Annual Impact Report · 2025–2026

Nourishing Bodies,
Building Community

Empathy Soup Kitchen is a faith-driven, volunteer-powered IRS-certified 501(c)(4) nonprofit - (EIN:33-2027652) serving hot meals, groceries, and vital community support to those in need — every single week, without exception. Guided by the principle that no one in our community should go hungry.

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80+
People fed every
Saturday & Sunday
80
Monthly large kitchen
feeding event
$40K
Ending balance Aug 2026
(up $7.7K year-over-year)
5,120+
Meals served this fiscal year · 4,160 weekend meals + 960 monthly event meals · Families reached · Lives touched
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Financial Overview
FY 2025–2026 at a Glance
12 months of verified bank data · Sept 2025 – Aug 2026 · Every figure below is bank-verified
💰
$32,482
Beginning Balance
Aug 30, 2025 opening
🎁
$73,363
Total Credits
12 months of donations & deposits
📊
$65,691
Total Debits
Incl. $18.7K Zakat account transfer
🏦
$40,154
Ending Balance
Aug 31, 2026 · +$7,672 YoY
🍽️
$36,467
Vendor Checks (Food)
15 checks · Kabab House, Chicken Hut, Dominos
🕌
$17,201
March 2026 Ramadan
Highest single-month donations
📊
4
Active Giving Channels
Forte, GoFundMe, Zeffy, direct
🔄
$1,000
Recurring Monthly ACH
New donor secured June 2026
Community Impact
What We've Accomplished
Every number here represents a real person, a real family, a real moment of dignity restored.
🏛️
Milestone Achievement · 2025
Officially a 501(c)(4) Nonprofit
Empathy Soup Kitchen has received its IRS 501(c)(4) — a landmark milestone that unlocks federal grant eligibility, corporate matching programs, and long-term institutional credibility. This transforms ESK from a grassroots initiative into a formally recognized nonprofit, opening doors that were previously out of reach.
Important: We are tax-exempt but not tax-deductible. As a 501(c)(4), ESK does not pay federal income tax, but donations are not tax-deductible for donors.
Tax-Exempt
Organization Status
Grant Eligible
Foundation Funding
🍱
80+
Fed Every Weekend
Serving 40 people each Saturday and 40 each Sunday — hot, freshly prepared meals delivered with care and respect, every week without fail.
🏢
80
Monthly Large-Scale Feeding
Once a month we partner with a different soup kitchen to serve 80+ people in a larger setting, expanding our reach and building coalition with peer organizations.
🛒
Quarterly
Grocery Support Program
Every 3–4 months, we distribute full grocery packages to families in need — stocking pantries, relieving financial pressure, and ensuring nutritional stability.
🚗
1
Car for a Refugee Family
We helped a refugee family in need obtain a vehicle — transforming their ability to access work, healthcare, school, and community with independence and dignity.
🕌
Multi
Masjid Renovation Support
Provided hands-on and financial support to renovation projects at other masajid in our region, strengthening the broader Muslim community infrastructure.
📅
52+
Consecutive Weeks of Service
Through rain, cold, Ramadan, and Eid — our volunteers have not missed a single weekend of service this fiscal year. Consistency is our promise to the community.
Budget Breakdown
Monthly Income & Expenses
📌 Data Source: All figures below are verified against twelve consecutive First National Bank statements (Sept 2025 – Aug 2026). The $18,700 debit on 05/11/2026 was a transfer to the dedicated Zakat account for designated Zakat distributions — shown for accuracy against the bank statement, but not an operating expense.
Monthly Cash Flow — Credits vs. Debits 12-Month Actual
Running Balance Trajectory Sept 2025 – Aug 2026
Expense Mix (Full Year) Bank-Verified
Expense Breakdown by Month 12 Months Actual
Full Monthly Ledger — 12 Months Actual ● Bank-Verified
Month Beg. Balance Credits (In) Debits (Out) Net End Balance
12-MONTH TOTAL $32,482 $73,363 $65,691 +$7,672 $40,154
Forward Projections
Next Fiscal Year Outlook — Sept 2026 to Aug 2027
Projections built from ESK leadership plan: Sept 2026 fundraiser targeting $80K–$100K (with $25K arriving upfront and the remaining $66K distributed as $6K monthly tranches through Aug 2027), Ramadan giving bump in Feb 2027, monthly expenses rising to $7.5K with ESK expansion, three $10K special expense events (Ramadan, Eid ul Adha, Refugee Resettlement Program), and $1K quarterly misc expenses.
