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Marbleseed Inc

EIN 39-1824623 · Spring Valley, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARBLESEED EDUCATES, INSPIRES, AND EMPOWERS FARMERS TO THRIVE IN A SUSTAINABLE, ORGANIC SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
12
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$96,698, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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

    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 August 31, 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. $396,094 spent. FARMER-LED LEARNING IS AT THE HEART OF MARBLESEED'S PROGRAMMING, ENSURING THAT EVERY TRAINING, EVENT, AND RESOURCE IS SHAPED BY THE FARMERS WHO KNOW THE LAND BEST. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED OUR 36TH ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE, HELD IN LA CROSSE, WI WHERE OVER 1,500 ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE FARMERS GATHERED TO NETWORK AND LEARN BEFORE THE START OF THE GROWING SEASON UNDER THE THEME "LOCAL FOOD REVOLUTION." THE EVENT FEATURED MORE THAN 80 EXPERT- LED WORKSHOPS, FARMER-LED SUMMITS, AND HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM SOIL HEALTH AND ORGANIC GRAIN ROTATION TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. ATTENDEES ALSO EXPLORED A TRADE SHOW WITH OVER 150 EXHIBITORS, CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND DISCOVERING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN ORGANIC FARMING. WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS COVERED COLLECTIVELY ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ORGANIC MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING POLICY SOLUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS. BEYOND THE CONFERENCE, MARBLESEED HOSTS ON-FARM FIELD DAYS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, FROM URBAN MARKET GARDENS TO SILVOPASTURE OPERATIONS, POTATO FARMS, AND CRANBERRY FARMS. THESE EVENTS OFFER REAL-TIME LEARNING ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES, EQUIPMENT, CROP ROTATIONS, ORGANIC WEED MANAGEMENT, AND EMERGING TECHNIQUES LIKE CIRCULAR GRAIN SYSTEMS WITH LOCAL DISTILLERIES. OUR FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, NOW IN ITS 19TH YEAR, CONTINUES TO PAIR BEGINNING AND TRANSITIONING FARMERS WITH SEASONED MENTORS ACROSS PRODUCTION TYPES, FROM BEEF AND POULTRY TO HIGH-TUNNEL RASPBERRIES AND SMALL GRAINS. IN 2025, TEN MENTORSHIP PAIRS (INCLUDING HMOOB AND SMALL- SCALE URBAN FARMERS) BUILT SKILLS IN ORGANIC TRANSITION, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSERVATION PLANNING THROUGH BOTH OUR CORE PROGRAM AND TOPP (TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM)-FUNDED MENTORSHIPS. FARMER-LED LEARNING IS AT THE HEART OF MARBLESEED'S PROGRAMMING, ENSURING THAT EVERY TRAINING, EVENT, AND RESOURCE IS SHAPED BY THE FARMERS WHO KNOW THE LAND BEST. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED OUR 36TH ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE, HELD IN LA CROSSE, WI WHERE OVER 1,500 ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE FARMERS GATHERED TO NETWORK AND LEARN BEFORE THE START OF THE GROWING SEASON UNDER THE THEME "LOCAL FOOD REVOLUTION." THE EVENT FEATURED MORE THAN 80 EXPERT- LED WORKSHOPS, FARMER-LED SUMMITS, AND HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM SOIL HEALTH AND ORGANIC GRAIN ROTATION TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. ATTENDEES ALSO EXPLORED A TRADE SHOW WITH OVER 150 EXHIBITORS, CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND DISCOVERING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN ORGANIC FARMING. WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS COVERED COLLECTIVELY ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ORGANIC MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING POLICY SOLUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS. BEYOND THE CONFERENCE, MARBLESEED HOSTS ON-FARM FIELD DAYS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, FROM URBAN MARKET GARDENS TO SILVOPASTURE OPERATIONS, POTATO FARMS, AND CRANBERRY FARMS. THESE EVENTS OFFER REAL-TIME LEARNING ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES, EQUIPMENT, CROP ROTATIONS, ORGANIC WEED MANAGEMENT, AND EMERGING TECHNIQUES LIKE CIRCULAR GRAIN SYSTEMS WITH LOCAL DISTILLERIES. OUR FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, NOW IN ITS 19TH YEAR, CONTINUES TO PAIR BEGINNING AND TRANSITIONING FARMERS WITH SEASONED MENTORS ACROSS PRODUCTION TYPES, FROM BEEF AND POULTRY TO HIGH-TUNNEL RASPBERRIES AND SMALL GRAINS. IN 2025, TEN MENTORSHIP PAIRS (INCLUDING HMOOB AND SMALL- SCALE URBAN FARMERS) BUILT SKILLS IN ORGANIC TRANSITION, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSERVATION PLANNING THROUGH BOTH OUR CORE PROGRAM AND TOPP (TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM)-FUNDED MENTORSHIPS.
