Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council

EIN 20-4915575 · Montrose, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND LOCAL PEOPLE ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF COLORADO THROUGH EDUCATION, ACCESS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.

Income
$501,121
Spending
$414,502
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
8
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$63,125, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 December 31, 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 (6)
  1. $26,000 spent. CULTIVATING FARMERS AND RANCHERS THAT THRIVE (CFRT) PROVIDES BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS TO BECOME A FOOD AND PRODUCE PROVIDER THROUGH EDUCATION, BUSINESS TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND LAND ACCESS.
  2. $8,360 spent. REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM PARTNERSHIP PROMOTES, SUPPORTS, AND COORDINATES REGIONAL FOOD SUPPLY STAKEHOLDERS TO INCREASE THE VIABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM.
  3. $62,342 spent. LOCAL FARMACY AND FOOD ACCESS ENSURES LOCAL, FRESH FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC STATUS.
  4. $123,864 spent. ROOTS OF RENEWAL - AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT BENEFITS AREA FARMERS, RANCHERS, GARDENERS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE MONTROSE FARMERS MARKET (MFM) SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES ONLY LOCAL PRODUCERS,ARTISANS AND BUSINESSES WHICH OPERATE ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF COLORADO. THE 4 MAIN FOCUSES OF THE MFM ARE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH CAPACITY BUILDING, SUPPORT FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND CONNECTING LOCAL PRODUCERS DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. FOOD GUIDE/DIRECTORY PROVIDES EDUCATION ON THE LOCAL FOODS AVAILABLE AND PROMOTES LOCAL PRODUCERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
  5. LINE 3 - CEASED CONDUCTING OR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO SERVICES THE FOOD GUIDE/DIRECTORY HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE 2020 DUE TO COVID AND HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE CURRENTLY CLOSED.
  6. ROOTS OF RENEWAL - AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT BENEFITS AREA FARMERS, RANCHERS, GARDENERS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE MONTROSE FARMERS MARKET (MFM) SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES ONLY LOCAL PRODUCERS,ARTISANS AND BUSINESSES WHICH OPERATE ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF COLORADO. THE 4 MAIN FOCUSES OF THE MFM ARE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH CAPACITY BUILDING, SUPPORT FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND CONNECTING LOCAL PRODUCERS DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. FOOD GUIDE/DIRECTORY PROVIDES EDUCATION ON THE LOCAL FOODS AVAILABLE AND PROMOTES LOCAL PRODUCERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 July 2007.

    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.

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.