Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVOCATE FOR FARMERS, RANCHERS AND OTHER LAND-BASED PRODUCERS; PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOOD; OWN AND OPERATE A YEAR-ROUND VENUE FOR THE SANTA FE FARMERS' MARKET; AND MANAGE PROGRAMS TO HELP SUSTAIN A PROFITABLE, LOCALLY-BASED AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $903,180
- Spending
- $911,109
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- -5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $97,773, executive di
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 62% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $495,689 spent. TO PROMOTE REGIONAL SMALL FARM AND RANCH OPERATIONS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1) CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE FARMERS MARKET PAVILION AS A LONG- TERM VENUE FOR THE SANTA FE FARMERS MARKET, ALLOWING FARMERS TO ENGAGE IN DIRECT MARKET SALES; 2) PROMOTE THE USE OF SNAP/EBT AT THE FARMERS MARKET AND DOUBLE SNAP TRANSACTIONS.; 3) DISTRIBUTE MICROLOANS TO VENDORS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CAPITAL TO HELP EXPAND FARM CAPACITY. INSTITUTE HAS ISSUED 25,000 THROUGH PARTER BANK IN 2024; 4) EXPAND PROGRAM OFFERINGS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LOCAL FOOD FOR ALL COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITITATIVES. 5) PROVIDE A GATHERING PLACE FOR COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT EVENTS THROUGH THE RENTAL OF THE PAVILION ON NON-MARKET DAYS. 6. INSTITUTE HAS STARTED A NEW PROGRAM IN 2024- MOBILE MARKET, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AND LOCAL FOOD TO COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS. TO PROMOTE REGIONAL SMALL FARM AND RANCH OPERATIONS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1) CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE FARMERS MARKET PAVILION AS A LONG- TERM VENUE FOR THE SANTA FE FARMERS MARKET, ALLOWING FARMERS TO ENGAGE IN DIRECT MARKET SALES; 2) PROMOTE THE USE OF SNAP/EBT AT THE FARMERS MARKET AND DOUBLE SNAP TRANSACTIONS.; 3) DISTRIBUTE MICROLOANS TO VENDORS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CAPITAL TO HELP EXPAND FARM CAPACITY. INSTITUTE HAS ISSUED 25,000 THROUGH PARTER BANK IN 2024; 4) EXPAND PROGRAM OFFERINGS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LOCAL FOOD FOR ALL COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITITATIVES. 5) PROVIDE A GATHERING PLACE FOR COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT EVENTS THROUGH THE RENTAL OF THE PAVILION ON NON-MARKET DAYS. 6. INSTITUTE HAS STARTED A NEW PROGRAM IN 2024- MOBILE MARKET, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AND LOCAL FOOD TO COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS.
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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 December 2002.
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 October 21, 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.