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The Farm Collaborative

EIN 26-3468420 · Woody Creek, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Growing a local food system where the health of people and planet come first

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
21
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$131,250, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    0 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, 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 (4)
  1. $294,085 spent. Farm Park - an educational facility, operated as a public space open to all, demonstrating neighborhood and community scale sustainable food, garden and livestock systems managed in an integrated way. More than 55,000 pounds of produce were produced this year.
  2. Visiting groups join us year round, with 1,075 participants total. We welcomed 934 participants from 22 classes, two homeschool groups, 2 Sister Cities groups (from Argentina and France), and groups from Aspen Camp for the Deaf, Solstice Wellness Retreat, and New Mexico School for the Deaf at the FarmPark. Due to the construction of our Farm Center, we were able to accommodate fewer groups onsite this spring. Instead, our Education Director visited 141 students in their classrooms to complete a natural art project and discuss the importance of worms and composting with a worm bin.
  3. $160,295 spent. Summer Camp Programs. Research demonstrates that growing food is one of the most powerful ways to reconnect children to nature and to get people outside. The flagship summer program, Earth Keepers, saw capacity attendance in the reporting year with 330 participants for six hours/day, five days per week for 10 weeks. Programs were sold out 10 out of 10 weeks. We reached over 2,000 student days this summer.Farmer In Training: After piloting new tween/teen programs in 2023, we launched our new Farmer In Training (FIT) program (for ages 13-17) summer of 2024 to provide agricultural education and training. Through this program the participants learned to plant and harvest, learned to properly wash and pack the produce for the farmer's market, and learned how to set up and maintain an irrigation system. In addition to these skills, they have learned how to work on a team. The success of this program is evident in the skills and confidence gained by participants, setting them on a path towards success in agriculture and skills that will serve them in their future careers. Four participants were accepted as paid participants and two accepted on a volunteer exchange agreement.
  4. $557,650 spent. All Others

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 June 2010.

    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.