Projected Balance Runway 12-Month Forecast
Projected Monthly Income vs. Expenses Sept 2026 – Aug 2027
Projected Monthly Ledger — Sept 2026 to Aug 2027 ● Forecast
Month Beg. Balance Projected Income Projected Expenses Net End Balance
YEAR TOTAL $40,154 $133,500 $124,000 +$9,500 $49,654
🎉
Sept 2026 Fundraiser
Target of $80K–$100K — $25K arriving upfront in September, the remaining $66K distributed as $6K monthly tranches through Aug 2027 for steady operating support all year.
🕌
Special Programs — $30K
Three $10K distributions planned: Ramadan (Mar), Eid ul Adha (May), and the Refugee Resettlement Program (Jun). Balance peaks at $75,654 in Feb 2027 before drawing down for these programs.
📈
Net Position — Growing
At plan, ESK ends Aug 2027 at $49,654 (+$9,500 YoY) — a healthy surplus even after $30K in special programs, $4K quarterly misc, and $90K annual expense expansion. Success hinges on the September fundraiser.
🚀 New Strategic Initiative
Opening ESK's Own Food Distribution Center
For three years, ESK has served meals through vendor partnerships. The next chapter is building our own distribution infrastructure — enabling us to serve more people, reduce cost per meal, and create a permanent home for the mission.
FY 2026–2027 Priority
A Permanent Home for the Mission
A dedicated food distribution center transforms ESK from a weekend service operation into a year-round community hub. Instead of ordering meals from restaurants each week, we prepare food at scale, receive bulk in-kind donations, and distribute directly to families — with full control over cost, quality, and timing.
3–5×
Cost Efficiency
Bulk purchasing and in-house preparation typically reduces per-meal cost by 3–5× compared to restaurant-catered meals.
200+
Weekly Capacity Goal
Move from 80/weekend to 200+ with dedicated kitchen space and a volunteer prep model.
Daily
Weekend → Everyday
A permanent facility enables weekday distribution of pantry boxes, refugee support, and emergency assistance.
Investment Framework
Three Scale Options
Actual costs depend on local real-estate rates, equipment sourcing (new vs. donated), and staffing model (all-volunteer vs. one paid coordinator).
🌱 Starter
$15K – $25K startup
  • ✓Shared/rented kitchen space (co-op or masjid)
  • ✓Basic prep equipment: warmers, containers, coolers
  • ✓Weekly volunteer prep sessions
  • ✓Continue vendor partnerships for scale
  • ✓Serves 100–120 people per weekend
RECOMMENDED
🏢 Community Hub
$40K – $60K startup
  • ✓Dedicated leased space (600–1,000 sqft)
  • ✓Full commercial kitchen equipment
  • ✓Walk-in cooler + dry storage
  • ✓Volunteer coordinator (part-time paid)
  • ✓Serves 200+ weekly + weekday distribution
  • ✓In-kind partnerships with grocery chains
🏆 Full Operation
$100K+ startup
  • ✓Purchased or long-term leased facility
  • ✓Refrigerated van for pickup/delivery
  • ✓Full-time operations manager
  • ✓Multiple service days per week
  • ✓Serves 400+ weekly
  • ✓Grant-eligible flagship facility
💡
Funding Path — Multi-Source
Ramadan 2027 campaign ($20K target), 501(c)(4) grants (USDA TEFAP, local foundations), corporate matching, and a founder's circle of 10–20 committed donors at $1K–$5K each.
🤝
Volunteer Multiplier
A physical center creates a natural gathering point for volunteers — MSA partnerships, family cooking sessions, and youth leadership programs all become possible with dedicated space.
📋
Next Steps to Define
Confirm target scale, identify 2–3 candidate spaces, secure health department permitting requirements, and finalize the operations model (volunteer-only vs. one paid coordinator).
Strategic Analysis
SWOT — Community & Financial
An honest look at where ESK stands and what the path forward looks like.
