Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS THROUGH FARMER-TO-FARMER NETWORKING, INNOVATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $825,623
- Spending
- $737,344
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 180
- Highest pay
- $96,408, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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)
- $381,292 spent. FARMER-TO-FARMER NETWORKING, EDUCATION, DEMONSTRATION AND RESEARCH TO ADVANCE AND SUPPORT IMPROVED SOIL HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND STRONG AND DIVERSE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA.ADVANCING SOIL HEALTH IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR SFA. WE BELIEVE HEALTHY SOIL IS KEY TO ADDRESSING CURRENT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ON THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE. THAT BELIEF IS GROUNDED IN THE FACT THAT SOIL BIOLOGY IS LARGELY INFLUENCED BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES SUCH AS TILLAGE, USE OF FERTILIZERS, CHEMICALS AND HERBICIDES AND TILLING. PRODUCTIVE, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IS BASED ON A HEALTHY SOIL BIOLOGY. SOIL MICROBIAL POPULATIONS MEDIATE 85-90% OF SOIL FUNCTION. SFA'S SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE FOUNDED ON 6 KEY SOIL HEALTH PRINCIPLES, 4 OF WHICH ARE ADOPTED BY THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE 1) MINIMIZE SOIL DISTURBANCE; 2) KEEP HEALTHY ROOTS IN THE SOIL; 3) INCREASE CROPLAND AND PASTURELAND PLANT DIVERSITY; 4) KEEP SOIL COVERED; 5) INTEGRATE LIVESTOCK; 6) CONSIDER EACH GROWER'S OPERATIONAL CONTEXT.SFA'S EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE A MIX OF FIELD DAYS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, ON-SITE FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS, ON-FARM CONSULTATIONS AND FARM MENTORING. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ENCOURAGE INCREASED FARMER PROFICIENCY IN ROTATIONAL GRAZING AND LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT, CROP ROTATIONS, NUTRIENT CYCLING AND FARMLAND PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY.SINCE JUNE OF 2021 SFA HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE USDA TO PROMOTE THE MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MAWQCP) A VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS TO TAKE THE LEAD IN IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT PROTECT OUR WATER. THROUGH OUR MANY PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS PROMOTIONAL MESSAGES TO MEMBERS HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RECRUITING MORE THAN 1,500 AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS AND RENTERS TO BECOME CERTIFIED.SFA'S SOIL HEALTH NETWORK HAS CONTINUED TO GROW BOTH IN NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (1,300+), AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT. IT INCLUDES AN INFORMATION-RICH WEBSITE WITH CASE STUDIES, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, AN EVENTS CALENDAR AND SIGN UP FOR CONSULTATIONS. THIS SERVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY SUSTAINABLE AG PRODUCERS, CONVENTIONAL FARMERS, RESEARCHERS, AND EDUCATORS AS A HIGHLY REGARDED SOURCE OF CREDIBLE INFORMATION ON SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES. SFA PARTNERS WITH THE MINNESOTA INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, MN FARMERS UNION, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION, THE UMN FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE, NRCS AND SWCD, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS TO EXTEND THE REACH OF SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION. SFA'S PODCAST SERIES DIRT RICH" LAUNCHED IN 2020, OFFERS A WIDELY ACCESSIBLE LIBRARY OF 50 EPISODES FEATURING EDUCATIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRACTITIONERS AND AG EXPERTS ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RELATING TO REGENERATIVE FARMING AND SOIL HEALTH.
- $199,023 spent. FARMER AND RANCHER OUTREACH/CHAPTER AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE CORE TO SFA'S FARMER-TO-FARMER NETWORK, SERVING AS THE UMBRELLA FOR SFA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE, MIDWEST SOIL HEALTH SUMMIT AND CHAPTER FESTIVALS THAT CONNECT GROWERS WITH EATERS. SFA PARTNERS WITH MISA, THE REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS WORKING TO MAKE FARMING AND RANCHING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO IMMIGRANT AND TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING A LIVING ON THE LAND. ACTIVITIES AT SFA'S 10 CHAPERS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS, FIELD DAYS, DEMONSTRATION AND GATHERINGS OF FARMERS, EDUCATORS, FOOD ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND REGENERATIVE AGRICTULTURAL PRACTICES AND ADVANCETHE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES. SFA'S FOUR NETWORKING GROUPS, ORGANIZED AROUND ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN, INCLUDE THE MIDWEST GARLIC GROWERS; ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LIVESTOCK, CROW WING RIVER BASIN FORAGE COUNCIL, AND THE TWIN CITIES GROWERS NETWORK. EACH GROUP GATHERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HOSTING EDUCATIONAL FIELD DAYS AND NETWORKING EVENTS. SFA ALSO PARTNERS WITH RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE ON ITS FARMLAND ACCESS HUB, TO HELP EMERGING FARMERS NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGING JOURNEY TOWARD FARM OWNERSHIP.
- $53,148 spent. TO SUPPORT MINNESOTA'S DAIRY FARMERS, SFA WORKS WITH MDI, THE MINNESOTA DAIRY INITIATIVE, PROVIDING ON-FARM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO A NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMERS AROUND MINNESOTA ON A RANGE OF MILK PRODUCTION, GRAZING AND LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT ISSUES. SFA ALSO CONTINUED IN 2022 AS THE MINNESOTA ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNER OF THE NATIONAL DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP (DGA) PROGRAM, RECRUITING NEW APPRENTICES AND MATCHING THEM WITH "MASTER GRAZIERS", WITH WHOM THEY WORK DURING A 2 YEAR INTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND HANDS-ON WORK PROGRAM. THEIR APPRENTIECSHIP RESULTS IN A CERTIFICATE AND ADVANCEMENT AS A JOURNEYPERSON, RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.