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Tryon Life Community Farm

EIN 20-1887272 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TLC Farm brings people together to root into relationships with each other and the land, by sharing tools for community-based sustainability and social change, and tending resilient ecosystems.

Income
$107,453
Spending
$105,496
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
9
Volunteers
35

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: 52 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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. $76,047 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM: *Willow Creek Forest School* Our nature immersion pre-school program served 10 children & their families during the school year and ran four weeks of summer camp serving over 60 children. *Field Trips* Our volunteer education team grew and hosted field trips for a wide variety of groups, from kindergarteners, high school students, summer camps and family tours - approximately 200 students learned about sustainable land management and hands-on service. *Herb School* TLC Farm is in its second year as the classroom for the Elderberry School of Herbal Medicine which runs a monthly herbal education program on the land and tends a garden of medicinal herbs. This year Elderberry School added a second program focused on Clinical Herbalism which also meets once a month at TLC Farm. *Book Club* Our education team launched the "Becoming People of Place" Book Club, which meets once a month. *Workshops* Hosted several educational workshops, including Mason Bee tending, Conflict Resolution and a Spring Skills Share.
  2. $16,454 spent. COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM. *Event Hosting* We hosted several organizational retreats and meetings for groups like the Pacific NW Forest Climate Alliance, Havurah Shalom, and a community Grief Ritual. We also hosted birthday parties for folk of all ages. *Land events* We had a great annual Apple Fest, which included tasting several varieties of apples, making and tasting cider and learning about perennial fruit production. We also hosted monthly community potlucks, movie nights and old time jams. *Indigenous Solidarity* TLC Farm continued to support Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA, providing organizational and bookkeeping support as it successfully applied for its own 501c3 recognition. We also created a fund to support an Indigenous elder who leads ceremonies on this land, and supported a solar panel installation for a ceremony and music venue run by an Indigenous elder on the Warm Springs reservation.
  3. $5,094 spent. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. *Increased Land Access* New volunteers have committed to tending the paths and outbuildings on the land, ensuring better access for all visitors. *Land Maintenance* Our volunteer Land Tending Team tended our existing structures, including putting new roofs and footings on our education kiosks that provide visitors with information about the land and organization. We also started construction of a new structure that will be used as a workshop and classroom space. *Invasive plant removal* Monthly work parties focused on removing invasive species like Himalayan blackberries, English Ivy and Lesser Celandine from most of the land and replanting with native plants. We had a large work day in the headwaters of the seasonal creek, sponsored by the Tryon Creek watershed council. *Animal Husbandry* TLC Farm is one the only educational urban farms in the Portland area to provide access to a dairy goat herd (managed by a land partner), which is very popular with all visitors, as well as an important opportunity to visit with and learn about traditional farm animals. The goats had babies in the spring - which always delights visitors. The roving chicken flock also provides eggs, education, and fertilization.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 September 2005.

    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.