  2. $133,230 spent. MARBLESEED STRENGTHENS THE ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MIDWEST FARMING THROUGH TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND ON-FARM LEARNING ROOTED IN ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE PRINCIPLES. OUR CONSERVATION AND ORGANIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING EQUIPS FARMERS WITH PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SOIL HEALTH, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, BIODIVERSITY RESTORATION, AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY. IN 2025, FIELD DAYS SHOWCASED APPLIED CONSERVATION AT FARMS LIKE ATOMS TO APPLES FARM IN MOUNT HOREB, WI, WHERE 65 FARMERS LEARNED ORCHARD-FLOOR MANAGEMENT, EQUIPMENT USE, AND ORGANIC HERBICIDE TRIALS. A FIELD DAY WITH MCHUGH FARM AND LA CROSSE DISTILLING CO. DEMONSTRATED CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE, COMPOSTING SYSTEMS USING DISTILLERY BY-PRODUCTS, AND THE ORGANIC GRAIN TO DISTILLERY VALUE CHAIN. OTHER FIELD DAYS TARGETED GROWERS OFTEN UNDERSERVED IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDING. ON-FARM, HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS OF COVER CROPPING, COMPOST SYSTEMS, ADAPTIVE GRAZING, REDUCED TILLAGE, AND PERENNIAL INTEGRATION ENABLE FARMERS TO PERSONALIZE THESE PRACTICES TO THEIR OWN OPERATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIC TO ORGANICALLY MANAGED SYSTEMS. THESE EVENTS WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY CONSERVATION-RICH CONFERENCE SESSIONS, WEBINARS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, FROM SOIL HEALTH PANELS TO FARMER-LED WORKSHOPS SHOWCASING ORGANIC CROP ROTATIONS AND ECOLOGICAL PEST MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, MARBLESEED ACCOMPANIES THESE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH RESOURCES THAT MAKE ACCESS TO CONSERVATION COST SHARE PROGRAMS MORE ACCESSIBLE FROM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PLANNING, DIRECT CONSERVATION PRACTICE PAYMENTS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE BRIDGE LOANS THROUGH OTHER PARTNERS. MARBLESEED STRENGTHENS THE ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MIDWEST FARMING THROUGH TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND ON-FARM LEARNING ROOTED IN ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE PRINCIPLES. OUR CONSERVATION AND ORGANIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING EQUIPS FARMERS WITH PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SOIL HEALTH, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, BIODIVERSITY RESTORATION, AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY. IN 2025, FIELD DAYS SHOWCASED APPLIED CONSERVATION AT FARMS LIKE ATOMS TO APPLES FARM IN MOUNT HOREB, WI, WHERE 65 FARMERS LEARNED ORCHARD-FLOOR MANAGEMENT, EQUIPMENT USE, AND ORGANIC HERBICIDE TRIALS. A FIELD DAY WITH MCHUGH FARM AND LA CROSSE DISTILLING CO. DEMONSTRATED CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE, COMPOSTING SYSTEMS USING DISTILLERY BY-PRODUCTS, AND THE ORGANIC GRAIN TO DISTILLERY VALUE CHAIN. OTHER FIELD DAYS TARGETED GROWERS OFTEN UNDERSERVED IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDING. ON-FARM, HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS OF COVER CROPPING, COMPOST SYSTEMS, ADAPTIVE GRAZING, REDUCED TILLAGE, AND PERENNIAL INTEGRATION ENABLE FARMERS TO PERSONALIZE THESE PRACTICES TO THEIR OWN OPERATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIC TO ORGANICALLY MANAGED SYSTEMS. THESE EVENTS WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY CONSERVATION-RICH CONFERENCE SESSIONS, WEBINARS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, FROM SOIL HEALTH PANELS TO FARMER-LED WORKSHOPS SHOWCASING ORGANIC CROP ROTATIONS AND ECOLOGICAL PEST MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, MARBLESEED ACCOMPANIES THESE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH RESOURCES THAT MAKE ACCESS TO CONSERVATION COST SHARE PROGRAMS MORE ACCESSIBLE FROM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PLANNING, DIRECT CONSERVATION PRACTICE PAYMENTS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE BRIDGE LOANS THROUGH OTHER PARTNERS.
