Katies Krops
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF KATIE'S KROPS IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO START AND MAINTAIN VEGETABLE GARDENS OF ALL SIZES AND DONATE THE HARVEST TO HELP FEED PEOPLE IN NEED, AS WELL AS TO ASSIST AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
- Income
- $320,505
- Spending
- $250,886
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 10.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 3,491
- Highest pay
- $48,000, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2023, 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)
- $205,565 spent. IN 2023, THE KATIE'S KROPS GARDENS KEEP GROWING ACROSS THE NATION AND IN AFRICA, AND THE FANTASTIC CHILDREN THAT BRING THESE GARDENS TO LIFE CONTINUE TO INSPIRE, IMPRESS, AND NURTURE OUR SOULS. IT WAS A YEAR OF BREAKING RECORDS, SAVING ENDANGERED SPECIES, CARING FOR NEIGHBORS, TREMENDOUS HONORS, AND, SADLY, SIGNIFICANT LOSS. PERHAPS THE MOST INCREDIBLE HONORS WAS BESTOWED AT THE END OF 2023, WITH SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE NAMING KATIE 'SOUTHERNER OF THE YEAR' IN THEIR HOLIDAY DOUBLE ISSUE. KATIE AND FOUR OTHERS RECEIVED THIS HONOR AS 'THE TRAILBLAZERS SUPPORTING AND PRESERVING OUR REGION'S PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TRADITIONS.' FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF OUR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS, WE LAUNCHED AN EXTENSIVE EFFORT TO SAVE THE ENDANGERED MONARCH BUTTERFLY. WE CONSTRUCTED A BUTTERFLY HOUSE IN OUR FLAGSHIP GARDEN IN THE AREA THAT IS NOW KNOWN AS MONARCH MEADOWS. THE FIRST-YEAR EFFORTS WERE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS OUR YOUNG GROWERS TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTED THEIR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELL- BEING BY SHARING THEIR HARVEST. THESE YOUNG GARDENERS GREW IN THEIR BACKYARDS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, FARMS, AND ANYWHERE THEY COULD ACCESS LAND TO GROW A BETTER TOMORROW. WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THAT COLLECTIVELY, WE DONATED AN ASTOUNDING 71,702 POUNDS OF PRODUCE IN 2023 WE BROKE RECORDS IN 2023 WE HARVESTED AND DONATED 8,820 POUNDS OF PRODUCE FROM OUR FLAGSHIP GARDEN. WE ATTRIBUTE THIS SUCCESS TO INCREASING OUR VERTICAL GROWING SPACE, USING SOIL HUMMUS COMPOST, INCREASING OUR VOLUNTEER BASE, AND IMPROVING OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM. IN 2023, WE ALSO UNVEILED OUR BUTTERFLY HOUSE, DESIGNED AND BUILT BY KEVIN ARNOLD, A STUDENT WITH CLEMSON'S ARCHITECTURAL GRADUATE PROGRAM THIS BUTTERFLY HOUSE OUR YOUTH LED TEAM MONARCH RELEASE 205+ MONARCH BUTTERFLIES BACK INTO THE WILD TO HELP THE ENDANGERED MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. IN 2023 WE HOSTED OVER 76 PROGRAMS IN OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, ENGAGING 140 FAMILIES IN FUN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN A BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SETTING. 34% OF VISITORS BECAME GARDEN VOLUNTEERS THIS YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH CHEF STEPHEN, THE CULINARY DIRECTOR AT GLOWFISCH HOSPITALITY TO OFFER COOKING CLASSES IN THE GARDEN THESE CLASSES WERE A WONDERFUL WAY TO TRANSFORM OUR HARVESTS FROM THE GARDEN INTO DELICIOUS SNACKS AND MEALS OUR COOKING CLASSES WERE AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOWFISCH IN 2024 IN 2023, WE CELEBRATED 13 YEARS OF FREE GARDEN-TO-TABLE DINNERS. THIS YEAR, WE WELCOMED OUR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS INTO THE KITCHEN TO PREPARE OUR MEALS. THEY HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HELP, AND WE LOVE THAT THEY CAN MEET THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THEY ARE HELPING. ADDITIONALLY, WE PARTNERED WITH FORT DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL'S CULINARY PROGRAM TO CREATE A SIDE DISH FOR EVERY DINNER. