Ballard Food Bank
When did GO start working with Ballard Food Bank, and how has this partnership evolved over the years?
GO has proudly partnered with Ballard Food Bank since 2010, beginning with onsite monthly accounting support. In 2020, our relationship evolved to providing their annual audit and Form 990 preparation.
In what ways does the GO Team support the organization (work you do)?
GO performs Ballard Food Bank’s annual financial statement audit and prepares their Form 990 federal information return. In previous years, we also performed a Single Audit for BFB and reviewed the organization’s internally prepared Form 990.
What do you value most about working together?
The enthusiasm and professionalism of Ballard Food Bank’s leadership and finance team exemplifies the genuine passion they have for the work they do.
In what ways does the GO Team volunteer with the organization?
GO sponsors and attends Ballard Food Bank’s annual fundraiser, Ballard Bites & Brews. We also prepared emergency food and first aid kits to be donated to Ballard Food Bank at our most recent internal all-staff event.
How do your missions and values align?
Like Ballard Food Bank, GO is committed to building and maintaining strong relationships and giving back to our community both financially and through acts of service. GO strives to be a reliable, trusted resource for our clients by staying current on accounting, tax, and compliance matters and helping them navigate complex or uncertain circumstances.
What kinds of accounting and tax challenges do nonprofits like BFB typically face?
Accounting – Grants and related compliance matters, recognition of contributions with donor restrictions, valuation of donated goods and services, accounting for capital campaigns and other large projects.
Tax – State and local tax compliance, unrelated business income tax, maintaining tax-exempt status. For the 990 specifically: keeping good records of food and other assistance that benefits individuals. Schedule I requires reporting of both cash and noncash amounts that directly benefit individuals in the community, plus the number of people served.
Promoting the organization’s mission & ways to support
Who are the people BFB supports?
As a low barrier food bank, we’re here to support anyone in our community who needs help accessing food and other basic needs. We don’t require proof of address, income, or identification. Our guests include older adults, families with children, Seattle Public Schools students, working parents and individuals, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, people who have lost jobs or are furloughed – we’re here for everyone!
What are the key ways the BFB supports the community?
Ballard Food Bank’s mission is to bring food and hope to our neighbors…because there can be enough for everyone. Community members can shop our free grocery store style market and grab a meal at our free Kindness Café. Our home delivery program brings nutritious food to neighbors who are home bound or otherwise can’t come into the food bank to shop.
Since hunger doesn’t exist in a bubble, we also work with folks in our Community Resource Hub to access other basic needs (and human rights) such as housing, healthcare, and education by working with our staff and the 20+ community organizations that regularly visit our space.
What are top goals and priorities for BFB going into 2026 and beyond?
Ballard Food Bank’s top priorities include making sure all our neighbors can access the food they need in the moment while also advocating for policies that address the root causes of hunger and poverty, including systemic racism and other systemic injustices. In recent years, the need in our community has grown steadily. Several current goals relate to growing our capacity to store, process, and distribute food throughout our community.
How can people best support those goals and the organization overall?
We couldn’t do what we do without our caring community members who give food, funds, and time! Monetary donations are especially helpful because we can stretch those dollars further by buying in bulk, putting them towards what our neighbors need most in real-time. Monthly donations of any amount add up quickly and help us know what we can budget for all year round. Our website has more information about the different types of food donations we can take, how to run a food drive (in person or digitally), and how to get started volunteering with us.
