Food Works
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Food Works is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable food economy in Southern Illinois. Through farmer training and consumer education, Food Works promotes long-term farming networks that create healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities in the 23 counties that make up Southern Illinois
- Income
- $484,456
- Spending
- $544,619
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $57,751, executive director
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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 6 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (6)
- $80,658 spent. 1.Food Access: Our Food Access programs are striving to make it easier and more affordable for our community to fill up their plates with locally grown, nutritious food. We are breaking down barriers for that to happen, such as expense, the need for transportation, and access to fresh foods. According to 2023 data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, 15% of southern Illinois' population, over 100,000 people, are food insecure. In this area, we have the right climate to be growing produce year round, with the ability to feed ourselves and those around us. The Mobile Farmers Market and Rural Roots Rx Program reduce the transportation barrier by bringing a well-rounded selection of food into the counties that need it most, at an affordable cost. Link Hub helps facilitate $1 for $1 Link Match on fruits and veggies to help SNAP users stretch their food dollars further. The Winter Farmers Market bridges the gap during the colder months when fresh food options are limited.
- $70,996 spent. 2.SNAP & Link Match in Farmers Markets- This program expands equitable access to healthy, nutrient dense foods by supporting farmers markets to be able to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Link Match, a double coupon program for free fruits and vegetables. Food Works provides administrative set up and oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at local farmers markets and double value assistance for low income community members who buy from farmer markets. In 2025 Food Works provided support services to be able to accept SNAP, including healthy eating incentives for 428 farmer markets at 11 market locations. Food Works counted 85,939 customers and 5,631 vendors which recorded 1,196 total SNAP transactions.
- $36,357 spent. 3. Southern Illinois Farming Alliance (SIFA)- Food Works sponsors this farmer-driven network whose focus is to encourage area farmers to learn from each other. The Alliance provides peer-to-peer education and networking opportunities by organizing Field Days and a Regional Conference. In 2025 SIFA held 5 field days and workshop events. 2025 began with our annual SIFA Conference, held on January 14 at The Pavilion in Marion, Illinois. This one-day event is dedicated to advancing sustainable farming by offering resources, expert insights, and networking opportunities for farmers, homesteaders, and local food supporters. Keynote speaker Liz Graznak of Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Missouri, shared how her 16-acre diversified fruit, vegetable, and ornamental cut flower operation is adapting to the impacts of climate change. Six additional breakout sessions addressed topics ranging from organic pest control and strategies for finding farmland to insurance options and retirement planning for farmers. In 2025, two Pasture Walks offered behind-the-scenes tours of livestock farms that integrate multiple animal species into their grazing systems while improving soil and pasture health through rotational regenerative grazing practices. A hands-on Poultry Processing Workshop, held in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Modern Homesteading Series, provided a rare opportunity to learn chicken butchery and best practices for on-farm processing and sales. In 2025, changes to the Illinois Meat and Poultry Inspection Act increased the number of birds farmers may process on-farm, opening new opportunities for farmer entrepreneurs. December's soil health workshop focused on designing whole-farm fertility systems using locally available inputs. Fertile Ground: Whole-Farm Fertility Systems Design & Management brought together soil scientists, practitioners, farm designers, and growers to explore both the science of soil fertility and practical insights from farmers actively building soil health on their operations. Each event included a shared meal featuring ingredients sourced from southern Illinois farmers, creating space to build community and strengthen camaraderie among participants. Partnerships played a critical role in sustaining our farmer-focused educational programming following the sudden loss of funding from the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program early in the year. We extend our sincere thanks to the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, Illinois Farm Bureau, the University of Illinois Extension, the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery, Glacier's End, and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for their support. We are also grateful to Fresh Pasture Farms and The Flock Farm for generously opening their farms for educational programs. The Neighborhood Co-op Farm Crawl is an annual, weekend-long event where local farmers open their farms to the community. Participants have the opportunity to tour working farms, ask questions, and learn about the diversity of farming in our region. This year's crawl featured eight new farms, spanning from Anna to Marion, Illinois. Proceeds from the event benefit Food Works, and the 2025 Farm Crawl raised $3,407 in support of its mission.
- $48,632 spent. Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings (SIFB)- Education program in entrepreneurial, regenerative small farm business that takes a holistic approach to farming and helps beginning farmers plan for resilient farms that can be nimble with the challenges of new business. Farm Beginnings(R), is an intensive training program for beginning and transitional farmers, which aims to create financially solvent and flourishing local farms through education and mentorship. Eight farms (11 participants) completed the program in 2025. They attended 24 sessions, where 29 farmers and expert speakers shared their insights with participants. Each received full scholarships to attend the program, plus stipends for evaluations, farm hosting, mentoring, speakers, and travel expenses.
- $225,289 spent. Mobile Farmers Market (MFM)-Food Works Mobile Farmers Market is a farmers market on wheels that connects food insecure communities with fresh, healthy foods produced by local farmers. This program improves healthy food access in rural towns and counties in Southern Illinois, especially for low income households. From June to October, our Mobile Farmers Market brings food from over 25 local farmers and producers to sell to customers in locations where fresh foods might not be plentiful. MFM made 188 total market stops at nine regular market locations in three counties. Partnerships and sponsorships are crucial in helping us offset some of the costs of the food for our shoppers, while still being able to pay the farmers their fair share. The MFM accepts SNAP and Link Match, and in 2025 continued a Healthy Food Prescription Rx program in conjunction with local healthcare providers and LEAF (Little Egypt Area Farmers). The MFM benefits local producers by providing access to additional markets while allowing them to remain focused on production on the farm. The Mobile Food Van provided free home delivery so transportation was not a barrier to the program.
- $2,410 spent. The Agrivoltaics Incubator Farm kicked off in October 2025 with a goal of producing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers within the solar array. The Farm is located within the Eldorado Solar Project, a 270 megawatt solar farm in Eldorado, IL. This project will: demonstrate the viability of agrivoltaics in the region train beginning or transitioning farmers in sustainable growing practices, and produce food for consumption in Saline and surrounding counties.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.