Nourish Colorado
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NOURISH COLORADO IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FARMS AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT ALL COLORADANS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOODS. WE PURSUE SYSTEMIC CHANGES THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY ADVOCACY, MANAGING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, AND DEVELOPING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND GRASSROOTS NETWORKS TO EMPLOY MULTIPLE-WIN STRATEGIES THAT REBALANCE THE FOOD SYSTEM AND CREATE NUTRITIOUS FOOD ENVIRONMENTS.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 74%
- Employees
- 22
- Highest pay
- $141,668, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $2.1 million spent. HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVES: IN 2024, DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS (DUFB) PARTNERED WITH 110 SITES ACROSS COLORADO TO SUPPORT SNAP SHOPPERS. PARTICIPANTS EARNED UP TO 20 PER DAY IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR COLORADO-GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND DRY BEANS. COLLECTIVELY, SHOPPERS REDEEMED NEARLY 1 MILLION IN INCENTIVES STATEWIDE. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED THE LAUNCH OF THE COLORADO SNAP PRODUCE BONUS (CSPB) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CDHS. TO DATE, CSPB INCLUDES 41 FARMERS, 5 BRICK-AND- MORTAR RETAILERS, AND 36 DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER OUTLETS (FARMERS MARKETS, FARM STANDS, AND ON-FARM STORES). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SNAP SHOPPERS CAN RECEIVE UP TO 60 PER MONTH IN ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WHEN PURCHASING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING SITES. COLORADO NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: - DISTRIBUTED 225,000 IN FRESH PRODUCE BY DIRECTLY PARTNERING WITH 27 FARMERS AND AGGREGATORS. IN TOTAL, 111 FARMS WERE IMPACTED THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACTS OR AGGREGATOR PARTNERSHIPS. - SERVED WIC PARTICIPANTS AND OLDER ADULTS THROUGH 27 AGENCIES ACROSS 21 COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN UTE AND UTE MOUNTAIN UTE NATIONS. - INVESTED OVER 340,580 INTO THE COLORADO FOOD ECONOMY THROUGH HYPERLOCAL FOOD PURCHASES. THE MAJORITY OF FOOD WAS GROWN AND DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SAME OR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. - DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 63,546 POUNDS OF FOOD STATEWIDE. - OVER 80% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM. HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVES: IN 2024, DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS (DUFB) PARTNERED WITH 110 SITES ACROSS COLORADO TO SUPPORT SNAP SHOPPERS. PARTICIPANTS EARNED UP TO 20 PER DAY IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR COLORADO-GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND DRY BEANS. COLLECTIVELY, SHOPPERS REDEEMED NEARLY 1 MILLION IN INCENTIVES STATEWIDE. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED THE LAUNCH OF THE COLORADO SNAP PRODUCE BONUS (CSPB) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CDHS. TO DATE, CSPB INCLUDES 41 FARMERS, 5 BRICK-AND- MORTAR RETAILERS, AND 36 DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER OUTLETS (FARMERS MARKETS, FARM STANDS, AND ON-FARM STORES). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SNAP SHOPPERS CAN RECEIVE UP TO 60 PER MONTH IN ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WHEN PURCHASING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING SITES. COLORADO NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: - DISTRIBUTED 225,000 IN FRESH PRODUCE BY DIRECTLY PARTNERING WITH 27 FARMERS AND AGGREGATORS. IN TOTAL, 111 FARMS WERE IMPACTED THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACTS OR AGGREGATOR PARTNERSHIPS. - SERVED WIC PARTICIPANTS AND OLDER ADULTS THROUGH 27 AGENCIES ACROSS 21 COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN UTE AND UTE MOUNTAIN UTE NATIONS. - INVESTED OVER 340,580 INTO THE COLORADO FOOD ECONOMY THROUGH HYPERLOCAL FOOD PURCHASES. THE MAJORITY OF FOOD WAS GROWN AND DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SAME OR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. - DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 63,546 POUNDS OF FOOD STATEWIDE. - OVER 80% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM.
- $1.3 million spent. NUTRITION FOOD EDUCATION: NOURISH COLORADO'S NUTRITION EDUCATION TEAM IMPLEMENTED STATEWIDE COOKING MATTERS PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS AND REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SNAP-ELIGIBLE COLORADANS. PROGRAMMING COMBINED DIRECT EDUCATION, POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE STRATEGIES, AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED INNOVATIONS TO REACH COLORADO COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING URBAN, RURAL, FRONTIER, AND TRIBAL POPULATIONS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NOURISH PROVIDED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COOKING MATTERS CURRICULA, ENGAGING MORE THAN 4,000 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS COLORADO. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS SUPPORTED HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES IN PANTRIES, RETAIL SETTINGS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE WAS THE EASY CHOICE. EVALUATION TOOLS AND STATE REPORTING SYSTEMS WERE USED TO MAINTAIN PROGRAMS. NUTRITION FOOD EDUCATION: NOURISH COLORADO'S NUTRITION EDUCATION TEAM IMPLEMENTED STATEWIDE COOKING MATTERS PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS AND REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SNAP-ELIGIBLE COLORADANS. PROGRAMMING COMBINED DIRECT EDUCATION, POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE STRATEGIES, AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED INNOVATIONS TO REACH COLORADO COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING URBAN, RURAL, FRONTIER, AND TRIBAL POPULATIONS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NOURISH PROVIDED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COOKING MATTERS CURRICULA, ENGAGING MORE THAN 4,000 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS COLORADO. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS SUPPORTED HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES IN PANTRIES, RETAIL SETTINGS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE WAS THE EASY CHOICE. EVALUATION TOOLS AND STATE REPORTING SYSTEMS WERE USED TO MAINTAIN PROGRAMS.
