Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Commons Center for Food Security & Sustainability

EIN 20-1004201 · Silver City, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF GRANT COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY AND STRIVE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND THE CONCEPTS OF FOOD JUSTICE, LOCAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Income
$418,928
Spending
$422,232
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
20
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$47,970, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    6 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 June 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 (5)
  1. $168,880 spent. ALIMENTO PARA EL NINO: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BOTH EMERGENCY FOOD FOR CHILDREN WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY TOBRING HOME OVER WEEKENDS AND PROGRAMMING TO TEACH GRANT COUNTY YOUTHABOUT GARDENING, NUTRITION AND THE LARGER FOOD SYSTEM.
  2. $47,482 spent. ROOTED PROGRAM - COMMON GARDEN AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT. THE GARDEN PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FRESH FOOD FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY RECIPIENTS IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEARN ABOUT BACKYARD GARDENING. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE GARDENING WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY USE. A YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM OFFERS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $40,608 spent. FOOD PANTRY: THIS PROGRAM CONSOLIDATES EFFORTS TO BRING FOOD SECURITY TO GRANT COUNTY, NM. THE COMMONS OPERATES A FOOD DSITRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR THE NEEDY THROGH FOUR FOOD PATNRIES: SILVER CITY FOOD PANTRY, THE MINING DISTRICT MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, GILA MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, AND THE HACHITA FOOD PANTRY. DURING FY 24 OVER 400,000 LBS OF FOOD WERE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 475 HOUSHOLDS. VOLUNEERS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES SPENT 4,320 HOURS WORKED AT THE PANTRIES.
  4. $20,830 spent. COMMUNITY KITCHEN: -- PROVIDES COMMUNITY - EVERY MONTH WE HOST A FREE DINNER FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN IN ON! THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHARE IN COMMUNITY AND HAVE A HOME-STYLE MEAL. OUR DINNERS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED BY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF IN OUR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.-- COMMUNITY AND COLLEGE COOKING CLASSES - THE COMMONS HOSTS COOKING CLASSES AND FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOPS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBER TO JOIN! THESE CLASSES ARE EITHER ZERO COST OR HAVE A SMALL FEE TO COVER SUPPLIES. THE GOAL OF THESE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IS FOR PARTICIPANTS LEARN FOOD SAFETY, CULINARY BASICS, EXPLORE RECIPES, AND TECHNIQUES TOGETHER WITH A CULINARY GUIDE. -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP - THE COMMONS IS CREATING A SPACE FOR LOCAL CULINARY ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR BUSINESS TO PRACTICE AND FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS.
  5. $6,163 spent. THE VOLUNTEER CENTER - AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANIZATIONS IN GRANT COUNTY. IF YOU ARE A NON-PROFIT, AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION THAT USES VOLUNTEERS, IT IS A SIMPLE TOOL TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND MANAGE YOUR VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP, YOU CAN USE THIS PLATFORM TO FIND PLACES THAT INTEREST YOU. WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO GIVE BACK, MEET LIKE-MINDED NEIGHBORS, OR SIMPLY BE PART OF SOMETHING MEANINGFUL, VOLUNTEERING IN GRANT COUNTY OFFERS A CHANCE TO CONNECT DEEPLY WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 June 2004.

    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.