  3. $1.4 million spent. MARBLESEED PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT ADDRESSES THE MOST PERSISTENT BARRIERS FACING CURRENT AND NEXT-GENERATION FARMERS, INCLUDING LAND ACCESS, STARTUP RESOURCES, ORGANIC TRANSITION, AND THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESSES OF FARMING. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PERSONALIZED SUPPORT, DIGITAL TOOLS, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS, WE HELP FARMERS OVERCOME SYSTEMIC OBSTACLES AND BUILD RESILIENT BUSINESSES. WE ALSO STRENGTHEN FARMER WELLBEING THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THE CLIMATE HEALING & RESILIENCE CIRCLE SERIES AND OUR HONORING OUR ELDERS CURRICULUM, WHICH SUPPORT STRESS MANAGEMENT, INTERGENERATIONAL HEALING, AND PEER CONNECTION. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ALLYSHIP TRAININGS AND THE RESULTING NETWORK FOSTER MORE INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL SPACES BY PROVIDING THE UPSTANDER SKILLS FOR RURAL NEIGHBORS AND BUILDING SOLIDARITY ACROSS DIVERSE FARMING COMMUNITIES. ACCESS TO FARMLAND PERSISTS AS A BARRIER DUE TO SCARCITY, DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES, AND RISING COSTS. MARBLESEED SEEKS UNIQUE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS COLLECTIVE LAND ACCESS MODELS, FARMLAND LINK UPS, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH REAL ESTATE AGENTS, LENDERS, AND MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF FARMERS. OUR 48-PAGE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION THE ORGANIC BROADCASTER (SENT TO 600 HOUSEHOLDS IN PRINT, AND 8,000 HOUSEHOLDS DIGITALLY), OUR E-NEWSLETTER (WITH A REACH OF 11,000 CONSTITUENTS), AND THE AG SOLIDARITY NETWORK (WWW.AGSOLIDARITYNETWORK.COM) - AN ONLINE PLATFORM CONNECTING FARMERS DIGITALLY (WITH OVER 1,400 USERS), ENSURES THAT THOUSANDS OF FARMERS ACROSS THE MIDWEST HAVE ACCESS TO TIMELY, PRACTICAL, FARMER-CENTERED INFORMATION. WE ALSO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (INSTAGRAM - 4,996 FOLLOWERS, FACEBOOK - 12K FOLLOWERS, LINKEDIN - 1,193 FOLLOWERS, AND YOUTUBE - 2.25K SUBSCRIBERS). MARBLESEED PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT ADDRESSES THE MOST PERSISTENT BARRIERS FACING CURRENT AND NEXT-GENERATION FARMERS, INCLUDING LAND ACCESS, STARTUP RESOURCES, ORGANIC TRANSITION, AND THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESSES OF FARMING. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PERSONALIZED SUPPORT, DIGITAL TOOLS, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS, WE HELP FARMERS OVERCOME SYSTEMIC OBSTACLES AND BUILD RESILIENT BUSINESSES. WE ALSO STRENGTHEN FARMER WELLBEING THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THE CLIMATE HEALING & RESILIENCE CIRCLE SERIES AND OUR HONORING OUR ELDERS CURRICULUM, WHICH SUPPORT STRESS MANAGEMENT, INTERGENERATIONAL HEALING, AND PEER CONNECTION. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ALLYSHIP TRAININGS AND THE RESULTING NETWORK FOSTER MORE INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL SPACES BY PROVIDING THE UPSTANDER SKILLS FOR RURAL NEIGHBORS AND BUILDING SOLIDARITY ACROSS DIVERSE FARMING COMMUNITIES. ACCESS TO FARMLAND PERSISTS AS A BARRIER DUE TO SCARCITY, DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES, AND RISING COSTS. MARBLESEED SEEKS UNIQUE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS COLLECTIVE LAND ACCESS MODELS, FARMLAND LINK UPS, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH REAL ESTATE AGENTS, LENDERS, AND MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF FARMERS. OUR 48-PAGE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION THE ORGANIC BROADCASTER (SENT TO 600 HOUSEHOLDS IN PRINT, AND 8,000 HOUSEHOLDS DIGITALLY), OUR E-NEWSLETTER (WITH A REACH OF 11,000 CONSTITUENTS), AND THE AG SOLIDARITY NETWORK (WWW.AGSOLIDARITYNETWORK.COM) - AN ONLINE PLATFORM CONNECTING FARMERS DIGITALLY (WITH OVER 1,400 USERS), ENSURES THAT THOUSANDS OF FARMERS ACROSS THE MIDWEST HAVE ACCESS TO TIMELY, PRACTICAL, FARMER-CENTERED INFORMATION. WE ALSO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (INSTAGRAM - 4,996 FOLLOWERS, FACEBOOK - 12K FOLLOWERS, LINKEDIN - 1,193 FOLLOWERS, AND YOUTUBE - 2.25K SUBSCRIBERS).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 February 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 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.