Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Austin Youth & Community Farm Inc

EIN 45-3954705 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

URBAN ROOTS WORKS WITH YOUTH LEADERS TO GROW FRESH FOOD AND BUILD A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO FOOD EQUITY

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
59
Volunteers
775
Highest pay
$147,008, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 July 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. URBAN ROOTS WORKS TO CREATE A JUST FOOD SYSTEM BY CULTIVATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH LEADERS AND NUTRITIOUS, CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD CAN THRIVE. ON OUR FARMS, YOUTH LEADERS GROW FOOD IN SERVICE TO OTHERS, DISTRIBUTING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE TO THOSE IN AUSTIN WHO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY OR HUNGER. WE THINK OF IT AS CREATING A JUST FOOD SYSTEM ONE YOUTH LEADER AT A TIME. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND THE LAND AND THE NOURISHMENT IT PROVIDES, AND TO SUPPORT YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN GROWING AS LEADERS WHO CAN ADVOCATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM. EACH YEAR WE PROVIDE PAID INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR UP TO 88 YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES 14-23. THEY WORK TOGETHER WITH 1,000+ COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO HARVEST FROM 25,000 TO 35,000 POUNDS OF FRESH FOOD ANNUALLY. WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD THROUGH HOME DELIVERY, MOBILE MARKETS, POP-UP MARKETS IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEXES, NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRIES, AND PREPARED MEALS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 2025.

    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 November 2012.

    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.