Ceres Community Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE CREATE HEALTH FOR PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND THE PLANET THROUGH LOVE, HEALING FOOD, AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION.
- Income
- $11.8 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 994
- Highest pay
- $178,248, ceo
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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 (3)
- $4.5 million spent. WE CREATE HEALTH FOR PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND THE PLANET THROUGH LOVE, HEALING FOOD, AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION. Ceres Community Project's mission is to improve health for people, communities and the planet through love, healing meals and empowering the next generation. We accomplish this work through the following program areas: . Community Health Model: o Client Meal Program - Providing medically tailored meals, groceries and produce "prescriptions" to primarily low-income people who are struggling with serious and chronic health conditions and their families. This program includes nutrition education. o Youth Development & Garden Program - Engaging 14-19 year old youth as volunteers and paid interns growing food and preparing 100% organic meals for our clients. Youth learn about growing, and eating healthy food, develop job and leadership skills, and experience their value and belonging as Contributing members of the community. o Engaging adult volunteers to strength social connections and connect people to their purpose and value. . Affiliate Partner Program - Ceres trains communities across the US and in Denmark to replicate our integrated model for community health and supports Affiliate Partners with ongoing support. . Policy & System Change - Through active participation in a dozen local, state and federal coalitions with advance system and policy change to improve access to healthy food, integrate food as a covered benefit in health care, and support organic and regenerative food systems. 2024 Highlights: On a positive note, we opened the Ceres Garden at Live Oak Farm in Petaluma with the hiring of Noah Wolf-Prusan in March. We are still working to grow youth engagement, but nearly 100 people volunteered in the garden this year. Other Highlights: . Meal Program - We provided 226,432 meals - more than ever before - for 1,489 clients along with additional family members. . We launched a new menu for people living with chronic kidney disease, expanding the types of clients we can serve. . We piloted delivery to Medi-Cal members in Solano and Napa counties, expanding our geographic coverage; financial analysis demonstrated a strong contribution to overhead and we will continue building out referrals in these two counties. . Youth Program - 287 young people from 55 different schools participated in 11,300 hours of service and learning at Ceres; this number is down from 2023 because of the closure of our Santa Rosa kitchen and garden in February. The organization we leased space from filed for bankruptcy. . Youth Internships o We completed cohort two of the Healthy Eating Educator Internship. 11 interns taught 75 classes during the year, reaching 678 children and youth with information about eating fruits and vegetables. Two of the interns also taught seven classes at Sonoma County library branches during the summer, reaching another 52 youth. o We launched the first cohort of the Farm to Community Internship. Eight interns were supported with 1,396 hours of learning about growing healthy food and nutrition and public speaking. The interns provided 12 "farm stands" at Santa Rosa Community Health, distributing 2,883 pounds of organic produce to 861 patients of the health center - most of them Latinx and Spanish speaking. . Organic Purchasing - We supported 111 farms, ranches and dairies with more than $600,000 in organic purchasing with 66% of products coming from within 250 miles. . We launched the Ceres Community Project Garden at Live Oak Farm Petaluma in March and more than 100 people participated in shifts during the year. . Our two gardens produced 12,526 pounds of organic produce valued at $27,160 along with 2,933 bouquets of flowers for our clients. . 708 adult volunteers contributed more than 31,000 hours of volunteer service, the equivalent of 15 full-time staff members. . Educational messages about food and health reached 989 people through in-person and virtual classes; 20,925 through social and digital messaging; and 7 million through press coverage. We have 47,000 unique web visitors. . Center - We completed financing for the Center for Food, Youth and Community, closing on our New Market Tax Credit deal in late August. This included a $12 million bridge loan from LISC and Community Vision. We began construction in early September and by the end of the year, the first floor was fully framed. . Affiliate Program - We continued to support eight Affiliates around the United States and Denmark and began conversations with potential affiliates in New Zealand and Wilmington, North Carolina. . Policy and Systems Change - We funded and launched a California CBO Medi-Cal Coalition to advocate for the vital role of locally-based nonprofits in California's health care transformation; were awarded contracts to lead the development of Community Based Food Networks in Sonoma County's districts 3 and 5; participated in a full day meeting hosted by American Heart Association with 90 national food is medicine leaders to address challenges in scaling food as medicine; and through individual and coalition work continued to advocate for quality and sourcing standards in food as medicine, locally-based food as medicine providers, organic food systems. . FIMC Accreditation - We completed the Food is Medicine accreditation process and will be awarded formal accreditation in February 2025.
