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City Growers Inc

EIN 45-2149344 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL CURRICULUM DESIGN THAT USES INNOVATIVE GROWING SPACES ON ROOFTOP FARMS, IN SCHOOL GARDENS, AND PUBLIC PARKS - CITY GROWERS FOSTERS A LOVE OF NATURE AND ENCOURAGES NYC YOUTH TO CONSIDER THEIR PLACE, AGENCY, AND FUTURE WITHIN THE GREATER ECOSYSTEM AND THE PLANET.

Income
$557,679
Spending
$660,417
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
40
Highest pay
$84,000, executive di

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

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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. $413,769 spent. THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL CURRICULUM DESIGN THAT USES INNOVATIVE GROWING SPACES ON ROOFTOP FARMS, IN SCHOOL GARDENS, AND PUBLIC PARKS - CITY GROWERS FOSTERS A LOVE OF NATURE AND ENCOURAGES NYC YOUTH TO CONSIDER THEIR PLACE, AGENCY, AND FUTURE WITHIN THE GREATER ECOSYSTEM AND THE PLANET. FARM WORKSHOPS AT BROOKLYN GRANGE ROOFTOP FARMS ARE CITY GROWERS PREMIERE PROGRAMS WHICH OFFER UNIQUE STEM-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR PREK-12 SCHOOLS LOOKING TO DEEPEN STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. FARM WORKSHOPS ARE HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED FOR SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST ECONOMIC NEEDS INDEX. THOUSANDS OF NYC YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN CITY GROWERS FARM WORKSHOPS ANNUALLY. FAMILY FARM DAYS TAKE PLACE AT BROOKLYN GRANGE ROOFTOP FARMS IN LONG ISLAND CITY AND SUNSET PARK, AND AT THE RIVER STREET FARM COLLECTIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG. FAMILY FARM DAYS ARE CITY GROWERS FREE WEEKEND PROGRAMMING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LOCAL FAMILIES IN EXPLORATION OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD URBAN FARMS. FARM TO YOUTH WORKSHOPS BRING URBAN ECOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND PLAYGROUNDS USING EXPERIENTIAL AND MOVEMENT-BASED LEARNING TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ECOSYSTEMS. CITY GROWERS OFFERS THESE WORKSHOPS TO SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST ECONOMIC NEEDS INDEX FOR FREE AND HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED RATES. COMPASS EXPLORE IS CITY GROWERS FULLY SUBSIDIZED SUMMER CAMP AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM WITH 30 FREE SLOTS FOR PREK-5TH GRADE BROOKLYN YOUTH. IN SUMMER 2020 THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED AS A FREE VIRTUAL CAMP IN JULY AND AUGUST. IN SPRING 2021 THIS PROGRAM RAN FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE AND TOOK PLACE IN-PERSON AND FULLY OUTDOORS AT PS20 THE CLINTON HILL SCHOOL. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN GARDENING, ECO-ARTS, AND MOVEMENT BASED LEARNING ABOUT FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. GREEN AMBASSADORS IS AN AFTERSCHOOL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CITY GROWERS, HANAC, AND IS141 IN ASTORIA QUEENS. IN SPRING 2021 FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE, THIS PROGRAM ENGAGED 20 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH DEEPENING THEIR EXPLORATION OF AGRICULTURE AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL CURRICULUM DESIGN THAT USES INNOVATIVE GROWING SPACES ON ROOFTOP FARMS, IN SCHOOL GARDENS, AND PUBLIC PARKS - CITY GROWERS FOSTERS A LOVE OF NATURE AND ENCOURAGES NYC YOUTH TO CONSIDER THEIR PLACE, AGENCY, AND FUTURE WITHIN THE GREATER ECOSYSTEM AND THE PLANET. FARM WORKSHOPS AT BROOKLYN GRANGE ROOFTOP FARMS ARE CITY GROWERS PREMIERE PROGRAMS WHICH OFFER UNIQUE STEM-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR PREK-12 SCHOOLS LOOKING TO DEEPEN STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. FARM WORKSHOPS ARE HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED FOR SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST ECONOMIC NEEDS INDEX. THOUSANDS OF NYC YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN CITY GROWERS FARM WORKSHOPS ANNUALLY. FAMILY FARM DAYS TAKE PLACE AT BROOKLYN GRANGE ROOFTOP FARMS IN LONG ISLAND CITY AND SUNSET PARK, AND AT THE RIVER STREET FARM COLLECTIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG. FAMILY FARM DAYS ARE CITY GROWERS FREE WEEKEND PROGRAMMING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LOCAL FAMILIES IN EXPLORATION OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD URBAN FARMS. FARM TO YOUTH WORKSHOPS BRING URBAN ECOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND PLAYGROUNDS USING EXPERIENTIAL AND MOVEMENT-BASED LEARNING TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ECOSYSTEMS. CITY GROWERS OFFERS THESE WORKSHOPS TO SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST ECONOMIC NEEDS INDEX FOR FREE AND HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED RATES. COMPASS EXPLORE IS CITY GROWERS FULLY SUBSIDIZED SUMMER CAMP AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM WITH 30 FREE SLOTS FOR PREK-5TH GRADE BROOKLYN YOUTH. IN SUMMER 2020 THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED AS A FREE VIRTUAL CAMP IN JULY AND AUGUST. IN SPRING 2021 THIS PROGRAM RAN FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE AND TOOK PLACE IN-PERSON AND FULLY OUTDOORS AT PS20 THE CLINTON HILL SCHOOL. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN GARDENING, ECO-ARTS, AND MOVEMENT BASED LEARNING ABOUT FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. GREEN AMBASSADORS IS AN AFTERSCHOOL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CITY GROWERS, HANAC, AND IS141 IN ASTORIA QUEENS. IN SPRING 2021 FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE, THIS PROGRAM ENGAGED 20 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH DEEPENING THEIR EXPLORATION OF AGRICULTURE AND THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 August 2013.

    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.

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