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Hillsdale County Agricultural

EIN 38-1367282 · Hillsdale, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceWeak21 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 217 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, HOUSEHOLD ARTS AND MECHANIC ARTS & SCIENCES AND ALL KINDRED SCIENCES AND ARTS IN THEIR VARIED BRANCHES; TO DEVELOP ALL FORMS OF YOUTH CLUB WORK, THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF NEW SKILL TECHNIQUES AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES RELATED TO THE YOUTH PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH AND BY THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION; TO PROMOTE AND CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENT THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
61

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 217 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 253 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 November 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 (3)
  1. TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, HOUSEHOLD ARTS AND MECHANIC ARTS & SCIENCES AND ALL KINDRED SCIENCES AND ARTS IN THEIR VARIED BRANCHES; TO DEVELOP ALL FORMS OF YOUTH CLUB WORK, THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF NEW SKILL TECHNIQUES AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES RELATED TO THE YOUTH PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH AND BY THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION; TO PROMOTE AND CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENT THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  2. $1.1 million spent. TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, HOUSEHOLD ARTS AND MECHANIC ARTS & SCIENCES AND ALL KINDRED SCIENCES AND ARTS IN THEIR VARIED BRANCHES; TO DEVELOP ALL FORMS OF YOUTH CLUB WORK, THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF NEW SKILL TECHNIQUES AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES RELATED TO THE YOUTH PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH AND BY THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION; TO PROMOTE AND CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENT THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  3. TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, HOUSEHOLD ARTS AND MECHANIC ARTS & SCIENCES AND ALL KINDRED SCIENCES AND ARTS IN THEIR VARIED BRANCHES; TO DEVELOP ALL FORMS OF YOUTH CLUB WORK, THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF NEW SKILL TECHNIQUES AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES RELATED TO THE YOUTH PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH AND BY THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION; TO PROMOTE AND CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENT THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 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 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 November 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 July 1968.

    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.