total compensation ranging from $167,025 to $413,329. 

According to the Feed the Children (FTC) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, in response to: "Describe on Schedule O whether (and if so, how) the organization made its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public during the tax year" (IRS Form 990, Part VI, line 19), FTC reports:

"The organization does not make its governing documents or conflict of interest policy available to the public. The organization makes its current financial statements available to the public through Feed the Children's website, other sites, and upon request" (IRS Form 990, Schedule O).


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