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The Non-Gmo Project

EIN 02-0799621 · Bellingham, WA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1364 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE NON-GMO PROJECT OFFERS TRUSTWORTHY EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDES VERIFICATION SERVICES TO CONSUMER BRANDS AND RETAILERS WITH THE PURPOSE OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, THE PLANET, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
49
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$206,748, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1364 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.9 million spent. PRODUCT VERIFICATION PROGRAM - THE NON-GMO PROJECT IS THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED AND TRUSTED THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION FOR NON-GMO FOOD AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS. PRODUCTS BEARING THE NON-GMO PROJECT "BUTTERFLY" LOGO MEET THE RIGOROUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE NON-GMO PROJECT STANDARD, WHICH IS INFORMED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND REFLECTS A BROAD RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES. THE STANDARD PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL, MARKET-BASED MECHANISM FOR SUPPLIERS, BRANDS, AND RETAILERS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE IN THE MARKETPLACE. AS NEW GMO TECHNIQUES EMERGE AND ARE COMMERCIALIZED, THE NON-GMO PROJECT RESEARCH TEAM EVALUATES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM ENTERING THE PROCESSING AND INGREDIENT SUPPLY CHAIN. WITH OVER 60,000 VERIFIED PRODUCTS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 3,000 BRANDS AND GENERATING APPROXIMATELY $40 BILLION IN ANNUAL SALES, THE BUTTERFLY LABEL SERVES AS A TRUSTED SYMBOL THAT EMPOWERS CONSUMERS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES AND SUPPORTS A ROBUST, TRANSPARENT NON-GMO MARKETPLACE.
  2. $933,712 spent. NON-UPF PRODUCT VERIFICATION PROGRAM - AS OF 2025, THE NON-GMO PROJECT INITIATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE NON-UPF VERIFIED PROGRAM TO ADDRESS GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH. DURING THIS FIRST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED PILOT BRANDS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN A CO-CREATIVE PROCESS TO EXPLORE DEFINITIONS, STANDARDS, AND VERIFICATION PATHWAYS FOR IDENTIFYING AND REDUCING ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS IN THE MARKETPLACE. THE PROGRAM ALSO BEGAN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF FOOD PROCESSING AND ITS BROADER IMPLICATIONS. THIS FOUNDATIONAL WORK ESTABLISHES THE BASIS FOR A FUTURE VERIFICATION AND LABELING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY, BUILD CONSUMER TRUST, AND SUPPORT A FOOD SYSTEM THAT BETTER NOURISHES PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. THE ON-PACK LABEL, TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2026, WILL PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY FOR CONSUMERS AND CREATE TRUST BETWEEN BRANDS AND SHOPPERS AS NON-GMO PROJECT HAS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
  3. $1.5 million spent. FOOD INTEGRITY COLLECTIVE/EDUCATION & OUTREACH - THE FOOD INTEGRITY COLLECTIVE (FIC), LAUNCHED IN 2024, EXPANDS THE NON-GMO PROJECT'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS BY ADVANCING A HOLISTIC, SYSTEMS-BASED APPROACH TO FOOD INTEGRITY. THROUGH ITS 8-PETAL FRAMEWORK, FIC ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM - INCLUDING PRODUCERS, BRANDS, RETAILERS, AND CONSUMERS - IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO DEFINE AND IMPLEMENT VALUES THAT SUPPORT A NOURISHING, REGENERATIVE FOOD SYSTEM. THIS INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS, EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, AND CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO FOSTER AWARENESS, ALIGNMENT, AND ACTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.