Womens Environmental Institute at Amador Hill
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE (WEI) IS A PLACE FOR WOMEN AND ALLIES TO RENEW, LEARN AND ORGANIZE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. WEI AT AMADOR HILL IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, RENEWAL AND RETREAT CENTER DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING ON FARMING FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND POLICIES RELEVANT TO WOMEN, CHILDREN AND IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY IMPACTED BY ECONOMIC, RACIAL AND GENDER DISPARITIES-BOTH URBAN AND RURAL.
- Income
- $457,413
- Spending
- $404,380
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $6,900, director of operations
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $148,082 spent. FARM. WEI'S 2024 FARM PROGRAM MAINTAINED ITS ANNUAL FARM GOAL OF PROVIDING ORGANICALLY CERTIFIED PRODUCE (CERTIFIED BY MOSA) FROM OUR THREE-SEASON WEEKLY CSA AND MARKET PROGRAM IN NEARLY 3000 BOXES DISTRIBUTED IN RURAL EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND IN THE TWIN CITIES. OUR FARM IN ADDITION TO ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INFORMAL AND FORMAL FARM-RELATED EDUCATION FOR VISITORS, VOLUNTEERS, WORK SHARE PARTICIPANTS, PRACTICUM STUDENTS, FARM CREW, AND FARM TOURS FOR THE PUBLIC. WEI CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A REGIONAL VEGGIE RX PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS PRESCRIPTION VEGETABLES TO M FAIRVIEW CLINICS IN OUR LOCAL REGION. THESE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS ARE DISTRIBUTED LARGELY TO CLIENTS LIVING WITH AN ILLNESS OR SUFFERING FOOD INSECURITY. WEI ALSO CONTINUED TO DEVELOP OUR REGIONAL NORTH CIRCLE-ONLINE FARMERS MARKET, WHICH PROVIDES A FOOD HUB TO SUPPORT SMALL LOCAL FARMS COMMITTED TO ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND PROVIDE OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES A CONNECTION TO LOCAL FARMERS WHO GROW THEIR FOOD.THE NORTH CIRCLE-ONLINE FARMERS MARKET IS LARGELY A CHARITY PROJECT, SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS AND GRANTS TO COVER THE COST OF WEI'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. OUR AIM WITH THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A SMALL-SCALE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. THE FARM, RUN BY A VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR, IS NOT ONLY A SOURCE OF PRODUCTION AND LEARNING BUT ALSO AN AVENUE TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND, ALTERNATIVE FARMING PRACTICES AND GOOD FOOD EDUCATION. REVENUE FROM THE FARM IS INVESTED IN COVERING THE COSTS OF FARM PRODUCTION, FARM CREW WAGES AND SUPPORT FOR OUR WEI EDUCATION PROGRAM.
- $119,002 spent. EDUCATION. WEI'S 2024 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: SUSTAINABILITY AND JUSTICE EDUCATION SUPPORTED A LARGE ARRAY OF NEW AND OLD CLASSES, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS AIMED AT DEVELOPING FARMING RELATED SKILLS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES. IN 2024, OUR COURSE OFFERINGS INCLUDED TREE GRAFTING, BEEKEEPING, AQUAPONIC FARMING, FOOD AS MEDICINE, HERBALISM, FORAGING, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SUSTAINABLE ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND PRACTICAL FARM BUSINESS TRAINING.THESE CLASSES WERE LARGELY SUPPORTED BY SLIDING SCALE FEES AND BY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS PROVIDED BY DONATIONS AND SPONSORS. THE WILL ALLEN FARMER TRAINING WEEKEND IN 2024 WAS COMPLETELY SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, GUEST SPEAKERS, AND OPERATIONAL COSTS. THE EVENT SERVED MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS, 70% OF WHOM WERE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR AND NATIVE AMERICANS. PARTICIPANTS WERE URBAN, RURAL AND TRIBAL MINNESOTANS. THIS YEAR WEI ALSO PROVIDED A SPECIAL CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OUR 2024 FARM CREW WHICH INCLUDED A YEAR-LONG CLASS ON ORGANIC FARMING AS A BUSINESS, SUPPORTED BY A FULL TUITION GIFT TO WEI OF $20,000 FOR FOUR STUDENTS. THIS WAS SPONSORED BY A DONOR INTERESTED IN "GROWING FARMERS' WITH BUSINESS KNOW-HOW. VOLUNTEERS AND VISITING GROUPS, LOGGED IN HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS AT WEI, AND ALSO ENJOYED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION WITH OUR FARMERS.
