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Southside Community Land Trust

EIN 05-0394224 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LAND, EDUCATION AND OTHER RESOURCES SO PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND CAN GROW FOOD IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE WAYS AND CREATE COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS WHERE LOCALLY PRODUCED, AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
65
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$142,720, ex officio

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $615,188 spent. SCLT OWNS AND MANAGES 50+ COMMUNITY GARDENS, URBAN AND PERI-URBAN FARMS IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS AND CRANSTON. WE PROVIDE GARDENERS AND FARMERS WITH EDUCATION, GARDENING RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO LAND WHERE THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN, HEALTHY FOOD. WE ALSO EXPOSE 225 CHILDREN TO GARDENING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION EACH YEAR, INCLUDING 25-30 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO WORK PART-TIME MANAGING SCLT'S YOUTH ENTERPRISE FARM, ACQUIRING WORKPLACE SKILLS, CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTHY EATING AND BASIC GARDENING SKILLS. HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUNG ADULT STAFF EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND WORK AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS AROUND THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE, FRESH FOOD AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
  2. $761,274 spent. SCLT MANAGES A LARGE FARMER TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN RHODE ISLAND), AS WELL AS PRODUCE AGGREGATION AND FARMLAND ACCESS PROGRAMS. WE PARTNER WITH FARM AGENCIES AND AGRICULTURAL NONPROFITS TO OFFER MORE THAN TWO DOZEN WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR FOR BEGINNING AND ASPIRING SUSTAINABLE FARMERS ON TOPICS FROM PEST MANAGEMENT TO IRRIGATION AND TAXES. WE OVERSEE THE RECRUITING AND FUNDING OF FOUR-TO-FIVE FARM APPRENTICESHIPS EACH YEAR, AND COLLECT, WASH/WEIGH AND SELL PRODUCE ON BEHALF OF 10 URBAN FARMERS TO AREA FOOD RETAILERS. OUR FARMLAND ACCESS PROGRAM HELPS MATCH BEGINNING FARMERS WITH AVAILABLE LAND PARCELS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
  3. $17,144 spent. CITY FARM, SCLT'S 3/4-ACRE PRODUCTION AND DEMONSTRATION FARM, PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT REVENUE STREAM AS WELL AS EDUCATES HUNDREDS OF VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR ABOUT BIO-INTENSIVE, CHEMICAL-FREE URBAN AGRICULTURE. ROUGHLY 2,000 PEOPLE (INCLUDING MANY OF OUR 500 MEMBERS) COME TO CITY FARM EACH MAY FOR OUR TWO-DAY PLANT SALE. CITY FARM STAFF GROW AND SELL PRODUCE ALL SEASON LONG THAT IS SOLD AT FARMERS MARKETS AND TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS. SCLT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS ANNUALLY.
  4. $326,539 spent. THE AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM BUILDS AND MAINTAINS COMMUNITY GARDENS, URBAN FARMS AND FARMS FOR BEGINNING FARMERS.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1982.

    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 October 21, 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.