Passes our checks

Louisville Grows Inc

EIN 27-0959401 · Louisville, KY

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

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
20 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 122% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $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
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
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$203,141 spent. Louisville Grows urban forestry program focuses on rebuilding the tree canopy in neighborhoods with the greatest declining number of urban trees. We work with neighborhood groups and partners to plant trees with residents and businesses in these neighborhoods. Our trained Citizen Foresters work with the community to build capacity in urban forest management and stewardship. We focus on serving 21 disadvantaged, under-served neighborhoods in west and south Louisville who are most impacted by the Urban Heat Island Effect due to the loss of their tree canopy.
$153,331 spent. Louisville Grows urban agriculture program focuses on community gardens to build capacity within the community gardens by providing technical assistance, education and infrastructure. The program has the objective to sustain, improve, and increase revenue from vegetables produced at community operated gardens as well as to engage and educate volunteers and the community in starting plants from seed and repotting plant starts in our greenhouse.
$21,465 spent. Located at 1641 Portland Ave, Healthy House is an engaging, energy efficient, sustainable community space that connects residents and community partners to health, wellness, and green education. All programming, workshops and classes hosted at Healthy House focuses on healthy living, healthy eating, environmental education or environmental equality.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 2011.
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.