Whole Foods Market Foundation
Whole Foods Market Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation amidst fluctuating revenues and expenses.
EIN: 202376273 · Austin, TX · NTEE: S30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $18.2M |
| Total Expenses | $8.0M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $18,186,393. |
| Net Assets | $3.9M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Whole Foods Market Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Whole Foods Market Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Whole Foods Market Foundation
Whole Foods Market Foundation (EIN: 202376273) is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, TX, classified under NTEE code S30. The organization reported total revenue of $18.2M and total assets of $12.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Whole Foods Market Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Whole Foods Market Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -2.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.5M |
| Total Expenses | $8.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,585,205 |
| Total Assets | $4.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $105K |
| Net Assets | $3.9M |
| Operating Margin | -24.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 6.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Whole Foods Market Foundation reported a deficit of $1.6M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 6.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Whole Foods Market Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -25.9% | +9.8% | -19.0% |
| 2022 | +40.6% | -8.4% | -53.1% |
| 2021 | +24.4% | +7.1% | -12.7% |
| 2020 | -48.6% | -39.5% | +29.4% |
| 2019 | -17.4% | +1.1% | -22.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Whole Foods Market Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Whole Foods Market Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $1.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive compensation from the foundation, which is highly commendable for a foundation of its size with latest revenue of $18,186,393.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Whole Foods Market Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 2021-2023), potentially drawing down reserves.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Whole Foods Market Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating strong commitment to mission spending.
- Significant asset base relative to liabilities, providing financial stability (e.g., $4,019,756 assets vs. $104,504 liabilities in 2023).
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), suggesting transparency and established operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Whole Foods Market Foundation
Is Whole Foods Market Foundation a legitimate charity?
Whole Foods Market Foundation (EIN: 202376273) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Texas. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $18.2M. 1 red flag identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Whole Foods Market Foundation spend its money?
Whole Foods Market Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Whole Foods Market Foundation tax-deductible?
Whole Foods Market Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202376273). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Whole Foods Market Foundation CEO make?
Whole Foods Market Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $18,186,393. annually. The organization reported $18.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Whole Foods Market Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Whole Foods Market Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Whole Foods Market Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Whole Foods Market Foundation is above average for NTEE category S30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Whole Foods Market Foundation located?
Whole Foods Market Foundation is headquartered in Austin, Texas and files with the IRS under EIN 202376273. It is classified under NTEE code S30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Whole Foods Market Foundation have?
Whole Foods Market Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $18.2M in total revenue.
Is Whole Foods Market Foundation financially sustainable given recent expense-to-revenue trends?
The foundation has shown periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($8,049,507 expenses vs. $6,464,302 revenue). While this can be sustainable in the short term by drawing on reserves (e.g., $4,019,756 in assets in 2023), a prolonged trend could impact long-term financial health if not balanced by future revenue growth or expense adjustments.
How does the 0% officer compensation impact the organization's operational capacity?
The 0% officer compensation suggests that leadership roles may be filled by volunteers or individuals compensated by Whole Foods Market directly, allowing a greater proportion of the foundation's funds to be directed towards its programs. This is a significant positive for donors.
What is the primary source of the foundation's revenue?
While not explicitly detailed in the provided data, given its affiliation with Whole Foods Market, it is highly probable that a significant portion of its revenue comes from corporate contributions, employee giving campaigns, or customer-facing fundraising initiatives within Whole Foods Market stores.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Whole Foods Market Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Whole Foods Market Foundation's revenue has declined by 25.8%, moving from $8.7M to $6.5M. Total assets decreased by 40.7% over the same period, from $6.8M to $4.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 10.2%, from $7.3M to $8.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Whole Foods Market Foundation reported a deficit of $1.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $105K in liabilities against $4.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%), resulting in net assets of $3.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.5M | $8.0M | $4.0M | $105K | — | — |
| 2022 | $8.7M | $7.3M | $5.0M | $123K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.2M | $8.0M | $10.6M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.0M | $7.5M | $12.1M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $9.7M | $12.4M | $9.4M | $840K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $11.7M | $12.2M | $12.1M | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $13.8M | $11.7M | $13.0M | $46K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $13.0M | $10.9M | $11.0M | $57K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $10.6M | $9.0M | $8.5M | $35K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $8.7M | $7.3M | $6.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $6.5M, expenses of $8.0M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -25.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $8.7M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $5.0M (revenue +40.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.2M, expenses of $8.0M, and assets of $10.6M (revenue +24.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $12.1M (revenue -48.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $9.7M, expenses of $12.4M, and assets of $9.4M (revenue -17.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $11.7M, expenses of $12.2M, and assets of $12.1M (revenue -15.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $13.8M, expenses of $11.7M, and assets of $13.0M (revenue +6.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $13.0M, expenses of $10.9M, and assets of $11.0M (revenue +23.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $10.6M, expenses of $9.0M, and assets of $8.5M (revenue +21.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $8.7M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $6.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Whole Foods Market Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Whole Foods Market Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.