Arcadia Food Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION STATEMENT.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 600
- Highest pay
- $75,899, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.6 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS; THE VETERAN FARMER PROGRAM; FARM EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD JUSTICE PROGRAMS. 1. ARCADIA'S VETERAN FARMER PROGRAM TRAINS MILITARY VETERANS, ACTIVE- DUTY PERSONNEL, AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE BUSINESS AND CRAFT OF FARMING. SINCE 2016, ARCADIA HAS TRAINED 145 PROSPECTIVE FARMERS, WITH NEARLY HALF FARMING ON THEIR OWN OPERATIONS AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING. THERE ARE THREE TRAINING TRACKS: THE VETERAN FARMER RESERVE, WHICH MEETS ONE WEEKEND A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS FOR CLASSROOM AND HANDS ON CULTIVATION TRAINING, BUSINESS TRAINING, AND FARM FIELD TRIPS TO LEARN ON SITE; THE FARM FELLOWSHIP, WHICH PAYS VETERANS TO APPRENTICE ON ARCADIA'S NONPROFIT VEGETABLE FARM, PREPARING THEM TO OPERATE FARMS OF THEIR OWN OR TO WORK ON OTHER PROFESSIONAL FARMS WITH THE REQUISITE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE; AND THE VETERAN FARM INCUBATOR, WHICH GRANTS UP TO 1/4 ACRE OF ARCADIA FARM LAND TO GRADUATES OF EITHER TRAINING PROGRAM WITH A THREE YEAR LEASE. THE INCUBATOR FARMS ARE INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS AND GIVE PARTICIPANTS REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE RUNNING OF FARM OF THEIR OWN, SUPPORTED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL FARMERS, INFRASTRUCTURE, TOOLS AND CONNECTIONS TO MARKETS. 2. ARCADIA WORKS TO EXPAND SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC REGION. ARCADIA'S MOBILE MARKETS HAVE SERVED WASHINGTON DC SINCE 2012, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK ACCESS TO FRESH HEALTHY FOOD WITH A COMPLETE DIET OF HIGH QUALITY, LOCALLY GROWN FOODS. SINCE 2012, THE MOBILE MARKETS HAD SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION IN HEALTHY FOOD, WITH MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION OF THAT PAID TO SMALL LOCAL FARMERS. THE MOBILE MARKETS ACCEPT AND DOUBLE FEDERAL NUTRITION BENEFITS. WHILE THE MARKETS ARE LESS THAN 2% OF ALL FARMERS MARKET REVENUES IN DC, THEY REDEEM 45% OF ALL SNAP BENEFITS AT FARMERS MARKETS IN THE CITY. 3. ARCADIA'S FARM EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS FARM CAMP AND ON-FARM FIELD TRIPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, GIVING THEM IMMERSIVE, HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTHY FOOD AT ITS SOURCE. SINCE 2011, FARM CAMP HAS WELCOMED MORE THAN 1200 CAMPERS, WITH MORE THAN 240 ON FULL NEEDS BASED SCHOLARSHIPS. FIELD TRIPS HAVE EDUCATED MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS. ARCADIA'S FARM EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO ENCOMPASSES THE LIVE, EAT, GROW PROGRAM. IN 2018, WITH FUNDING FROM THE NORTHERN VIRGINIAHEALTH FOUNDATION (NVHF), WE LAUNCHED THE LIVE, EAT, GROW (L.E.G.) ROUTE 1 PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES ON INCREASING NUTRITION SECURITY AND HEALTH EQUITY IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES ALONG ROUTE 1. THE L.E.G. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. WE LISTEN TO AND WORK WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES TO DEVELOP UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO FOOD INSECURITY, INCLUDING GROWING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THESE EFFORTS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GROWING A HEALTHIER ROUTE 1 COMMUNITY. ALONG WITH SUPPORTING SCHOOL GARDENS, ARCADIA HELPS DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE GARDENS AT COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY PLANTING AND HARVESTING FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND EXPERIENCE THE PROVEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING. LEG SUPPORTS 13 SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SEEDLING, LABOR, VOLUNTEERS, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND GARDEN EDUCATORS. 4. ARCADIA LEADS AND MANAGES THE MID-ATLANTIC FOOD RESILIENCE AND ACCESS COALITION (MAFRAC), WHICH STARTED IN 2020 DURING THE FOOD CRISIS ENGENDERED BY THE PANDEMIC WHEN GROCERIES AND FARMERS MARKETS SHUT DOWN, INTERSTATE TRUCKING SLOWED DOWN, AND FARMERS WERE FACING PLOWING UNDER THEIR CROPS. MAFRAC RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO FUND GRANTS TO MORE THAN 200 NONPROFITS ,FOOD PANTRIES, AND FARMS TO PURCHASE LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO FEED RESIDENTS OF THE MIDATLANTIC AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THESE INVESTMENTS IN BOTH LOCAL FARMS AND A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH FRONT LINE EMERGENCY FOOD ORGANIZATIONS STRENGTHENS AND CREATES A MORE RESILIENT REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT WILL BE MORE EQUIPPED TO WEATHER THE NEXT FOOD CRISIS. MAFRAC GATHERS STAKEHOLDERS FROM DC, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA IN WEEKLY CALLS TO SHARE EXCESS FOOD RESOURCES, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND FARMERS.
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 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 2024.
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 March 2013.
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.