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Nonprofit · EIN 36-4349795

WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM

Tax-exempt · DALLAS, TX 75230

Financials

$8.6M$7.8M2023$9.2M$8M2024$8.9M$8.3M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$8,892,205$8,338,895$553,310$9,427,630$2,215,432$7,212,198
December 31, 2024990$9,154,016$8,041,606$1,112,410$9,101,885$2,650,944$6,450,941
December 31, 2023990$8,552,043$7,808,346$743,697$7,451,675$2,445,854$5,005,821
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,467,088
Program service revenue
$5,844,906
Investment income
$470,559
Net gain from sales of assets
$216,801
Other revenue
$109,652

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,392,471
Other salaries and wages
$885,877
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,504,329
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$5,483
Accounting fees
$34,543
Occupancy
$177,866
Travel
$56,963
Depreciation
$5,637
Program services (functional)
$6,265,978
Management and general (functional)
$1,415,848
Fundraising (functional)
$657,069

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$9,101,885
Total assets, end of year
$9,427,630
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,215,432
Net assets, end of year
$7,212,198
Publicly traded securities
$5,713,827
Net assets without donor restrictions
$6,077,108
Net assets with donor restrictions
$1,135,090
Gross receipts
$9,947,312
Employees
11
Volunteers
0
Year formed
1989
State of legal domicile
IL

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
THERESE GEARHARTPRESIDENT AND CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$832,681$21,509
KRISTA GIBSONCHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Key employee
40$297,236$13,651
DANA MINTONVP, PARTNER ENGAGEMENTS
Key employee
40$193,177$34,218
LAURA HELMSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETI
Highest-paid employee
40$142,822$14,962
CORINA BALSELLS-GUILLENDIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Highest-paid employee
40$135,013$13,776
ERIN HALLDIRECTOR - PARTNER AND MEM
Highest-paid employee
40$140,513$0
OMEMMA GILLANIDIRECTOR - INSIGHTS AND ST
Highest-paid employee
40$123,419$0
SARAH KINGIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KATHERINE JASPONCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DAWN RASMUSSENCHAIR-ELECT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ELIZABETH HORVATHTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SKYE ANDERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TRONA BALKISSOONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TANIKA CABRALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
SUMI DEBENEDITTISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
21 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
CATHERINE FOXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
SHANNON GARCIADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
ALISA GMELICHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
OLA IDZIKOWSKADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
MARY KIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
KELLY LEFFERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
BROOKE MCKILLOPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
ERICK MCREYNOLDSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
GAIL SHARPS MYERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
MEREDITH NELSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
COLEY O'BRIENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
DEBBIE ROBERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
LAURA SORENSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
KERRI CHRISTIANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
MARYAM MORSEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
DEEDEE SMITHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
SYNDEE STILESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
CHRIS WARBURTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
NINA FABERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
GENIFER GRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
VICTORIA GUITIERREZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 35 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
THERESE GEARHARTPRESIDENT AND CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$808,452$14,642
KRISTA GIBSONCHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Key employee
40$277,817$12,306
DANA MINTONVP, PARTNER ENGAGEMENTS
Key employee
40$187,076$14,734
LAURA HELMSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETI
Highest-paid employee
40$137,553$14,968
CORINA BALSELLS-GUILLENDIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Highest-paid employee
40$120,513$10,791
OMEMMA GILLANIDIRECTOR - INSIGHTS AND ST
Highest-paid employee
40$122,547$5,151
ERIN HALLDIRECTOR - PARTNER AND MEM
Highest-paid employee
40$126,850$0
SARAH KINGCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KATE JASPONCHAIR ELECT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ANITA ZIELINKSIIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ELIZABETH HORVATHTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SKYE ANDERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
WILLIAM ARMSTRONGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TRONA BALKISSOONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TANIKA CABRALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LINKEN D'SOUZADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
SUMI DEBENEDITTISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
CATHERINE FOXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
SHANNON GARCIADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ALISA GMELICHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
GENIFER GRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
OLA IDZIKOWSKADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
MARY KIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KELLY LEFFERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ANN MAMER-LLOYDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BROOKE MCKILLOPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ERICK MCREYNOLDSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
GAIL SHARPS MYERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
HEATHER NEARYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
MEREDITH NELSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
COLEY O'BRIENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAWN RASMUSSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
DEBBIE ROBERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LAURA SORENSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LORAINE YALCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 36 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
THERESE GEARHARTPRESIDENT AND CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$784,929$14,042
KRISTA GIBSONCHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Key employee
40$269,750$11,146
DANA MINTONVP, PARTNER ENGAGEMENTS
Key employee
40$182,408$6,293
LAURA HELMSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$131,860$7,267
CORINA BALSELLS-GUILLENDIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Highest-paid employee
40$116,906$5,065
OMEMMA GILLANIDIRECTOR - INSIGHTS AND STRATEGIC PROJECTS
Highest-paid employee
40$113,194$4,438
ERIN HALLDIRECTOR - PARTNER AND MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$105,848$1,500
ANITA ZIELINKSICHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SARAH KINGCHAIR-ELECT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
TRACY SKEANSIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MERARY SIMEONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SKYE ANDERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
WILLIAM ARMSTRONGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
CARLA BALAKGIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TRONA BALKISSOONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
TANIKA CABRALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LINKEN D'SOUZADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
CATHERINE FOXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ALISA GMELICHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
GENIFER GRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ELIZABETH HORVATHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
OLA IDZIKOWSKADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
KATE JASPONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARY KIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KELLY LEFFERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ANN MAMER-LLOYDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BROOKE MCKILLOPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
ERICK MCREYNOLDSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
GAIL SHARPS MYERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
HEATHER NEARYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
MEREDITH NELSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
COLEY O'BRIENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAWN RASMUSSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
DEBBIE ROBERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LAURA SORENSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.3$0$0
LORAINE YALCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
5310 HARVEST HILL RD STE 299, DALLAS, TX 75230-5804
In care of
% THERESE GEARHART
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
KELLI VALADE, 5310 HARVEST HILL RD STE 299, DALLAS, TX 75230
Signed the 990
KELLI VALADE, PRESIDENT
Phone
(972) 528-7222
Return prepared by
LANE GORMAN TRUBITT LLC

