Feed Iowa First
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY TODAY AND TOMORROW BY GROWING FOOD AND FARMERS.
- Income
- $482,862
- Spending
- $447,440
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 17.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $83,580, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $200,610 spent. GROW, SHARE, NOURISH IS A GRASSROOTS PROGRAM ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY. WE GROW PRODUCE IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, FEED IOWA FIRST MANAGES WANATEE FARM, AN 11-ACRE, CHEMICAL FREE FARM IN MARION. SECOND, WE TEND TO URBAN FIELDS, SECURED THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND CORPORATIONS TO TRANSFORM THEIR UNDERUTILIZED LAND INTO PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND. WE THEN DISTRIBUTE VEGETABLES IN TWO WAYS: DIRECTLY TO PANTRIES AND THROUGH OUR MOBILE PANTRY, THE VEGGIE VAN. WE WORK WITH OVER 37 PANTRIES, DIRECTLY DISTRIBUTING PRODUCE CATERED TO THE DESIRES OF THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVE. VEGETABLE PRODUCTION WANATEE:FEED IOWA FIRST MANAGES AN 11-ACRE FARM IN MARION. HERE WE ENGAGES OVER 100 LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO CULTIVATE FRESH PRODUCE, IN TOTAL YIELDING 10,000-15,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE ANNUALLY. WE PARTNER WITH LINN COUNTY CONSERVATION ON A 20-YEAR LAND LEASE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED THE INVESTMENT IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. VEGETABLE PRODUCTION URBAN FIELDS: FEED IOWA FIRST MANAGES 9 URBAN FIELDS. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TEND, WATER, WEED, AND HARVEST PRODUCE, WHICH IS THEN DISTRIBUTED TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. FEED IOWA FIRST WILL PURCHASE AND PLANT SEEDS, TILL, HARVEST, AND PROVIDE OTHER ESSENTIAL FIELD SERVICE MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO PARTNERS.DISTRIBUTION: WE DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN 30,000-45,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE ANNUALLY, THROUGH VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AT WANATEE FARM, URBAN FIELDS, AND VEGETABLE DONATION. ALL PRODUCE GROWN OR DONATED THROUGH GROW SHARE NOURISH IS DISTRIBUTED TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR FREE. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE AT NO COST TO ANY FAMILY IN NEED. WE DO NOT REQUIRE PAPERWORK OR ID, CREATING LOW BARRIERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAM. WE WORK WITH OVER 37 PANTRY PARTNERS, INCLUDING APARTMENT COMPLEXES, LOW-INCOME HEALTH CLINICS, FOOD PANTRIES, SCHOOL PANTRIES, AND 24-HOURS ACCESS TO COMMUNITY FRIDGES. THROUGH HIS MODEL FEED IOWA FIRST IS THE ONLY PROGRAM PROVIDING CONSISTENT VEGETABLES TO FOOD PANTRIES AND FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON PROVIDING HEALTH EQUITY THROUGH FOOD. VEGETABLE DONATION:FEED IOWA FIRST PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL COMMERCIAL FARMERS TO REDIRECT EXCESS PRODUCE TO LINN COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT LACK ACCESS TO FRESH LOCALLY GROWN AND CHEMICAL-FREE PRODUCE. OUR DONATED PRODUCE DOES NOT ORIGINATE FROM SUPERMARKETS WHERE THE PRODUCE MAY ALREADY BE PASSED THE 'BEST BEFORE' DATE. FEED IOWA FIRST WILL ACCEPT DONATIONS FROM ANY GROWER OF PRODUCE IN LINN COUNTY OR SURROUNDING AREAS. VEGGIERX :VEGGIE RX IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL FREE CLINIC WHICH OFFERS VEGETABLES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS AT THE CLINIC, AS PART OF A TREATMENT PROGRAMTHE VEGGIERX PROGRAM SEEKS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR UNDERSERVED DIABETICS IN LINN COUNTY EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. THE VEGGIERX PROGRAM OFFERS A PERSONALLY AND MEDICALLY TAILORED WEEKLY PRODUCE PICKUP FOR UNDERSERVED DIABETICS. VEGGIERX WILL ALLOW ACCESS TO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD THAT PATIENTS KNOW HOW TO COOK AND ENJOY EATING. THE PROGRAM WILL RUN FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 WEEKS, PROVIDING REGULAR VEGETABLE DISTRIBUTION AS A HEALTH INTERVENTION.
- $112,666 spent. EQUITABLE LAND ACCESS (ELA):EQUITABLE LAND ACCESS IS A PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS LANDLESS INDIVIDUALS WITH AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUNDS TO FERTILE LAND AND RESOURCES TO GROW CHEMICAL-FREE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT PRODUCE. ULTIMATELY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO LOWER THE BARRIER OF ENTRY TO FARMING, DEMOCRATIZE LAND ACCESS, CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. IT IS SPLIT INTO TWO BRANCHES: THE FARM BUSINESS INCUBATOR AND COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE, EACH WITH ITS OWN OBJECTIVES.BUSINESS INCUBATOR: THE FARM BUSINESS INCUBATOR IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED FARMERS WITH AFFORDABLE LAND ACCESS AT WANATEE FARM, SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, STARTUP MATERIALS, AND CONNECTIONS TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FARMING RESOURCES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP OUR CLIENTS ESTABLISH FARMING AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME. WE PARTNER WITH FOOD RETAILERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, SUCH AS FIELD TO FAMILY FOOD HUB, TO CREATE MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING FARMERS. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH EMERGING FARMER RESOURCE HUBS (E.G., PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA), LAND NAVIGATORS (E.G., SILT), AND BANKING AND FINANCING INSTITUTIONS (E.G., CRBT AND KIVA LOAN PROGRAMS) TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF RESOURCES FOR OUR CLIENTS. COMMUNITY AG :THE COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE SUBPROGRAM PARTNERS WITH BUSINESSES, PLACES OF FAITH, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PLACE LAND-INSECURE GARDENERS ON URBAN LAND TO GROW PRODUCE FOR THEMSELVES, TO SHARE, OR TO SELL. CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAM OFTEN SELL PRODUCE TO MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY, OFFERING THEM A SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE OF INCOME. THE SUBPROGRAM ALSO ACTS AS AN "ON-RAMP" TO THE INCUBATORSOME CLIENTS HONING THEIR FARMING SKILLS IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE ADVANCED TO JOIN THE FARM BUSINESS INCUBATOR.
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 October 13, 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 June 2013.
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 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.