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Georgia Farm Foundation

EIN 23-6972599 · Avondale, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GEORGIA FARM FOUNDATION (THE "FOUNDATION") WAS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL UNDERPINNING FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A 340-ACRE FARM (THE "FARM") WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHICH ARE THREE CONTROLLED WATERSHEDS ON WHICH THE STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER ("STROUD") CONDUCTS LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS FARMING AND OTHER LAND-USE ACTIVITIES ON THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF FRESH WATER.

Income
$459,071
Spending
$314,602
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$169,869, president & exec dir, stro

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $270,464 spent. PAYMENT TO NATURAL LANDS TRUST INC. FOR EXPENSES IN OPERATING " GEORGIA FARM" A 340 ACRE SELF CONTAINED WATERSHED ON WHICH THE STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER CONDUCTS LONG-TERM RESEARCH PROJECTS.
  2. THE GEORGIA FARM FOUNDATION (THE "FOUNDATION") WAS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL UNDERPINNING FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A 340-ACRE FARM (THE "FARM") WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHICH ARE THREE CONTROLLED WATERSHEDS ON WHICH THE STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER ("STROUD") CONDUCTS LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS FARMING AND OTHER LAND-USE ACTIVITIES ON THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF FRESH WATER. THIS FARM IS OWNED BY THE NATURAL LANDS TRUST("NLT"). ITS USE IS RESTRICTED BY A PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT HELD BY THE BRANDYWINE CONSERVANCY. IN ADDITION, NLT AND STROUD ARE PARTIES TO A RESEARCH AGREEMENT ALLOWING STROUD TO CONTROL THE USE OF THE WATERSHEDS IN CONNECTION WITH THE LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES CONDUCTED BY STROUD. ACCORDINGLY, THE FOUNDATION'S FUNDS NOT ONLY BENEFIT NLT DIRECTLY, BUT ALSO BENEFIT STROUD. IF NLT EVER BREACHES THE RESEARCH AGREEMENT, THE FOUNDATION'S SUPPORT IS REQUIRED TO BE PAID DIRECTLY TO STROUD. THE FOUNDATION'S GRANT TO NTL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 77% OF THE DIRECT OPERATING AND NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE FARM. THE FOUNDATION'S BOARD MEETS ANNUALLY WITH THE PRESIDENT AND STAFF OF NLT TO REVIEW IN DETAIL, AND APPROVE OR MODIFY, THE OPERATING BUDGET, AS WELL AS BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE FARM, DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF CAPITAL RESERVES, AND THE LIKE. IN THE COURSE OF THIS REVIEW, THE BOARD IS INFORMED ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY STROUD OVER THE PAST YEAR AND APPROVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. THE BOARD ALSO REVIEWS THE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE FOUNDATION'S ENDOWMENT AND CONSIDERS WHETHER THE SPENDING POLICY ADOPTED BY THE FOUNDATION'S TRUSTEES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO SATISFY THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF NLT AND STROUD.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Georgia Tech Foundation Inc (Atlanta, GA), EIN 58-6043294. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.