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR SUCH AN EXCELLENT TEAM THAT HELPS MAKE OUR DINNERS POSSIBLE EACH DINNER WE SERVE 675+ MEALS IN TOTAL, 21, 989 HOURS OF YOUTH SERVICE WENT INTO THE KATIE'S KROPS DINNERS IN 2023. FOR ARIANE "ARI," A 9-YEAR-OLD FOURTH GRADER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, IT ALL BEGAN WITH A SQUASH SEED. IN 2021, AS PART OF A SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON ON THE MUSTARD SEED, SHE AND HER CLASSMATES WERE GIVEN SQUASH SEEDS TO TAKE HOME AND GROW. KATIE'S KROPS WAS MENTIONED DURING THE LESSON, AND VOILA, A NEW GARDENER WAS BORN. IN HER FIRST YEAR GROWING WITH KATIE'S KROPS IN 2022, SHE GREW 50 POUNDS. BUILDING ON WHAT SHE LEARNED, SHE INCREASED HER PRODUCTION AND GREW 225 POUNDS IN 2023 ARI ENTHUSIASTICALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE OFFERED TO OUR GROWERS THIS YEAR. "HER ENTHUSIASM IS CONTAGIOUS WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER INCREDIBLE WORK IN HER COMMUNITY AND BECOMING A ROLE MODEL FOR CHILDREN EVERYWHERE. WE LOVE THAT ARI'S GARDEN IS MULTIGENERATIONAL AND IS GROWING MEMORIES AND LESSONS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME," NOTED KATIE. ARI IS ALSO ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO GARDEN. AS A JUNIOR GIRL SCOUT, SHE AND SOME MEMBERS OF HER TROOP ARE WORKING ON A GROUP PROJECT TO EARN THEIR BRONZE AWARD. THEY PLAN TO HAVE A SEPARATE GARDEN PLOT AT HER GRANDPARENTS' HOME (THOSE 6 ACRES THEY OWN ARE COMING IN HANDY), AND SHE WORKS IN THE CHURCH GARDEN STARTED BY THE YOUTH CHOIR. ARI'S GRANDPARENTS HAVE BEEN VITAL TO HER GARDENING JOURNEY, AND WE THANK THEM FOR SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO HELP ARI GROW. CONGRATULATIONS ARI WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ARI WILL BE HONORED AS THE 2023 GROWER OF THE YEAR AND A 500 SCHOLARSHIP FOR HER HIGHER EDUCATION. IN 2023, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST SPRINGFEST THIS EVENT FEATURED OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO OUR FLAGSHIP GARDEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK WITH. THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY WE HAD 11 COMMUNITY PARTNERS ATTEND, ALONG WITH 307 COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS GAVE GARDEN TOURS, WE UNVEILED OUR NEW BUTTERFLY HOUSE, HOSTED ARTS AND CRAFTS, GAVE AWAY SEEDLINGS, AND MUCH MORE SALLY CLARKE, CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT SUMMERVILLE HIGH, HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING WITH KATIE'S KROPS SINCE SHE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HAS BECOME SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE KATIE'S KROPS FAMILY. SALLY CLARKE HAS CREATED SUCH A SPECIAL BOND WITH OUR DINNER GUESTS, GREETING EACH AND EVERY ONE WITH HER INFECTIOUS SMILE AND LOVE AND KINDNESS. SHE HAS HELPED TO RECRUIT WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS TO KATIE'S KROPS, INCLUDING THE SUMMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING TEAM AND WONDERFUL STUDENTS FROM THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. SALLY CLARKE WILL BE AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ACCOMPANY THIS HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO TO HELP US FIGHT HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. "WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE SALLY CLARKE AS A PART OF THE KATIE'S KROPS FAMILY. SHE IS SUCH A LIGHT AND HER SMILE IS CONTAGIOUS THE GUESTS THAT WE HELP HAVE BUILT SUCH SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER AND HAVE SUCH LOVE FOR HER. NOT ONLY IS SALLY CLARKE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE KATIE'S KROPS DINNERS, BUT SHE HELPS ANY OPPORTUNITY SHE CAN TO SHARE OUR WORK AND GAIN SUPPORT.I COULDN'T IMAGINE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 2023.
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 April 2012.
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.
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