Urban Tilth
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Urban Tilth is a California nonprofit organization committed to educate diverse communities about organic gardening and to support a network of gardens dedicated to sustainable, local food production. Urban Tilth insipires, hires, and trains local residents to cultivate agriculture, feed our community, and restore relationships to land to build a more sustainable food system, within a just and healthier community.
- Income
- $13.8 million
- Spending
- $9.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -15.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 107
- Volunteers
- 8,910
- Highest pay
- $146,234, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 95% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (5)
- $2.5 million spent. Fiscal sponsorship relates to costs associated with the management and review of administrative functions for organizations that do not have formal 501c3 status and which have arranged to operate under the umbrella of Urban Tilth. Several of these organizations include Cooperation Richmond, It Takes a Village, Rich City Rides, Moving Forward, Richmond Grows Seed Library, and fCypher Healing Herbs Podcast Project.
- $1.7 million spent. Education Programs is a farm, classroom, and community program at Richmond High School. The institute constitutes an in-class accredited class called "Urban Ecology and American Food Systems": an on-site 8000 square foot farm and a CSA program serving the school community. In addition the Education Program has afterschool programs called; The Healing Movement, The Urban Naturalists, Urban Watershed, and Naturalists Club. The Education and Urban Agriculture also includes our elementary school programs at Verde elementary and Lincoln elementary. At these two sites we manage large gardens, in-school and after-school gardening, nutrition and science programs. It also includes a 40,000 square foot urban farm at Adams Middle School, an abandoned middle school campus in partnership with the west conta costa unified school district. Lastly, The Basins of Relations Watershed Stewardship Program includes training in watershed technology, community engagement, and development of a community trail.
- $1.5 million spent. Heal programs support the distribution of healthy foods to food deserts in West Contra Costa County as well as offer healthy and active living workshops, classes, cooking demos, and nutrition classes for the community. This work includes Farm to Table & farmers to families CSA's, Veggie RX, Free farm stands, and community workshops and classes.Activate includes community engagement and outreach supporting raising of awareness of enviromental justice issues and climate change challenges facing the fenceline community of Richmond. It includes mutual aid projects like our wildfire preparedness kits that offer resources such as herbs and teas to ease respiratory issues and conditions exacerbated by wildfire and refinery pollution. It includes participation in fire kits and community art projects to raise awareness. Activate also includes hosting cohorts of community members to learn about the topics through the year.
- $1.3 million spent. Community Programs is a project open-to-all community farms, gardens, and edible streetscapes located at sites through Richmond. This is centered on nearly two acres of the Richmond Greenway, a former railway line, where we have planted and manage a Berryland, an Edible Forest. Also includes a 42 raised bed community garden also on the Richmond Greenway. We also operate a Garden Technical Assistance team which employs and trains local youth to help other schools, community organizations and churches build and maintain their own gardens.
- $216,055 spent. CAPITAL PROJECT is the purchase and development of the North Richmond Farm, a 3 acreurban farm in North Richmond. Plans are to build a permanent greenhouse, shade house,farm store, interior produce wash and pack and community meeting room, as well as an outdoor amphitheater, cafe and community commercial kitchen and a permanent office and home for Urban Tilth. The capital campaign is raising funds for this major construction project.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 February 2007.
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.