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Cornucopia Institute Incorporated

EIN 20-1075143 · Viroqua, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE IS ENGAGES IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING THE ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND ECONOMIC WISDOM UNDERLYING SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. THROUGH RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATIONS ON AGRICULUTRAL AND FOOD ISSUES, THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE WILL PROVIDE NEEDED INFORMATION TO FAMILY FARMS, CONSUMERS. AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE GOOD FOOD MOVEMENT AND THE MEDIA.

Income
$703,258
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
11
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$91,338, executive dir.

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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
  1. $927,381 spent. EDUCATION - THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE EDUCATES OUR APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MEMBERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ORGANIC STAKEHOLDERS, AND SUPPORTERS ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE INTEGRITY OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, SUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL FOOD, AND DIRECT MARKETING VIA NEWSLETTERS, WEBSITE, WEBINARS, RESEARCH REPORTS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIC BUSINESSES.
  2. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS - WITH AN EYE TOWARD HUMAN, ANIMAL, AND ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH, CORNUCOPIA CONDUCTS IN-DEPTH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND THE ORGANIC INDUSTRY, FOCUSING ON THE PRODUCTION OF AND MARKETS FOR EGGS, DAIRY, POULTRY, BEEF, GRAIN, AND POPULAR PRODUCTS, SUCH AS SNACK BARS AND PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES.
  3. MONITORING AND REPORTING - CORNUCOPIA MONITORS AND PROVIDES FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE REGULATORY PROCESSES SURROUNDING THE ORGANIC STANDARDS AND ACTIONS OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD AND NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM; MONITORS ACCREDITED CERTIFIER COMPLIANCE TO THE ORGANIC STANDARDS; AND TRACKS DEVELOPMENTS IN GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS AND OTHER IMPACTS ON ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCERS.

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 April 2005.

    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.

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