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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2024 Expires: October 2026

Meals on Wheels People

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(503) 736-6325
Post Office Box 19477
Portland, OR, 97280
https://mowp.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Meals on Wheels People meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to enrich the lives of seniors and assist them in maintaining independence by providing nutritious food, human connections, and social support."

Year, State Incorporated:
1969, OR

Meals on Wheels People (MOW People) reports that it provides nutritious food to senior and at-risk populations in Multnomah, Washington, and Clark counties. The organization delivers healthy and medically tailored meals to older adults' homes and facilitates dining centers that serve lunches, provide activities, and provide social connections at least one day a week. MOW People’s Friendly Chats program provides older adults with engaged conversations through regular phone calls or home visits from volunteers. The organization’s pet program helps home-bound participants access pet care and veterinary care. MOW People work with partner organizations in the area to address food insecurity for low-income families in Portland and Gresham through the Meals 4 Kids program. In 2023, the organization reported it served 1,309,808 meals through its home deliveries and dining centers, 323,015 meals to children and caregivers through Meals 4 Kids, and facilitated 32,688 Friendly Chats.

For the year ended June 30, 2023, Meals on Wheels People's program expenses were:

Center operations: $7,224,323

Kitchen operations: $5,744,937

Vancouver diner: $1,108,308

Other operations: $128,986

Total Program Expenses: $14,206,554

Chief Executive
Suzanne Washington, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$335,807

Chair of the Board
Ashley Osten

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Assurance Partner, Moss Adams LLP

Board Size
28

Paid Staff Size
144

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Telemarketing, Foundation grants, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

Fundraising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $13,719,629, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Meals on Wheels People's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Government grants $4,397,235
Contributions $7,137,816
Special events, net $719,325
In-kind contributions $1,076,624
Medicaid $2,160,826
Contracts and sales $1,333,317
Vancouver diner $576,457
Rental and other income $129,192
Investment income, net $1,353,262
Employee retention credit $388,629
Total Income $19,272,683

Programs: 80% Fundraising: 12% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $19,272,683
Total expenses: $17,664,914
  Program expenses $14,206,554
  Fundraising expenses $2,156,393
  Administrative expenses $1,301,967
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $1,607,769
Beginning Net Assets $40,834,252
Other Changes In Net Assets $-10,231
Ending Net Assets $42,431,790
Total Liabilities $2,456,993
Total Assets $44,888,783

Note 1: According to MOW People's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $1,076,624, in the form of rent ($466,212), food ($331,664), advertising services ($183,720), and miscellaneous items ($95,028).
 
Note 2: In the above financial statements, "other changes in net assets" refer to a change in the value of the beneficial interest in the trust ($5,785) and loss on disposition of property and equipment (-$16,016).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance