Seed Commons
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEED COMMONS IS AN APPLIED RESEARCH ORGANIZATION STUDYING, TESTING, ASSESSING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF DEMOCRATIC ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED NON-EXTRACTIVE CAPITAL.
- Income
- $10.1 million
- Spending
- $10.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $160,564, co-executive director
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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
5 of 254 of 9 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $9.4 million spent. IN 2024, SEED COMMONS MADE 60 BELOW-MARKET RATE LOANS TO 46 DEMOCRATIC ENTERPRISES WHICH BENEFITED OVER 3,000 WORKER-OWNERS. OF THOSE 60 LOANS, 51 WERE MADE TO COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES IN THE US AND 9 WERE MADE IN NICARAGUA. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS WORK IN COMMUNITIES WHOSE POPULATIONS ARE LOW-INCOME, MARGINALIZED, AND AT-RISK. THE LOAN SELECTION PROCESS INVOLVES A DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE, WHEREIN WE ASSESS THE BUSINESS PLAN TO MEASURE THE PROJECTED YIELD IN FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE COOPERATIVE AND ALSO MEASURE THE SOCIAL IMPACT, WHICH CAN INCLUDE SUCH QUANTIFIABLE PARAMETERS AS INCOME ENHANCEMENT (ESPECIALLY WHEN RISING ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE), INCREASED EMPLOYMENT, AND MORE ABSTRACT VARIABLES SUCH AS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASED COMMUNITY STABILITY. OUR LOANS HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE CAPITAL OF THE ENTERPRISE IN THREE CATEGORIES: FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND SOCIAL. THESE LOANS IMPROVED THE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND, IN MOST CASES, ALSO RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT.
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
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.