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North Union Farmers Market

EIN 34-1812026 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NORTH UNION FARMERS MARKET CHAMPIONS THE LOCAL FOODS OF NORTHEAST OHIO AND PROMOTES THEIR HEALTH, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS BY CONNECTING CERTIFIED PRODUCERS WITH CONSUMERS THROUGH A NETWORK OF MARKETS.

Income
$430,713
Spending
$426,459
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
8
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$87,814, 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $313,011 spent. NORTH UNION'S GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF EATING LOCALLY GROWN FOOD. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE REGIONAL ECONOMY BY CREATING VIBRANT COMMUNITY SPACES AND ENABLING SMALL FARMS TO SELL DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. NORTH UNION OPERATES TEN FARMERS' MARKETS IN THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA.
  2. PRODUCE PERKS ARE INCENTIVE TOKENS GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO USE AN OHIO DIRECTION CARD TO PURCHASE ONLY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ALL OTHER TOKENS PURCHASED WITH THE OHIO DIRECTION CARD ARE GOOD TO USE ON ELIGIBLE ITEMS AT THE MARKET. NORTH UNION FARMERS MARKET MATCHES DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR (UP TO 25) SPENT ON AN OHIO DIRECTION CARD WITH PRODUCE PERKS IN THE FORM OF GREEN TOKENS.
  3. SNAP: SNAP (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS), FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS, IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM IN THE DOMESTIC HUNGER SAFETY NET, PROVIDING NUTRITION ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THE OHIO DIRECTION CARD (ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER OR EBT) IS SIMILAR TO A BANK DEBIT CARD THAT HOLDS SNAP BENEFITS ASSIGNED EACH MONTH TO THE RECIPIENT. SNAP BENEFITS CAN BE USED AT THE MARKET THROUGH THE OHIO DIRECTION CARD, WHICH IS RUN THROUGH THE CREDIT CARD MACHINE. THE SHOPPER LETS THE VOLUNTEER KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WOULD LIKE TAKEN FROM THEIR CARD, AND THE SHOPPER IS GIVEN WOODEN TOKENS (1) IN RETURN. THESE CAN BE USED ON ALL EBT-ELIGIBLE ITEMS (FOOD) AT THE MARKET.
  4. THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED ABOUT 38,000, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WAS DONE THROUGH SNAP AND PRODUCE PERKS. THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (SFMNP) IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ELIGIBLE SENIORS RECEIVE A PRELOADED CARD THAT CAN BE REDEEMED AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS THOUGH A THIRD PARTY APP. THE SHOPPER LETS THE VOLUNTEER AT THE FARMERS MARKET TABLE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OFF THEIR CARD, AND THE SHOPPER IS GIVEN SILVER METAL TOKENS (1/EACH) IN RETURN. THESE VOUCHERS ARE ISSUED ANNUALLY AND CAN BE USED TO PURCHASE A VARIETY OF NUTRITIOUS, IN-SEASON PRODUCE.
  5. THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED ABOUT 38,000, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WAS DONE THROUGH SNAP AND PRODUCE PERKS. THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (SFMNP) IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ELIGIBLE SENIORS RECEIVE A PRELOADED CARD THAT CAN BE REDEEMED AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS THOUGH A THIRD PARTY APP. THE SHOPPER LETS THE VOLUNTEER AT THE FARMERS MARKET TABLE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OFF THEIR CARD, AND THE SHOPPER IS GIVEN SILVER METAL TOKENS (1/EACH) IN RETURN. THESE VOUCHERS ARE ISSUED ANNUALLY AND CAN BE USED TO PURCHASE A VARIETY OF NUTRITIOUS, IN-SEASON PRODUCE.

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 October 13, 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 June 1996.

    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 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.