Berkshire Grown Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THROUGH EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, PROMOTIONS, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTING LOCALLY-GROWN AND PRODUCED FOOD, THE ORGANIZATION HELPS TO CREATE A THRIVING LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $94,107, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
- $1.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS LOCAL FARMS AND AGRICULTURE BY PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES, EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE USE OF LOCAL AGRICULTURE THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND PRESERVES LAND AND FARMS. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH FOOD ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD PANTRIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ESTABLISH A YEAR-ROUND FARM-TO-FOOD-ACCESS BUYING EXCHANGE BETWEEN FOOD ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL FARMERS.1. FARM TO FOOD ACCESSCOLLABORATIVE PROGRAM WITH BERKSHIRE BOUNTY THAT PURCHASES FRESH FOOD FROM 31 LOCAL FARMS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO LOCAL FOOD ACCESS SITES. IN 2025, THIS PROGRAM SERVED 23 FOOD PANTRIES, COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, AND SCHOOL THAT HELPED FEED 14,000 PEOPLE EACH WEEK. 2. INDOOR WINTER FARMERS MARKETSBERKSHIRE GROWN RUNS 8 WINTER FARMERS MARKETS - TWO IN NORTH ADAMS (NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER) AND 6 IN HOUSATONIC (NOVEMBER THROUGH APRIL). WINTER FARMERS MARKETS ACCEPT SNAP AND HIP AND OFFER MARKET MATCH TO FURTHER MATCH SNAP BENEFITS. IN 2025, WE HAD 5,522 SHOPPERS ACROSS ALL 8 MARKETS. 3. BERKSHIRE MOBILE FARMERS MARKETCOLLABORATIVE PROGRAM WITH FIVE LOCAL PARTNERS FUNDED BY A 3-YEAR USDA GRANT THAT BRINGS FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCTS TO LOW INCOME AND/OR RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD ACROSS BERKSHIRE COUNTY. SHOPPERS SELF-SELECT PAYMENT LEVEL THAT FITS THEIR BUDGET-FULL RETAIL, 50% RETAIL, OR FREE, FOOD-PANTRY LEVEL. IN 2025, WE SERVED 4,813 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.