- Ceres Community Project's mission is to improve health for people, communities and the planet through love, healing meals and empowering the next generation. We accomplish this work through the following program areas: . Community Health Model: o Client Meal Program - Providing medically tailored meals, groceries and produce "prescriptions" to primarily low-income people who are struggling with serious and chronic health conditions and their families. This program includes nutrition education. o Youth Development & Garden Program - Engaging 14-19 year old youth as volunteers and paid interns growing food and preparing 100% organic meals for our clients. Youth learn about growing, and eating healthy food, develop job and leadership skills, and experience their value and belonging as Contributing members of the community. o Engaging adult volunteers to strength social connections and connect people to their purpose and value. . Affiliate Partner Program - Ceres trains communities across the US and in Denmark to replicate our integrated model for community health and supports Affiliate Partners with ongoing support. . Policy & System Change - Through active participation in a dozen local, state and federal coalitions with advance system and policy change to improve access to healthy food, integrate food as a covered benefit in health care, and support organic and regenerative food systems. 2024 Highlights: On a positive note, we opened the Ceres Garden at Live Oak Farm in Petaluma with the hiring of Noah Wolf-Prusan in March. We are still working to grow youth engagement, but nearly 100 people volunteered in the garden this year. Other Highlights: . Meal Program - We provided 226,432 meals - more than ever before - for 1,489 clients along with additional family members. . We launched a new menu for people living with chronic kidney disease, expanding the types of clients we can serve. . We piloted delivery to Medi-Cal members in Solano and Napa counties, expanding our geographic coverage; financial analysis demonstrated a strong contribution to overhead and we will continue building out referrals in these two counties. . Youth Program - 287 young people from 55 different schools participated in 11,300 hours of service and learning at Ceres; this number is down from 2023 because of the closure of our Santa Rosa kitchen and garden in February. The organization we leased space from filed for bankruptcy. . Youth Internships o We completed cohort two of the Healthy Eating Educator Internship. 11 interns taught 75 classes during the year, reaching 678 children and youth with information about eating fruits and vegetables. Two of the interns also taught seven classes at Sonoma County library branches during the summer, reaching another 52 youth. o We launched the first cohort of the Farm to Community Internship. Eight interns were supported with 1,396 hours of learning about growing healthy food and nutrition and public speaking. The interns provided 12 "farm stands" at Santa Rosa Community Health, distributing 2,883 pounds of organic produce to 861 patients of the health center - most of them Latinx and Spanish speaking. . Organic Purchasing - We supported 111 farms, ranches and dairies with more than $600,000 in organic purchasing with 66% of products coming from within 250 miles. . We launched the Ceres Community Project Garden at Live Oak Farm Petaluma in March and more than 100 people participated in shifts during the year. . Our two gardens produced 12,526 pounds of organic produce valued at $27,160 along with 2,933 bouquets of flowers for our clients. . 708 adult volunteers contributed more than 31,000 hours of volunteer service, the equivalent of 15 full-time staff members. . Educational messages about food and health reached 989 people through in-person and virtual classes; 20,925 through social and digital messaging; and 7 million through press coverage. We have 47,000 unique web visitors. . Center - We completed financing for the Center for Food, Youth and Community, closing on our New Market Tax Credit deal in late August. This included a $12 million bridge loan from LISC and Community Vision. We began construction in early September and by the end of the year, the first floor was fully framed. . Affiliate Program - We continued to support eight Affiliates around the United States and Denmark and began conversations with potential affiliates in New Zealand and Wilmington, North Carolina. . Policy and Systems Change - We funded and launched a California CBO Medi-Cal Coalition to advocate for the vital role of locally-based nonprofits in California's health care transformation; were awarded contracts to lead the development of Community Based Food Networks in Sonoma County's districts 3 and 5; participated in a full day meeting hosted by American Heart Association with 90 national food is medicine leaders to address challenges in scaling food as medicine; and through individual and coalition work continued to advocate for quality and sourcing standards in food as medicine, locally-based food as medicine providers, organic food systems. . FIMC Accreditation - We completed the Food is Medicine accreditation process and will be awarded formal accreditation in February 2025.
