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Farm & Wilderness Foundation Inc

EIN 03-0228965 · Plymouth, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JOYFUL PLAY. PURPOSEFUL WORK. RUGGED OUTDOOR LIVING. OUR CAMPS AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS TEACH TIMELESS SKILLS AND KINDLE THE SPIRIT WITHIN. OUR VALUES HONOR OUR QUAKER ROOTS AND ARE GUIDED BY QUAKER VALUES AND PRACTICES, INCLUDING SIMPLICITY, PEACE, INTEGRITY, COMMUNITY, EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
319
Highest pay
$208,192, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SUMMER CAMPS: SUMMER CAMPS ARE COMPRISED OF FOUR OVERNIGHT CAMPS (FIREFLY SONG, SALTASH MOUNTAIN, TAMARACK FARM AND TIMBERLAKE), ONE DAY CAMP (BARN DAY CAMP) AND A FAMILY CAMP. FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE CAMP DIRECTOR AND CAMP STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS, TRIP AND FOOD EXPENSES, PROGRAMMING SUPPLIES, AND MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACT SERVICES. WHILE EACH CAMP HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE ACTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS, ALL OUR SUMMER CAMPS HAVE THE SAME OVERALL PROGRAM GOALS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR COMMON MISSION.
  2. $214,039 spent. ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING: FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: YEAR-ROUND AND SEASONAL STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL FEES, SUPPLIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES, INSURANCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND CONTRACT SERVICES.
  3. $714,300 spent. BUILDINGS AND GROUND AND RENTALS/OTHER: BUILDINGS AND GROUND AND RENTALS/OTHER IS COMPRISED OF YEAR-ROUND AND SEASONAL STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL FEES, SUPPLIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES, UTILITIES, PROPERTY TAXES, LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, VEHICLE AND TRAVEL EXPENSES, TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES RENTAL INCOME.
  4. $2.2 million spent. CAMP SUPPORT: CAMP SUPPORT IS COMPRISED OF ADMISSIONS, STAFF RECRUITMENT, STAFF TRAINING, OPERATIONS, HEALTHCARE, AND THE FARM. FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE YEAR- ROUND AND SEASONAL STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL FEES, SUPPLIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES, EQUIPMENT RENTAL, TRAVEL EXPENSES AND TECHNOLOGY.
  5. CAMP SUPPORT: CAMP SUPPORT IS COMPRISED OF ADMISSIONS, STAFF RECRUITMENT, STAFF TRAINING, OPERATIONS, HEALTHCARE, AND THE FARM. FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE YEAR- ROUND AND SEASONAL STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL FEES, SUPPLIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES, EQUIPMENT RENTAL, TRAVEL EXPENSES AND TECHNOLOGY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.