Food Empowerment Project

EIN: 261743952 501(c)(3) Food, Agriculture & Nutrition

San Luis Obispo, CA

Total Revenue
$622,819
Total Expenses
$779,106
Total Assets
$1,209,424
Net Assets
$1,127,286
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2007
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
Lauren Ornelas
Phone
7077798004
Tax Period
2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Food Empowerment Project, founded in 2007, is a small nonprofit in the Food, Agriculture & Nutrition sector that reported $623K in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue decreased 6% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $779K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 25% operating deficit.

Mission

Food Empowerment Project seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one's food choices.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $284,831

Veganism The Organization works to promote ethical veganism through education, outreach, and by providing tools to help people go and stay vegan. This is supported by four sister websites...

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Veganism The Organization works to promote ethical veganism through education, outreach, and by providing tools to help people go and stay vegan. This is supported by four sister websites: VeganMexicanFood.com, VeganFilipinoFood.com, VeganLaoFood.com, and VeganChineseFood.com, the latter of which launched in 2023 and was inspired by board member Jessian Choy. These sites offer a wide selection of free recipes from Mexican, Filipinx, Lao, and Chinese cuisines in multiple languages: VeganMexicanFood.com in English and Spanish; VeganFilipinoFood.com in English and Tagalog; VeganLaoFood.com in English and Lao; and VeganChineseFood.com in English and Simplified Chinese. Additionally, the Organization creates printed booklets filled with recipes and other information, available by request for a suggested donation or free of charge.In 2023, the second phase of the Organizations anti-dairy campaign, which began in 2022, featured the eight-page booklet "One Glass at a Time and a billboard in Madison, Wisconsin, with the message "Got Colonization?" This phase included a full-page ad in Nashville's newsweekly, the Nashville Scene, during the week of October 1, ahead of Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 9. The campaigns impact was significant in Nashville, a progressive town, and the choice of Wisconsin for the billboard was due to its status as the second-largest dairy producer in the country. The billboard and print ad were seen by tens of thousands of individuals weekly, and visits to the Organizations GotColonization.com increased by over 300%. The site was overwhelmed with requests for the free educational pamphlet, which highlights the effects of the dairy industry on animals, human health, the environment, and its legacy of colonization.The Organization hosted its second "Chopped with a Vegan Twist" in October, an online cooking show featuring chefs Shruti Boddu, Alicia Casas, and Annie Wang. They prepared desserts using mystery ingredients: chocolate, popcorn, beets, and aquafaba. Attendees voted in three categories: Best Plating was awarded to Shrutis beetroot cake, Best Ingredient Transformation to Annies classic brownie, and Overall Favorite to Alicias cortadillo red velvet cake.Throughout 2023, the Organization spotlighted vegan resources in its monthly newsletters, which reach nearly 5,000 supporters. Highlights included pages on how to host a Vegan Ice Cream Giveaway for National Ice Cream Day, and spotlights on the exploitation of animals for food around key dates like Easter, World Bee Day, World Ocean Month, International Rabbit Day, and the winter holidays.

Program 2
Expenses: $90,889

Farm Worker Rights The Organization supports the rights of farm workers through advocacy for corporate, legislative, and regulatory changes. It annually organizes a school supply drive, delivering...

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Farm Worker Rights The Organization supports the rights of farm workers through advocacy for corporate, legislative, and regulatory changes. It annually organizes a school supply drive, delivering over 150 backpacks in 2023 to locations including Santa Maria and Orcutt, and to mushroom farm workers in Half Moon Bay affected by gun violence in January 2023. In preparation for the 2024 re-evaluation of Californias 50-mile regulation, which impacts the education of farm worker children by requiring them to move after the harvest season, Lauren moderated a panel in Sacramento discussing the regulation.

Program 3
Expenses: $69,219

Access to Healthy Food The Organization assesses and reports on access to healthy food in underserved communities, collaborating with local organizations and governmental bodies. Their reports have...

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Access to Healthy Food The Organization assesses and reports on access to healthy food in underserved communities, collaborating with local organizations and governmental bodies. Their reports have been recognized by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and are used as resources by schools and universities worldwide. In an ongoing effort, the Organization coordinates to influence policy changes, including advocating against restrictive deeds by grocery chains that prevent new stores from opening for over a decade.

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Trantor Score

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $621,229
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $1,391
Other Revenue $199
TOTAL REVENUE $622,819

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $595,214
Fundraising Expenses $89,260
Program Expenses $484,986
Other Expenses $183,892
TOTAL EXPENSES $779,106

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $622,819 $663,736 -0.1%
Expenses $779,106 $722,980 +0.1%
Net Income $-156,287 $-59,244 +1.6%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
4
Independent Members
3
Employees
9
Volunteers
40

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
2
$116,031
Total Directors
6
$116,031
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Lauren Ornelas President 40.00
Officer Director
$109,119 $6,912 $116,031
Elise Ferguson Treasurer 5.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Jeannine Cicco Baker Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Sharanya Krishna Prasad Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Anika Lehde Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jessian Choi Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $622,819 $779,106 $1,209,424 $-156,287
2022 $663,736 $722,980 $1,370,400 $-59,244
2021 $1,003,357 $661,872 $1,386,290 $341,485
2020 $584,828 $342,557 $819,975 $242,271
2019 $398,048 $273,808 $576,625 $124,240
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