- Ceres Community Project's mission is to improve health for people, communities and the planet through love, healing meals and empowering the next generation. We accomplish this work through the following program areas: . Community Health Model: o Client Meal Program - Providing medically tailored meals, groceries and produce "prescriptions" to primarily low-income people who are struggling with serious and chronic health conditions and their families. This program includes nutrition education. o Youth Development & Garden Program - Engaging 14-19 year old youth as volunteers and paid interns growing food and preparing 100% organic meals for our clients. Youth learn about growing, and eating healthy food, develop job and leadership skills, and experience their value and belonging as Contributing members of the community. o Engaging adult volunteers to strength social connections and connect people to their purpose and value. . Affiliate Partner Program - Ceres trains communities across the US and in Denmark to replicate our integrated model for community health and supports Affiliate Partners with ongoing support. . Policy & System Change - Through active participation in a dozen local, state and federal coalitions with advance system and policy change to improve access to healthy food, integrate food as a covered benefit in health care, and support organic and regenerative food systems. 2024 Highlights: On a positive note, we opened the Ceres Garden at Live Oak Farm in Petaluma with the hiring of Noah Wolf-Prusan in March. We are still working to grow youth engagement, but nearly 100 people volunteered in the garden this year. Other Highlights: . Meal Program - We provided 226,432 meals - more than ever before - for 1,489 clients along with additional family members. . We launched a new menu for people living with chronic kidney disease, expanding the types of clients we can serve. . We piloted delivery to Medi-Cal members in Solano and Napa counties, expanding our geographic coverage; financial analysis demonstrated a strong contribution to overhead and we will continue building out referrals in these two counties. . Youth Program - 287 young people from 55 different schools participated in 11,300 hours of service and learning at Ceres; this number is down from 2023 because of the closure of our Santa Rosa kitchen and garden in February. The organization we leased space from filed for bankruptcy. . Youth Internships o We completed cohort two of the Healthy Eating Educator Internship. 11 interns taught 75 classes during the year, reaching 678 children and youth with information about eating fruits and vegetables. Two of the interns also taught seven classes at Sonoma County library branches during the summer, reaching another 52 youth. o We launched the first cohort of the Farm to Community Internship. Eight interns were supported with 1,396 hours of learning about growing healthy food and nutrition and public speaking. The interns provided 12 "farm stands" at Santa Rosa Community Health, distributing 2,883 pounds of organic produce to 861 patients of the health center - most of them Latinx and Spanish speaking. . Organic Purchasing - We supported 111 farms, ranches and dairies with more than $600,000 in organic purchasing with 66% of products coming from within 250 miles. . We launched the Ceres Community Project Garden at Live Oak Farm Petaluma in March and more than 100 people participated in shifts during the year. . Our two gardens produced 12,526 pounds of organic produce valued at $27,160 along with 2,933 bouquets of flowers for our clients. . 708 adult volunteers contributed more than 31,000 hours of volunteer service, the equivalent of 15 full-time staff members. . Educational messages about food and health reached 989 people through in-person and virtual classes; 20,925 through social and digital messaging; and 7 million through press coverage. We have 47,000 unique web visitors. . Center - We completed financing for the Center for Food, Youth and Community, closing on our New Market Tax Credit deal in late August. This included a $12 million bridge loan from LISC and Community Vision. We began construction in early September and by the end of the year, the first floor was fully framed. . Affiliate Program - We continued to support eight Affiliates around the United States and Denmark and began conversations with potential affiliates in New Zealand and Wilmington, North Carolina. . Policy and Systems Change - We funded and launched a California CBO Medi-Cal Coalition to advocate for the vital role of locally-based nonprofits in California's health care transformation; were awarded contracts to lead the development of Community Based Food Networks in Sonoma County's districts 3 and 5; participated in a full day meeting hosted by American Heart Association with 90 national food is medicine leaders to address challenges in scaling food as medicine; and through individual and coalition work continued to advocate for quality and sourcing standards in food as medicine, locally-based food as medicine providers, organic food systems. . FIMC Accreditation - We completed the Food is Medicine accreditation process and will be awarded formal accreditation in February 2025.
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 October 13, 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 July 2008.
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 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.