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Farm Aid Inc

EIN 36-3383233 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FARM AID'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A VIBRANT, FAMILY FARM-CENTERED SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE IN AMERICA. FARM AID ARTISTS AND BOARD MEMBERS WILLIE NELSON, JOHN MELLENCAMP, NEIL YOUNG, DAVE MATTHEWS AND MARGO PRICE HOST AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL TO SUPPORT FARM AID'S YEAR-ROUND WORK WITH FAMILY FARMERS AND TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FOOD FROM FAMILY FARMS. SINCE 1985, FARM AID HAS RAISED MORE THAN $89 MILLION TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT HELP FARMERS THRIVE, EXPAND THE REACH OF THE GOOD FOOD MOVEMENT, TAKE ACTION TO CHANGE THE DOMINANT SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE AND PROMOTE FOOD FROM FAMILY FARMS.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
21.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
24
Volunteers
494
Highest pay
$159,112, operations 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $2.7 million spent. HELPING FARMERS THRIVE - THROUGH ITS TOLL-FREE NUMBER, 1-800-FARM-AID, AND ONLINE FARMER RESOURCE NETWORK DIRECTORY, FARM AID REFERS AND CONNECTS FARMERS TO AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HELP FARMERS FIND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACCESS NEW MARKETS, TRANSITION TO MORE SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE FARMING PRACTICES, AND RECEIVE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT SERVICES IN TIMES OF CRISIS. THE ORGANIZATION MAKES GRANTS TO FARM AND RURAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLABORATES WITH SERVICE PARTNERS TO HELP BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR ADDRESSING FARMER CHALLENGES AND NEEDS. FARM AID GRANTS ALSO SUPPORT THE FARM ADVOCATE LINK, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF FARM ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SERVICES TO FAMILY FARMERS. THE FARM ADVOCATE LINK'S MISSION IS TO TRAIN, SUPPORT AND RECRUIT A NEW GENERATION OF FARM ADVOCATES. WHEN NATURAL DISASTERS STRIKE AND AFFECT FARMERS, FARM AID'S FAMILY FARM DISASTER FUND RAISES FUNDS TO HELP FARMERS IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH AND PROVIDE TRAININGS TO FARMERS FOR ACCESSING DISASTER AID AND FOR BUILDING ON-FARM RESILIENCE TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE DISASTERS.
  2. $935,868 spent. TAKING ACTION TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM - FARM AID SEEKS TO ADVANCE THE POWER AND PARTICIPATION OF FARMERS TO CHANGE THE AMERICAN FARM AND FOOD SYSTEM. FARM AID WORKS WITH AND MAKES GRANTS TO LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE FAIR FARM POLICIES AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO DEFEND AND BOLSTER FAMILY FARM-CENTERED AGRICULTURE. FARM AID'S ACTION CENTER ENGAGES PEOPLE TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH FARMERS TO PROTEST FACTORY FARMS AND INFORM FARMERS AND EATERS ABOUT ISSUES LIKE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD, GLOBAL TRADE, AND INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. FARM AID SERVES AS A LEADER AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE VARIED CHALLENGES FACED BY FAMILY FARMERS AND TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AND COLLECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING. FARM AID'S FARMER LEADERSHIP FUND DEFRAYS EXPENSES FOR FARMER LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, STRATEGY MEETINGS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF FAMILY FARMERS.
  3. $495,161 spent. PROMOTING FOOD FROM FAMILY FARMS - THE HEART OF FARM AID'S WORK TO PROMOTE FOOD FROM FAMILY FARMS IS THE ANNUAL FARM AID FESTIVAL, AMERICA'S LONGEST RUNNING ANNUAL MUSIC EVENT WITH A MISSION, WHICH UNITES FARMERS, ARTISTS, MUSIC LOVERS AND EATERS TO CELEBRATE FAMILY FARMERS AND MOBILIZES PEOPLE TO BUILD A POWERFUL MOVEMENT FOR GOOD FOOD FROM FAMILY FARMS. THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL FESTIVAL FEATURES FAMILY FARM FOOD THROUGHOUT THE VENUE WITH FARM AID'S HOMEGROWN CONCESSIONS, FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FARMERS, FOOD COMPANIES, CONCESSIONAIRES AND FESTIVALGOERS. THE HOMEGROWN YOUTHMARKET SELLS LOCAL PRODUCE FROM FAMILY FARMERS AND IS STAFFED BY LOCAL YOUTH ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE. IN THE HOMEGROWN VILLAGE, DOZENS OF FARM AND FOOD GROUPS ENGAGE FESTIVALGOERS IN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ABOUT FARMING, FOOD, SOIL, WATER, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. IN ADDITION TO ITS ANNUAL FESTIVAL, FARM AID ENGAGES PEOPLE IN THE CULTURE OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH SMALLER REGIONAL EVENTS AND WITH ITS INSPIRING AND INFORMATIVE SOCIAL AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS THAT CONNECT EATERS AND FARMERS THROUGH COOKING, EATING, AND GROWING. FARM AID 2024 WAS HELD AT BROADVIEW STAGE AT SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK, ON SEPTEMBER 21, WITH A SOLD OUT CROWD OF MORE THAN 21,000. IN A FOOD LANDSCAPE LARGELY CONTROLLED BY CORPORATIONS, FARM AID 2024 SHOWCASED FARMERS WHO ARE CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS AND QUALITY, BOOST FARMER INCOME AND LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER SOIL AND WATER. THE FARM AID 2024 STAGE FEATURED FARM AID BOARD MEMBERS WILLIE NELSON, JOHN MELLENCAMP, NEIL YOUNG, DAVE MATTHEWS (PERFORMING WITH TIM REYNOLDS) AND MARGO PRICE, AS WELL AS MAVIS STAPLES, NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, LUKAS NELSON WITH THE TRAVELIN' MCCOURYS, CHARLEY CROCKETT, JOY OLADOKUN, SOUTHERN AVENUE, CASSANDRA LEWIS, JESSE WELLES, WISDOM INDIAN DANCERS AND KONTIWENNENHA:WI. ARTISTS GENEROUSLY DONATED THEIR PERFORMANCE TIME AT THE FESTIVAL, AN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION THAT ENABLES FARM AID TO RAISE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION.
  4. $463,626 spent. GROWING THE GOOD FOOD MOVEMENT (GGFM)- FARM AID AND ITS PARTNERS SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT BOLSTER THE GOOD FOOD MOVEMENT - THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING FAMILY FARM-IDENTIFIED, LOCAL, ORGANIC OR HUMANELY-RAISED FOOD WITH ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR FARMERS. FARM AID PROVIDES GRANTS TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FARMERS AND EATERS BY GROWING AND STRENGTHENING LOCAL AND REGIONAL MARKETS AND EXPANDING THE REACH OF FAMILY FARM FOOD INTO URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.