Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT PROMOTES ORGANIC PRACTICES TO BUILD AN ECOMNOMICALLY VIABLE, ECOLOGICALLY SOUND AND SOCIALLY JUST VERMONT AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS ALL LIVING THINGS.
- Income
- $5.5 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 6.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 78
- Highest pay
- $132,525, executive di
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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
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)
- $1.3 million spent. NOFA-VT IS THE SOLE MEMBER OWNER OF THE LLC, VERMONT ORGANIC FARMERS (VOF) WHICH HAS BEEN CERTIFYING ORGANIC FARMS SINCE 1985. VOF CERTIFIES FARMS TO THE USDA NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM'S (NOP) STANDARDS AND SUPPORTS HIGH- INTEGRITY ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AS A MARKET-BASED INCENTIVE FOR FARMS TO ADOPT ORGANIC PRACTICES. IT ALSO RETAINS ITS ROOTS AS A FARMER-FOUNDED ORGANIZATION BY HAVING A DEMOCRATIC, PARTICIPATORY PROCESS IN ITS BYLAWS. THROUGH VOF, WE ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NOP, RAISING THE BAR FOR ORGANIC NATIONALLY WHILE SUPPORTING VERMONT'S FARMERS BY HIGHLIGHTING THEIR INTEGRITY AND RIGOR.
- $1.2 million spent. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR FARMS THAT ARE CERTIFIED ORGANIC, TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC, AND NON-CERTIFIED FARMERS USING ORGANIC PROCESSES. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS FARMERS AT ALL STAGES OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TO DEVELOP PLANS AND BUILD THE SKILLS NEEDED TO MEET THEIR BUSINESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS. ORGANIC PRACTICES PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES , AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS INTERESTED IN BECOMING MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT AND IMPLEMENTING REGENERATIVE, ORGANIC PRACTICES. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR FARMS THAT ARE CERTIFIED ORGANIC, TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC, AND NON-CERTIFIED FARMERS USING ORGANIC PROCESSES. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS FARMERS AT ALL STAGES OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TO DEVELOP PLANS AND BUILD THE SKILLS NEEDED TO MEET THEIR BUSINESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS. ORGANIC PRACTICES PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES , AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS INTERESTED IN BECOMING MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT AND IMPLEMENTING REGENERATIVE, ORGANIC PRACTICES.
- $1.0 million spent. THESE PROGRAMS WORK ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF EFFORTS ON THE CONSUMER SIDE OF THE FOOD SYSTEM TO EXPAND ACCESS AND DEVELOP THE MARKET FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD. WHOLESALE MARKETS PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO PROCURE AND UTILIZE LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD AND MARKETING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DIRECT MARKETING FARMS. DIRECT MARKETS PROGRAM THE PROGRAM EXPANDS ACCESS TO THE MARKET FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD. IT INCLUDES COORDINATION OF THE VERMONT FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION, SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT MARKETERS AND FARMERS MARKETS TO ACCEPT 3SQUARESVT/SNAP BENEFITS AND OUR RELATED FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS, FARM SHARE (SLIDING SCALE COST SHARING FOR CSAS) AND CROP CASH/FARM STAND MATCH (1:1 MATCH FOR TRANSACTIONS USING 3SQUARESVT BENEFITS AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS). THESE PROGRAMS WORK ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF EFFORTS ON THE CONSUMER SIDE OF THE FOOD SYSTEM TO EXPAND ACCESS AND DEVELOP THE MARKET FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD. WHOLESALE MARKETS PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO PROCURE AND UTILIZE LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD AND MARKETING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DIRECT MARKETING FARMS. DIRECT MARKETS PROGRAM THE PROGRAM EXPANDS ACCESS TO THE MARKET FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOOD. IT INCLUDES COORDINATION OF THE VERMONT FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION, SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT MARKETERS AND FARMERS MARKETS TO ACCEPT 3SQUARESVT/SNAP BENEFITS AND OUR RELATED FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS, FARM SHARE (SLIDING SCALE COST SHARING FOR CSAS) AND CROP CASH/FARM STAND MATCH (1:1 MATCH FOR TRANSACTIONS USING 3SQUARESVT BENEFITS AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS).
- $734,551 spent. THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE OTHER PROGRAMS OF NOFA-VT, BUILDS CONSUMER DEMAND FOR VERMONT ORGANIC FOOD WITH RESEARCH- BASED MARKETING, AND ADVANCES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES AFFECTING VERMONT ORGANIC FARMERS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS TO BUILD A FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEM WHERE FARMERS CAN THRIVE, NATURAL SYSTEMS ARE HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONING, AND EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH NOURISHING FOOD TO EAT. POLICY AND ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND ACTION, DIRECT ADVOCACY AND COALITION BUILDING. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT FOR AN ECOLOGICAL, CLIMATE RESILIENT, AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM BY PROVIDING MOVEMENT BUILDING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE, INCREASING THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S AGRICULTURAL LITERACY, DEEPENING THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR MEMBERS IN WORK THAT MOVES US TOWARDS OUR COLLECTIVE VISION, AND SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE BY HIGHLIGHTING HOW VT'S ORGANIC FARMERS ARE KEY TO OUR THRIVING FUTURE.
- THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE OTHER PROGRAMS OF NOFA-VT, BUILDS CONSUMER DEMAND FOR VERMONT ORGANIC FOOD WITH RESEARCH- BASED MARKETING, AND ADVANCES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES AFFECTING VERMONT ORGANIC FARMERS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS TO BUILD A FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEM WHERE FARMERS CAN THRIVE, NATURAL SYSTEMS ARE HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONING, AND EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH NOURISHING FOOD TO EAT. POLICY AND ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND ACTION, DIRECT ADVOCACY AND COALITION BUILDING. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT FOR AN ECOLOGICAL, CLIMATE RESILIENT, AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM BY PROVIDING MOVEMENT BUILDING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE, INCREASING THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S AGRICULTURAL LITERACY, DEEPENING THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR MEMBERS IN WORK THAT MOVES US TOWARDS OUR COLLECTIVE VISION, AND SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE BY HIGHLIGHTING HOW VT'S ORGANIC FARMERS ARE KEY TO OUR THRIVING FUTURE.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.