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Edible Schoolyard New York

EIN 27-1237249 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD NYC IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE EDIBLE EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERY CHILD IN NYC. WE BELIEVE EDIBLE EDUCATION-WHERE KIDS EXPERIENCE HANDS-ON COOKING AND GARDENING HELPS KIDS GAIN THE SKILLS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM FOR US ALL. EDIBLE EDUCATION HELPS STUDENTS BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOOD, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT. TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY, WE'RE BUILDING SPACES FOR KIDS TO FLOURISH.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
29
Volunteers
210
Highest pay
$156,000, interim exec. director (left 2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. CORE SCHOOL PROGRAMMINGDURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, ESYNYC PARTNERED WITH 6 TITLE I PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NYC FOR OUR CORE SCHOOL MODEL, REACHING OVER 2,800 STUDENTS WITH OUR EDIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. AT CORE SITES, ESYNYC STAFF MEMBERS ARE EMBEDDED AT THE SCHOOL YEAR-ROUND. ESYNYC MAINTAINS SCHOOL GARDENS AND KITCHEN CLASSROOMS, AND IN-SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. CORE PROGRAMMING SERVES THE ENTIRE SCHOOL POPULATION AND IS DESIGNED TO TEACH PRACTICAL COOKING AND GARDENING SKILLS ALONGSIDE OTHER KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, ACADEMIC SKILLS, DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS, THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND MORE. THE ROBUST PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: WEEKLY KITCHEN AND GARDEN CLASSES INTEGRATED INTO THE SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM; EXTRA-CURRICULARS SUCH AS CAFETERIA TASTINGS TO ENCOURAGE TRYING NEW HEALTHY FOODS AND AFTERSCHOOL GARDEN CLUBS; SCHOOL-WIDE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS OPEN GARDEN HOURS, COMMUNITY POTLUCKS AND COOKING CLASSES, SCHOOL WELLNESS INITIATIVES, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. IN 2024-25 THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED NEARLY 1,500 IN-SCHOOL LESSONS AND LED NEARLY 300 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RECEIVING OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS ON THE ANNUAL SURVEYS.
  2. $18,359 spent. MOBILE EDUCATIONDURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, ESYNYC PARTNERED WITH 9 NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REACH OVER 1,200 STUDENTS WITH OUR MOBILE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. MOBILE EDUCATION IS AN ADAPTED AND SCALABLE VERSION OF OUR EDIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. IN THIS MODEL, ESYNYC STAFF DELIVER TARGETED INSTRUCTION TO SCHOOLS WITHOUT A FULL-TIME ESYNYC EDUCATOR OR PERMANENT KITCHEN CLASSROOM AND GARDEN, ALLOWING US TO BRING SEED-TO-TABLE INSTRUCTION TO EVEN MORE STUDENTS. MOBILE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH SCHOOL PARTNER. LESSON PLANS ARE CREATED AND LED BY ESYNYC STAFF MEMBERS, AND ESYNYC PROVIDES ALL OF THE FOOD, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT FOR EACH LESSON. ESYNYC STAFF MEMBERS MAY LEAD UP TO 3 MOBILE EDUCATION LESSONS PER DAY, AND OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH SCHOOL TYPICALLY RANGES FROM 4-8 DAYS OF INSTRUCTION.
  3. $19,936 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEESYNYC EXPANDS ACCESS TO EDIBLE EDUCATION AND SCHOOL GARDENS IN NYC SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ENABLE US TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE CITY, EMPOWERING THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO BRING EDIBLE EDUCATION TO THEIR SCHOOLS.OUR EXPERT STAFF LEAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS DESIGNED TO HELP THEM BRING SEED-TO-TABLE EDUCATION INTO THEIR OWN CLASSROOMS, EVEN WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO A KITCHEN OR GARDEN. TOPICS INCLUDE: USING COOKING AND GARDENING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING; USING FOOD TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL STUDIES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS; AND USING SEED-TO-TABLE ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.THROUGH OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMING, OUR EXPERT STAFF BUILD OR ENHANCE SCHOOL GARDENS AND OFFER CONSULTATIONS ON TOPICS INCLUDING HOW TO EQUIP A CLASSROOM TO FACILITATE A COOKING LESSON; HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY CAFETERIA CULTURE; AND HOW TO BUILD OR MAINTAIN A SCHOOL GARDEN.IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, ESYNYC LED 7 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ENGAGING NEARLY 400 EDUCATORS, AND PARTNERED WITH 7 SCHOOLS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING 5 GARDEN BUILDS.
  4. $79,925 spent. SEED-TO-TABLE FELLOWSHIPTHE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR MARKED THE SECOND YEAR OF EYNYC'S INNOVATIVE SEED-TO-TABLE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. FUNDED BY THE USDA, THIS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWED US TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS BY ENGAGING A COHORT OF 10 SCHOOLS PER YEAR (20 SCHOOLS TOTAL) WITH ENHANCED SUPPORT TO EMPOWER THEM TO LAUNCH AND SUSTAIN EDIBLE EDUCATION AT THEIR SCHOOLS. FELLOWSHIP PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN A SERIES OF SIX WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO BUILD THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO URBAN GARDENING AND COOKING EDUCATION, AND DEVELOP A SCOPE AND SEQUENCE AND FOOD EDUCATION CURRICULUM TO IMPLEMENT WITH THEIR STUDENTS. THESE WORKSHOPS, COMBINED WITH ON-SITE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND A FINANCIAL STIPEND TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDED AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR ESYNYC TO PILOT A NEW WAY TO EXPAND EDIBLE EDUCATION TO EVEN MORE NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.