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Indiana Crop Improvement Assn Inc

EIN 35-0892904 · Lafayette, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INDIANA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS THE OFFICIAL SEED CERTIFYING AGENCY FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA. ITS MISSION IS TO CARRY OUT THE RECORDKEEPING, FIELD INSPECTIONS, LABORATORY TESTING, POST CONTROL GROW OUT TESTS, ISSUANCE OF OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION LABELS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CERTIFICATION OF SEEDS AND PLANT PARTS.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
179
Volunteers
62
Highest pay
$203,708, cso

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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

    0 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 April 30, 2025, 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. $4.0 million spent. THE INDIANA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION'S PRINCIPAL PROGRAM SERVICE IS OFFICIAL SEED CERTIFICATION. THE OBJECTIVE OF SEED CERTIFICATION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO SEED PRODUCERS WHO THE MARKET CERTIFIED SEEDS TO FARMERS. THIS PROGRAM SERVICES INVOLVES THE MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS, FIELD INSPECTIONS, SEED TESTING, POST CONTROL GROW OUT TESTS FOR PURITY EVALUATIONS AND THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFIED SEED LABELS FOR SEED MEETING THE OFFICIAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS. THE ASSOCIATION SERVED APPROXIMATELY 350 CLIENTS. APPROXIMATELY 110,529 SEED ACRES WERE INSPECTED AND 59,000 LABORATORY TESTS PERFORMED. ROUGHLY 1,500 FIELD GROW OUTS WERE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE SEED LOT PURITY AND APPROXIMATELY 2,000 SEED LABELS WERE ISSUED. THE ASSOCIATION HELD AN ANNUAL MEETING OF ITS MEMBERS PROVIDING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING MEETINGS AND SEMINARS WERE HELD AT THE ASSOCIATION'S HEADQUARTERS DURING THE YEAR. THE INDIANA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION'S PRINCIPAL PROGRAM SERVICE IS OFFICIAL SEED CERTIFICATION. THE OBJECTIVE OF SEED CERTIFICATION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO SEED PRODUCERS WHO THE MARKET CERTIFIED SEEDS TO FARMERS. THIS PROGRAM SERVICES INVOLVES THE MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS, FIELD INSPECTIONS, SEED TESTING, POST CONTROL GROW OUT TESTS FOR PURITY EVALUATIONS AND THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFIED SEED LABELS FOR SEED MEETING THE OFFICIAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS. THE ASSOCIATION SERVED APPROXIMATELY 350 CLIENTS. APPROXIMATELY 110,529 SEED ACRES WERE INSPECTED AND 59,000 LABORATORY TESTS PERFORMED. ROUGHLY 1,500 FIELD GROW OUTS WERE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE SEED LOT PURITY AND APPROXIMATELY 2,000 SEED LABELS WERE ISSUED. THE ASSOCIATION HELD AN ANNUAL MEETING OF ITS MEMBERS PROVIDING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING MEETINGS AND SEMINARS WERE HELD AT THE ASSOCIATION'S HEADQUARTERS DURING THE YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, 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 April 2025.

    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 September 1958.

    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.