JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White released a report showing how nonprofits spend money received through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) from the federal government and administered by the Mississippi Department of Education.
“Our audit showed this program is following good procedures for ensuring that hungry children are being fed,” said Auditor White. “I’m thankful to see proper grant monitoring processes in place for programs designed to serve some of the poorest Mississippians.”
The CACFP is a nutrition program meant to provide healthy meals to needy children and adults. Analysts determined Mississippi spent nearly $47 million on CACFP in FY 2024, $27 million of which went to nonprofits.
Analysts at the Auditor’s Office determined that the CACFP program’s design makes it less likely to be abused than other grant programs highlighted in previous nonprofit reports released by the Auditor’s Office. Analysts noted proper procedures such as:
- Instead of receiving blank checks, nonprofits participating in CACFP receive a set amount based on the amount of food they serve. This means the nonprofits only receive taxpayer money after they provide an actual service.
- In this case, the Department enforces strict budget requirements, requires specific documentation, and requires organizations to submit quarterly reports. All of these requirements exceed federal standards
The Office of the State Auditor recommends that the Department request approval from the federal government to further restrict administrative spending within CACFP so that more food can go directly to those in need.
Mississippians can report any instances of fraud, waste, or abuse of taxpayer funds spent by nonprofits by emailing nonprofitwaste@osa.ms.gov or calling 1-800-321-1275.