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Massaro Community Farm Inc

EIN 26-4310293 · Woodbridge, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FREE FOOD TO LOW INCOME PERSONS, PROVIDE EDUCATION IN NUTRITION AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, AND PRESERVE A WORKING FARM AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS.

Income
$786,374
Spending
$722,365
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
36
Volunteers
724
Highest pay
$75,000, farm director/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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $289,099 spent. COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURECOMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA), IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS PURCHASE A CSA SUBSCRIPTION, THEY CONNECT WITH AND SUPPORT THE FARM BY PAYING IN ADVANCE FOR PRODUCE THEY WILL RECEIVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THIS ADVANCE PAYMENT HELPS TO COVER OPERATING EXPENSES AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF THE FARM EACH YEAR, ALLOWING THE FARM TO FOCUS ON ITS OPERATION AND PLAN FOR THE SEASON. IN 2024, 453 CSA SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE FULFILLED AND THE TOTAL HARVEST WAS 69,000 POUNDS, OF WHICH 10,600 POUNDS WERE DONATED TO HUNGER RELIEF.
  2. $98,714 spent. PRESERVATION AND RESTORATIONTHROUGH AN OPERATING LEASE WITH THE TOWN OF WOODBRIDGE, MASSARO COMMUNITY FARM LEASES APPROXIMATELY A 58 ACRE CENTURY OLD FARM AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS. MASSARO COMMUNITY FARM WORKS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE BUILDINGS, IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE LAND TO ENABLE THE PROPERTY TO OPERATE AS A WORKING FARM. FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING FROM INCEPTION IN 2008 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024, MASSARO COMMUNITY FARM HAS EXPENDED MORE THAN $642,000 FOR LAND CLEARING; IRRIGATION AND WELL REPAIR AND INSTALLATION; BARN, FARM HOUSE AND GREENHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS AND RESTORATION.
  3. $151,363 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSMASSARO COMMUNITY FARM RUNS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION. IN 2024, THE FARM CONTINUED ITS MULTITUDE OF OFFERINGS FOR ALL AGES, INCLUDING A FULL-DAY SUMMER CAMP, AND HOSTING A NUMBER OF ADULT GROUPS FOR DAYS OF SERVICE. IN ADDITION, THE FARM PARTNERED WITH EMMETT O'BRIEN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A PAVILION IN OUR LEARNING GARDEN, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE CENTER POINT OF OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL, WE OFFERED 178 ON-FARM PROGRAMS AND APPROXIMATELY 2,500 YOUTH AND ADULTS VISITED THE FARM FOR A PROGRAM AT THE FARM OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
  4. $41,905 spent. HUNGER RELIEF/FREE FOOD PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTIONMASSARO COMMUNITY FARM DONATES FRESH ORGANICALLY GROWN FOOD TO LOW-INCOME PERSONS THROUGH FOOD BANKS, HOMELESS SHELTERS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN THE LOWER NAUGATUCK VALLEY AND GREATER NEW HAVEN. WE CONTINUED TO DONATE AT LEAST 10% OF OUR HARVEST TO HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICE AND HUNGER RELIEF AGENCIES, OFFERED SLIDING SCALE PRICING TIERS FOR OUR CSA SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND ACCEPT EBT AS PAYMENT FOR PRODUCE AND OTHER FARM GOODS.

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 2025.

    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 December 2009.

    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.