Green Village Initiative Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO GROW FOOD, KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY THROUGH URBAN GARDENING AND FARMING, TO CREATE A MORE JUST FOOD SYSTEM IN BRIDGEPORT, CT.
- Income
- $175,565
- Spending
- $295,120
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 450
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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, 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 (3)
- $108,842 spent. RESERVOIR COMMUNITY FARM AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM - RESERVOIR COMMUNITY FARM, BRIDGEPORT'S FIRST URBAN FARM, IS A 1.7 ACRE WELCOMING COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE AND EDUCATIONAL FARM. WE ENGAGE HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN FARMING AND GARDENING WHILE GROWING AND SELLING PESTICIDE-FREE PRODUCE AT BELOW MARKET PRICES. EACH YEAR HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS HAVE GROWN WITH US AT RESERVOIR COMMUNITY FARM DURING OPEN VOLUNTEER DAYS. OUR YOUTH PROGRAM CULTIVATES LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH AS REPRESENTATIVES OF SOCIAL CHANGE. THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES JOB-READINESS AND FOOD JUSTICE ADVOCACY IN ADDITION TO AGRICULTURAL SKILL-BUILDING AT RESERVOIR COMMUNITY FARM.
- $46,011 spent. COMMUNITY GARDENS AND PARTNER GARDENS - COMMUNITY GARDENS IS A NETWORK OF 12 NEIGHBORHOOD GARDENS THAT NOURISH OUR BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY. GARDENS PROVDE FAMILIES A PLACE TO GROW VEGETABLES OTHERWISE UNAVILABLE IN MOST OR ALL BRIDGEPORT NEIGHBORHOODS AND HELP STRETCH FOOD BUDGETS. GVI DELIVERS STREAMLINED SUPPORT TO INCREASE GARDENERS' SELF-DETERMINATION AND FACILITATE AGRICULTURAL SKILL-BUILDING AMONG THE COMMUNITY. OUR TEAM CONSULTS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND PEER GROUPS ON BUILDING AND MAINTAINING GARDEN BEDS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS. OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK SUPPORTS ABOUT 150 BRIDGEPORT FAMILIES IN GROWING THEIR OWN FOOD. OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO GARDENERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- $40,237 spent. YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM STRIVED TO CULTIVATE YOUNG FOOD LEADERS IN BRIDGEPORT BY DEVELOPING SKILLS IN AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, FOOD JUSTICE, CAREER READINESS, AND LEADERSHIP. THESE SKILLS WERE ACHIEVED THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMER YOUTH CREW AND ACADEMIC YEAR FELLOWSHIPS WHICH SPANNED MANY YEARS AND SAW THE PARTICIPATION OF MANY TALENTED YOUNG LEADERS. YOUTH HELPED DETERMINE THEIR ROLE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM BY FORGING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, LAND, COMMUNITY, AND CITY.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.