- $865 spent. IN 2024 WEI CONTINUED DEVELOPING OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVISM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL MINNESOTA. WE CONTINUED SHARING OUR GIS MAPPING PROJECT WHICH DOCUMENTS THE DISPROPORTIONATE RACIAL AND INCOME-RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES FROM TOXIC ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES TO OUR NATIVE AMERICAN AND BIPOC RESIDENTS IN PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS' GREEN ZONE. SINCE WE CREATED THE MAP IN 2006 ITS POWERFUL MESSAGE HAS OPENED DOORS TO NEW OR RENEWED EJ PARTNERSHIPS -- INCLUDING WITH MACALESTER UNIVERSITY'S URBAN GIS CLASS, PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOUTH SIDE GREEN ZONE COUNCIL AND AT WEI'S 14THANNUAL WILL ALLEN FARMER TRAINING EVENT WHO SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED WEI TO INITIATE MAPPING RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION IN MORE SUBURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY SUSPECTED PFC (PERFLUOROCHEMICAL) CONTAMINATION. AS A COALITION MEMBER OF THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTE'S (EPNI) BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WEI CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY WORK AS PART OF THE COALITION THAT CHALLENGED AND HELPED STOP THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS'S PROPOSED PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE AND RELOCATE STORAGE OF ITS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S WATER AND SEWER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT, DIESEL TRUCK AND DIESEL REFUELING OPERATIONS INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE SAME SITE OF THE COMMUNITY-PROPOSED, COMMUNITY-LED INITIATIVE TO CREATE AN EAST PHILLIPS INDOOR URBAN FARM AND COMMUNITY HUB AT THE FORMER "ROOF DEPOT" SITE. THE EPNI COALITION OPPOSED THE CITY'S PLAN BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE ADDED EVEN MORE TOXIC AIR POLLUTION INTO THIS MAJORITY BIPOC AND NATIVE AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ALREADY OVER-POLLUTED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL TOXIC SOURCES CAUSING MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES RELATED TO RACE AND POVERTY AS PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED BY WEI'S GIS EJ MAPPING. ALTERNATIVELY, THE COALITION HAD PROPOSED TO DEVELOP THE SITE AS A COMMUNITY-OWNED, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE-DESIGNATED "EAST PHILLIPS INDOOR URBAN FARM AND COMMUNITY HUB - A GREEN JOBS AND JOB TRAINING CENTER FOR VEGETABLE FARMING, AQUAPONICS, CULTURAL FOOD AND CRAFT MARKETS, SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS, A YOUTH-LED CAFÉ, ART SPACE, COMMUNITY-BASED COMPOSTING, A HUGE SOLAR ROOFTOP ARRAY AND MORE. WEI PARTNERED WITH WILL ALLEN, NOTED NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER AND MENTOR OF URBAN FARMING, TO DEVELOP OUR AQUAPONICS AND VEGETABLE FARMING PROJECT WITHIN THE HUGE FORMER ROOF DEPOT WAREHOUSE STRUCTURE AND WITH NEARBY COMMUNITY FARMING ALLIES. WEI PARTNERED WITH WILL ALLEN AND THE MINISTRY OF TRADE AND COMMERCE OF WISCONSIN (MOTCW) AND THE MN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TABLE (MN EJ TABLE) TO PROPOSE THE COMMUNITY-BASED COMPOSTING WORK. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH MN EJ TABLE TO SUPPORT OUR 14TH ANNUAL WILL ALLEN FARMER TRAINING EVENT, WHICH ENABLED US TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE LOW-INCOME BIPOC AND NATIVE PARTICIPANTS. TOGETHER WITH THESE ALLIES, WEI HELPED BUILD THE STRONG COMMUNITY-BASED COALITION THAT HAS RESULTED IN THE SHUTDOWN OF TWO OF EAST PHILLIP'S MOST SIGNIFICANT TOXIC POLLUTING INDUSTRIES IN LATE SUMMER - SMITH FOUNDRY AND BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS. WE CONTINUE WORKING WITH MNEJ TABLE AND THE ZERO BURN COALITION TO HELP PROMOTE EARLIER SHUTDOWN OF THE TOXIC AIR POLLUTING HENNEPIN COUNTY ENERGY RECOVERY CENTER (HERC) AS IT IMPACTS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF BOTH SOUTHSIDE AND NORTHSIDE GREEN ZONE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. WEI CONTINUED ACTIVE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SEVERAL URBAN-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS - INCLUDING WICOIE NANDAGIKENDEN'S OJIBWA AND DAKOTA LANGUAGE IMMERSION PRE-SCHOOL, LITTLE EARTH OF UNITED TRIBES HOUSING BOARD AND THE STATE-WIDE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION OF MN AND WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE INDIGENOUS FOOD NETWORK.
- $3,844 spent. WEI'S AMADOR HILL FARMSTAY PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS TO STAY OVERNIGHT AT OUR FARM AND MEET OR WORK WITH OUR FARM CREW. GUEST STAY OVERS ARE ALLOWED WHILE THE FARM IS IN FULL SWING AND ALSO DURING THE OFF SEASON. SLEEPING ROOMS, A MODERN AND LARGE KITCHEN, FIREPLACE ROOM AND INTERNET SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT OUR REGENERATIVE ORGANIC FARM PRACTICES, WEI PROGRAMS AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MISSION.ACCESS TO OUR SURROUNDING FOREST PROVIDES FREE HIKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS, ALONG WITH OUR GUIDED FARM TOURS. IN 2023 WE BEGAN OFFERING INDIVIDUAL STAY OVERS WITH SPECIAL FARM PROGRAMMING AS ADD-ONS AND SOME BELOW COST WEEKEND RETREATS FOR ORGANIZATIONS IN ALLIANCE WITH OUR MISSION BUT LOW ON FUNDS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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