S
Strengths
  • 12 months of verified financial data — every dollar bank-verified
  • Ending balance up $7,672 year-over-year despite growing operations
  • Consistent weekly service with zero interruptions through 52+ weeks
  • Faith-driven volunteer base with high intrinsic motivation
  • Multi-vendor food sourcing (Kabab House, Chicken Hut, Dominos, BJs, Costco)
  • 4 online giving channels live — Forte, GoFundMe, Zeffy, direct
  • New $1,000/month recurring Forte ACH donor secured (June 2026)
  • Ramadan 2026 delivered $17,201 in one month — proven fundraising
  • Officially 501(c)(4) certified — tax-exempt organization, unlocks grants & corporate matching (donations are not tax-deductible)
W
Weaknesses
  • Income remains heavily seasonal — concentrated in Ramadan
  • Only one large recurring donor ($1K/mo) — thin recurring base
  • Baseline monthly expenses (~$4K) exceed baseline income (~$2.5K) outside Ramadan
  • Ledger tracking gaps: recurring fees (DeenTEK, Forte) not captured May–Aug 2026
  • Manual spreadsheet tracking — no nonprofit accounting software yet
  • Volunteer burnout risk with small core team running large programs
  • Dependency on single food vendor (Kabab House = ~55% of check spend)
O
Opportunities
  • Own Food Distribution Center — transformational cost efficiency
  • Recruit 20 monthly donors at $50/mo = $12K/year in stable income
  • Corporate matching programs — 501(c)(4) unlocks these immediately
  • Zakat and Sadaqah-designated campaigns during Islamic calendar peaks
  • Foundation & USDA grants — now accessible with 501(c)(4)
  • Zeffy channel growing fast — from $50 (May) to $585 (Aug 2026)
  • In-kind grocery partnerships (Costco, Sam's Club) reduce food cost 15%+
  • Annual gala or fundraising dinner (Eid Dinner framework)
T
Threats
  • Food cost inflation — current $3K+/month could rise 10–15% annually
  • Donor fatigue if outreach concentrates only in Ramadan window
  • Reserve depletion by mid-2027 without sustained non-Ramadan giving
  • Volunteer attrition — loss of key organizers disrupts operations
  • Competition for donor dollars in crowded Muslim charity space
  • Hotel/travel charges appearing in recent months need policy clarity
  • Economic downturns reduce discretionary charitable giving
  • Food distribution center launch delayed = growing per-meal costs
Recommended Actions
Ideas to Amplify Impact
Practical, high-leverage actions ESK can take to grow sustainability and community reach.
🏢 Priority
Food Distribution Center Feasibility Study
Commission a 4-week study: identify 2–3 candidate spaces, get health department requirements in writing, quote equipment (new vs. donated), and model the operations budget. Deliverable ready for a founder's circle pitch.
💵 Revenue
Launch a Monthly Giving Program
Set up "Feed a Family" recurring donation at $25/$50/$100 tiers on Zeffy (0% fees). 40 donors at $50/mo = $24,000/year — enough for 8 months of operations. Use the new $1K/mo Forte ACH donor as the anchor case study.
💵 Revenue
Annual ESK Fundraising Gala
Model a ticketed dinner event (similar to the Eid Dinner framework) with a $75–$100/head goal. 150 attendees at $80 = $12,000 in one night. Sponsorship tables from local businesses could double that figure.
💵 Revenue
Ramadan 2027 — Structured 30-Day Campaign
March 2026 delivered $17,201 organically. A structured "Sponsor a Day" campaign ($120/day × 30 days) launched 2 weeks before Ramadan 2027 could hit $25,000+ — potentially funding the Food Center launch.
🤝 Community
School & University Partnerships
Partner with local MSAs (Muslim Student Associations) and university service-learning programs for semester-long volunteer cohorts. This brings fresh energy, logistics support, and a pipeline of future donors.
🌟 Impact
ESK Care Packages Program
Formalize the grocery support into a branded quarterly "ESK Care Package" — standardized box with pantry essentials. Sponsors can "fund a box" ($60–$80). Makes impact tangible and shareable on social media.
🌟 Impact
Refugee Resettlement Support Fund
The car donation was transformative — formalize this as a dedicated "New Beginnings" fund for refugee families. Accept targeted donations for specific needs (car, first month's rent, school supplies). Donors love earmarked impact.
✅ Unlocked
Leverage Your 501(c)(4) — Apply for Grants Now
ESK is 501(c)(4) certified. Immediately pursue: USDA TEFAP food grants, local community foundation grants ($5K–$25K each), corporate foundation grants from Walmart, Target & Costco foundations, and United Way partnership funding. One grant can fund 6+ months of operations — or seed the food center.
⚙️ Operations
Adopt Nonprofit Accounting Software
Move from spreadsheet tracking to QuickBooks Nonprofit or Aplos. Enables clean audit trails, donor management, and grant reporting — all prerequisites for larger institutional funding.
⚙️ Operations
In-Kind Food Partnerships
Approach Costco, Sam's Club, or local halal grocery stores for in-kind donations or wholesale pricing agreements. Reducing food costs by even 15% saves ~$3,800/year. Many retailers have CSR budgets for exactly this type of partnership.
🤝 Community
Impact Report & Storytelling
Publish an annual impact report (like this one) with photos, testimonials, and numbers. Share on social media consistently — not just during Ramadan. Every volunteer shift, every meal served is a story worth telling. Transparency builds donor trust.