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Out of the Garden Project

EIN 27-2772988 · Greensboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO NOURISH FAMILIES WITH FOOD TO GROW LEARN AND THRIVE.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
29
Volunteers
8,000
Highest pay
$80,625, incoming executive director

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (1)
  1. $4.5 million spent. FOUNDED IN 2008 AS A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS TO SUPPORT FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS AT A SINGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OOTGP HAS GROWN INTO THE PIEDMONT TRIAD'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT FOOD ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION - SERVING MORE THAN 15,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDING. WHAT BEGAN WITH SIX BACKPACKS HAS EVOLVED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF PROGRAMS THAT MEET BOTH URGENT NEEDS AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM STABILITY. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR NOURISH 2 THRIVE PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES ON PROVIDING YOUTH WITH THE FOOD THEY NEED TO THRIVE. SERVING OVER 300 STUDENTS MONTHLY THROUGH OPERATION BACKPACK (WEEKEND MEAL BAGS) AND AN ADDITIONAL 500+ STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THROUGH INTENTIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES. OUR FRESH MOBILE MARKETS PROVIDES AN AVERAGE OF 55 POUNDS PER HOUSEHOLD AND NOURISHES MORE THAN 115,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. WE HAVE HOSTED INTERNSHIPS AND HAVE BUILT A COMMUNITY WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM COME BACK MULTIPLE TIMES, LEARNING WHILE THEY GIVE THEIR TIME. FINALLY, OUR TWO LOW-RISK COMMERCIAL KITCHEN HAS MORE THAN 35 FOOD ENTREPRENEURS WORKING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN AREA MARKETS WITH THEIR HOME-MADE PRODUCTS.

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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 October 2010.

    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 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.