- $619,082 spent. HEALTHY FOOD IN INSTITUTIONS: FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION FF IN NOVEMBER 2022, OUR TEAM ENTERED 2023 WITH A CLEAR FOCUS: TO PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE UPCOMING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CDE). OUR GOAL WAS TO POSITION OURSELVES AS THE STATEWIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER FOR THE LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM (LFP). THROUGHOUT 2023, WE DEDICATED TIME AND RESOURCES TO BUILDING A STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO THE ANTICIPATED CONTRACT, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN SPRING 2024. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY 2024, WE RECEIVED UNEXPECTED NEWS. DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACCESSING FREE MEALS, FUNDING PRIORITIES SHIFTED. THE STATEWIDE LFP CONTRACT-AND ALL ASSOCIATED GRANTS-WERE PUT ON HOLD TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD COULD CONTINUE RECEIVING MEALS AT NO COST. THIS DEVELOPMENT MEANT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM PAUSED, BUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE LOCAL FOOD WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IN JUNE 2024, CDE INFORMED US THAT OUR EXISTING LFP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THIS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. BY AUGUST, 32 NEW DISTRICTS WERE AWARDED YEAR 4 LFP GRANTS, AND WE EXPANDED OUR SUPPORT TO INCLUDE THEM ALONGSIDE THE YEAR 3 COHORT. FINALLY, IN OCTOBER 2024, OUR YEAR 4 LFP TA CONTRACT WITH CDE WAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED, AND 150,000 IN FUNDING WAS RELEASED. WITH THIS SUPPORT, WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH THE 32 PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS, ENSURING THEY HAD THE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2025. HEALTHY FOOD IN INSTITUTIONS: FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION FF IN NOVEMBER 2022, OUR TEAM ENTERED 2023 WITH A CLEAR FOCUS: TO PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE UPCOMING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CDE). OUR GOAL WAS TO POSITION OURSELVES AS THE STATEWIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER FOR THE LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM (LFP). THROUGHOUT 2023, WE DEDICATED TIME AND RESOURCES TO BUILDING A STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO THE ANTICIPATED CONTRACT, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN SPRING 2024. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY 2024, WE RECEIVED UNEXPECTED NEWS. DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACCESSING FREE MEALS, FUNDING PRIORITIES SHIFTED. THE STATEWIDE LFP CONTRACT-AND ALL ASSOCIATED GRANTS-WERE PUT ON HOLD TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD COULD CONTINUE RECEIVING MEALS AT NO COST. THIS DEVELOPMENT MEANT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM PAUSED, BUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE LOCAL FOOD WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IN JUNE 2024, CDE INFORMED US THAT OUR EXISTING LFP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THIS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. BY AUGUST, 32 NEW DISTRICTS WERE AWARDED YEAR 4 LFP GRANTS, AND WE EXPANDED OUR SUPPORT TO INCLUDE THEM ALONGSIDE THE YEAR 3 COHORT. FINALLY, IN OCTOBER 2024, OUR YEAR 4 LFP TA CONTRACT WITH CDE WAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED, AND 150,000 IN FUNDING WAS RELEASED. WITH THIS SUPPORT, WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH THE 32 PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS, ENSURING THEY HAD THE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2025.
- $315,640 spent. THROUGH OUR HEALTHY FOOD POLICY WORK, NOURISH COLORADO ADVANCES COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL POLICY AGENDAS THAT SUPPORT A JUST AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD SYSTEM. WE MANAGE THE FOOD BILL ACTION TEAM, WHICH MEETS VIRTUALLY MONTHLY AND INCLUDES MARKET MANAGERS, STATE LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT POLICY AND BRAINSTORMING NEW IDEAS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION. I N 2024, WE WORKED WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, AND CREATED A PERMANENT STATE PROGRAM, THE HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, NOURISH TRAVELED MULTIPLE TIMES TO WASHINGTON DC TO MEET WITH THE OFFICES OF FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND SECURED CO-SPONSORSHIPS FROM SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO DELEGATION ON BILLS TO SUPPORT SNAP INCENTIVES, SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS
- THROUGH OUR HEALTHY FOOD POLICY WORK, NOURISH COLORADO ADVANCES COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL POLICY AGENDAS THAT SUPPORT A JUST AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD SYSTEM. WE MANAGE THE FOOD BILL ACTION TEAM, WHICH MEETS VIRTUALLY MONTHLY AND INCLUDES MARKET MANAGERS, STATE LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT POLICY AND BRAINSTORMING NEW IDEAS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION. I N 2024, WE WORKED WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, AND CREATED A PERMANENT STATE PROGRAM, THE HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, NOURISH TRAVELED MULTIPLE TIMES TO WASHINGTON DC TO MEET WITH THE OFFICES OF FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND SECURED CO-SPONSORSHIPS FROM SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO DELEGATION ON BILLS TO SUPPORT SNAP INCENTIVES, SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS
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 August 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 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.