Mission

ACCELERATE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE IN LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WOMEN.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • WFF CONNECT - A DIGITAL PORTAL FOR THE BENEFIT OF MEMBERS AND PARTNER COMPANIES: THE WOMEN'S FOODSERVICE FORUM (WFF) HOSTS A PASSWORD PROTECTED PORTAL, WFF CONNECT, THAT ENABLES WFF TO DELIVER YEAR-ROUND VALUE TO OUR MEMBERSHIP AND COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT OUR MISSION. FOR OUR 8,000 PLUS MEMBERSHIP, WFF CONNECT HOSTS VIRTUAL CONTENT DELIVERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, AND CONNECTION TO INDUSTRY PEERS. FOR OUR 71 PARTNER COMPANIES, WFF CONNECT HOSTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN LEVERAGE MORE BROADLY, ALONG WITH RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT MATERIALS AND METRICS ON THEIR EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT. RECORDINGS OF OUR COMPLIMENTARY VIRTUAL EVENTS AND OUR PAID IN-PERSON EVENTS ARE HOSTED ON WFF CONNECT FOR CONVENIENT ON-DEMAND CONSUMPTION.
    revenue $202,573
  • ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: WOMEN'S FOODSERVICE FORUM (WFF) IS AN ANNUAL 3-DAY EVENT THAT PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INSPIRATION FROM WORLD LEADERS AND INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, AND PEER CONNECTION FOR EMERGING LEADERS AND EXECUTIVES IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. THE 2025 EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 2,688 PARTICIPANTS, PRIMARILY ON-SITE WITH LESS THAN 10% VIRTUAL.
    Expenses $885,612 · revenue $5,457,487
  • LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS: WOMEN'S FOODSERVICE FORUM (WFF) 2025 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS WERE HOSTED AS A HYBRID, TWO-PART SERIES ENABLING EITHER IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE. THESE ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS WERE HELD IN SIX MARKETS INCLUDING DALLAS, ATLANTA, ORLANDO, MINNEAPOLIS, CHICAGO, AND LA. THE LIVE RECORDINGS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDEES WERE DONE IN ATLANTA AND DALLAS LOCATIONS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE WORKSHOPS IS TO PROVIDE WOMEN WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INSPIRATION FROM INDUSTRY ROLE MODELS AND NETWORKING WITH THEIR INDUSTRY PEERS. THE VIRTUAL OFFERING, PLUS REGIONAL LOCATIONS, MAKE THIS OFFERING MORE CONVENIENT TO ATTEND AND PROVIDE EASIER ACCESS TO WFF CONTENT. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PAID REGISTRANTS IN 2025 WAS 897.
    Expenses $5,380,366 · revenue $294,498

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
36-4349795
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2001
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$9,427,630
Income (IRS master file)
$9,947,312

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$8,892,205$8,338,895$9,427,630XML
990December 2024$9,154,016$8,041,606$9,101,885XML
990December 2023$8,552,043$7,808,346$7,451,675XML
990December 2022$7,809,209$7,206,988$6,693,774IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 36-4349795).

Questions about WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM

What is the EIN of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM is 36-4349795.
Is WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2001.
Are donations to WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KELLI VALADE.
Who are the officers and directors of WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 36 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $832,681 (THERESE GEARHART, PRESIDENT AND CEO).
How much revenue does WOMENS FOODSERVICE FORUM have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $8,892,205, expenses of $8,338,895 and total assets of $9,427,630 at year end.

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