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Greater Newark Conservancy Inc

EIN 22-2691309 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREATER NEWARK CONSERVANCY IS A NEW JERSEY NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND GREEN SPACES. WE PROVIDE HANDS-ON COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT CULTIVATE SUSTAINABILITY, INSPIRE ACTION, AND CELEBRATE THE POWER OF NATURE TO HEAL AND UPLIFT.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
31
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$179,975, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 89% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $667,532 spent. THE CONSERVANCY'S YOUTH & FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM ANNUALLY PROVIDES NUTRITION AND HEALTHY EATING LESSONS, VEGETABLE AND FRUIT TASTE TESTS AND SCHOOL GARDENING LESSONS FOR 2,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN AS PART OF ITS FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR SCHOOL GROUPS AT OUR JUDITH L. SHIPLEY URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION, MONTHLY HEALTHY MEAL PREPARATION DEMONSTRATIONS ARE OFFERED IN THE CENTER'S TEACHING KITCHEN AND CLASSROOMS. OTHER MONTHLY FAMILY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS IMPLEMENTED AT THE CENTER'S OUTDOOR TEACHING GARDENS. TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ARE PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS, FOCUSING ON EMPLOYING SCHOOL GARDENS AS OUTDOOR TEACHING VENUES. OVERALL PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON NUTRITIONAL HEALTH AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT. THE COMBINED EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH APPROXIMATELY 4,500 CHILDREN AND ADULTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE CONSERVANCY'S YOUTH & FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM ANNUALLY PROVIDES NUTRITION AND HEALTHY EATING LESSONS, VEGETABLE AND FRUIT TASTE TESTS AND SCHOOL GARDENING LESSONS FOR 2,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN AS PART OF ITS FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR SCHOOL GROUPS AT OUR JUDITH L. SHIPLEY URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION, MONTHLY HEALTHY MEAL PREPARATION DEMONSTRATIONS ARE OFFERED IN THE CENTER'S TEACHING KITCHEN AND CLASSROOMS. OTHER MONTHLY FAMILY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS IMPLEMENTED AT THE CENTER'S OUTDOOR TEACHING GARDENS. TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ARE PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS, FOCUSING ON EMPLOYING SCHOOL GARDENS AS OUTDOOR TEACHING VENUES. OVERALL PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON NUTRITIONAL HEALTH AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT. THE COMBINED EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH APPROXIMATELY 4,500 CHILDREN AND ADULTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
  2. $782,162 spent. THE CONSERVANCY'S URBAN FARMING/COMMUNITY GREENING PROGRAM ANNUALLY SERVES ABOUT 4,000 NEWARK RESIDENTS THROUGH ITS FAMILY-ADOPTED PLANTING PLOTS, HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSES THAT GENERATE FRESH PRODUCE, WEEKLY MOBILE FARM STANDS, MONTHLY FARMER'S MARKETS, AND DISTRIBUTED FOOD BOXES. THROUGH THESE COMBINED ACTIVITIES THE CONSERVANCY MAKES NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY FOODS ACCESSIBLE TO NEWARK RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DESIGNATED FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 2023 URBAN FARMING INITIATIVES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A NEWARK GROWERS COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FOOD BOX INITIATIVE, PROVIDING SEVERAL DOZEN LOCAL FAMILIES WITH FRESH PRODUCE EVERY OTHER WEEK. THE CONSERVANCY'S URBAN FARMING/COMMUNITY GREENING PROGRAM ANNUALLY SERVES ABOUT 4,000 NEWARK RESIDENTS THROUGH ITS FAMILY-ADOPTED PLANTING PLOTS, HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSES THAT GENERATE FRESH PRODUCE, WEEKLY MOBILE FARM STANDS, MONTHLY FARMER'S MARKETS, AND DISTRIBUTED FOOD BOXES. THROUGH THESE COMBINED ACTIVITIES THE CONSERVANCY MAKES NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY FOODS ACCESSIBLE TO NEWARK RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DESIGNATED FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 2023 URBAN FARMING INITIATIVES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A NEWARK GROWERS COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FOOD BOX INITIATIVE, PROVIDING SEVERAL DOZEN LOCAL FAMILIES WITH FRESH PRODUCE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
  3. $1.2 million spent. IN 2023 THE CONSERVANCY LAUNCHED THE COALITION FOR HEALTHY FOOD IN NEWARK SCHOOLS, A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE, ESTABLISHED TO SUSTAINABLY TRANSFORM NEWARK'S SCHOOL FOOD SYSTEM WHICH SERVES 41,672 STUDENTS IN ITS 63 SCHOOLS. THE COALITION IS FOCUSED ON INCREASING LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, FARM-TO-SCHOOL ACCESS, GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION, FARM-TO-FAMILY ACCESS, FITNESS EDUCATION, AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE STAFF. THE CONSERVANCY SERVES AS THE BACKBONE AGENCY FOR THIS COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE. MOST RECENTLY THIS CAMPAIGN HAS IMPLEMENTED COMMUNITY INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS AND THE FORMATION AND STRENGTHENING OF A SERIES OF STUDENT-LED NUTRITION ADVISORY COUNCILS IN NEWARK SCHOOLS, ENCOURAGING STUDENT INPUT ON FOOD QUALITY ISSUES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS, THEREBY IMPACTING 2,600 STUDENTS. IN 2023 THE CONSERVANCY LAUNCHED THE COALITION FOR HEALTHY FOOD IN NEWARK SCHOOLS, A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE, ESTABLISHED TO SUSTAINABLY TRANSFORM NEWARK'S SCHOOL FOOD SYSTEM WHICH SERVES 41,672 STUDENTS IN ITS 63 SCHOOLS. THE COALITION IS FOCUSED ON INCREASING LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, FARM-TO-SCHOOL ACCESS, GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION, FARM-TO-FAMILY ACCESS, FITNESS EDUCATION, AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE STAFF. THE CONSERVANCY SERVES AS THE BACKBONE AGENCY FOR THIS COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE. MOST RECENTLY THIS CAMPAIGN HAS IMPLEMENTED COMMUNITY INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS AND THE FORMATION AND STRENGTHENING OF A SERIES OF STUDENT-LED NUTRITION ADVISORY COUNCILS IN NEWARK SCHOOLS, ENCOURAGING STUDENT INPUT ON FOOD QUALITY ISSUES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS, THEREBY IMPACTING 2,600 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1986.

    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.