Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE AN URBAN AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION PROJECT THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH AND ADULTS TO DISCOVER AND PARTICIPATE IN A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT ENCOURAGES HEALTHY LIVING, NURTURES THE ENVIRONMENT AND GROWS A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 39%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 1,069
- Highest pay
- $117,817, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (2)
- $1.4 million spent. URBAN FARMING:-DEVELOPING AND OPERATING A PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND PUBLICLY OWNED 55 ACRES URBAN FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER LOCATED IN RANCHO CORDOVA,CALIFORNIA. INCLUDES A VARIETY OF RESTORED INTERPRETIVE ECOSYSTEMS INCLUDING VEGETABLE FIELDS, ORCHARDS, GARDENS, CREEK, FOREST AND GRASSLAND.-PRACTICES & MODELS REGENERATIVE AND CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION FOR THE SMALL FARMER AND URBAN GARDENER.FOOD ACCESS:-CURRENTLY PRODUCING, GLEANING AND DISTRIBUTING OVER 200,000 POUNDS ANNUALLY OF HEALTHY LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE. WEEKLY PRODUCTION OF LETTUCE FULFILLS 70% OF DEMAND FOR THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AT SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AN ESTIMATED 20,000 POUNDS OF THAT FOOD IS STRICTLY USED FOR DONATION PURPOSES FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND FOOD CLOSETS.-LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SIX-COUNTY REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ACTION PLAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VALLEY VISION.-DEVELOPED FARMLAND ACCESS MODELS WITH BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.-DEVELOPED THE FIRST CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY THATDIRECTLY SERVES LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND ALLOWS THE USE OF EBT (FOOD STAMPS)REDEMPTION.-LEAD AGENCY FOR 10 YEAR FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVE IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO ASSOCIATEDWITH THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT'S BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITY WORK.-DEVELOPED THE FIRST MOBILE URBAN FARM STAND MODEL FOR OUR SIX COUNTY REGIONTHAT IS UNIQUE IN ITS FOCUS ON SERVING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.-SUPPORTED THE BUSINESS PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FOODAGGREGATION HUB THAT IMPROVES THE FLOW OF FRESH PRODUCE FROM SMALL AND MIDSIZELOCAL GROWERS TO INSTITUTIONAL CUSTOMERS SUCH AS SCHOOLS ANDHOSPITALS.
- $625,993 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION:-PROVIDING SERVICE-BASED YOUTH EDUCATION & JOB TRAINING FOR PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE AGE YOUTH THAT DELIVERS HANDS-ON AND STANDARDS-BASED EDUCATION EACH YEAR.THIS PROGRAM HAS SERVED OVER 120,000 YOUTH IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.-JOB TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND ONGOING TRAINING OF YOUNG ADULT INTERNS INCLUDING TEENS, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPSMEMBERS IN THE AREAS OF REGENERATIVE FOOD PRODUCTION, NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, CULINARY ARTS, HEALTH & WELLNESS, AND DELIVERY OF NATURE BASED EDUCATION.-RUNS A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL GARDEN TRAINING PROGRAM SERVING SACRAMENTO COUNTY REGION. CURRENTLY OVERSEEING SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMS AT 10 BEST PRACTICE SCHOOL SITES AND MANAGING A NETWORK OF TRAINING ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT SCHOOL GARDENS THROUGHOUT SACRAMENTO COUNTY.-RUNS A COMPREHENSIVE YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FORYOUTH FOCUSED ON HANDS-ON SKILLS BUILDING IN FOOD PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENTALSTEWARDSHIP AND HEALTHY EATING.-DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE AND STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM FOR ALL OF OUR COREPROGRAM COMPONENTS.-DEVELOPED A SET OF YOUTH OPERATING AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT DEFINES OUR APPROACH TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.ADULT EDUCATION:-OFFERS A SUITE OF 170 ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND HEALTH RELATED ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.-PROVIDES UNIQUE EDUCATION TRACKS FOR ADULTS INCLUDING: GROW YOUR GROCERIES(URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION), EAT THE RAINBOW (SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS COOKING),WELLNESS (WHOLE BODY AND MIND HEALTH) AND HERBALISM (CULINARY AND MEDICINALHERBS FOR HEALTH).- DEVELOPED YEAR-ROUND ADULT VOLUNTEER, APPRENTICE AND INTERN PROGRAMSSUPPORTING COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION AND SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUTSACRAMENTO COUNTY.-MANAGES WEEKLY PUBLIC DAY FOCUSED ON ACCESS TO EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND ENGAGEMENT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 December 2004.
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.