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Victory Garden Initiative Inc

EIN 45-5035466 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VICTORY GARDEN INITIATIVE BUILDS COMMUNITIES THAT GROW THEIR OWN FOOD CREATING A COMMUNITY-BASED, SOCIALLY JUST, ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD SYSTEM FOR ALL.

Income
$373,675
Spending
$301,508
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
14
Volunteers
400

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $108,719 spent. URBAN GARDEN: AT VICTORY GARDENS 1.5 ACRE URBAN FARM, THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES FOOD TO FEED THE COMMUNINTY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH OUR ROADSIDE FARMSTAND, FARMERS MARKET SALES, CSA SUBSCRIPTION BOXES, COMMUNITY GARDEN RENTALS, AND WHOLESALE TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
  2. $38,485 spent. BLITZ PROGRAM:THIS IS THE LARGEST GARDENING EVENT, WHERE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER TO INSTALL AS MANY AS 4X8 FT. RAISED BED GARDENS AS POSSIBLE IN TWO WEEKS.OVER THE YEARS , WE HAVE BUILT MORE THAN 7,000 GARDENS, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES WITHY ACCESS TO FRESH, HOMEGROWN PRODUCE.
  3. $22,101 spent. YEP - YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATIONS RUNS A YEAR-ROUND, HANDS-ON GARDEN BASED PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH IN THE TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS OF HARAMBEE AND RIVERWEST. IN ADDITION, VICTORY GARDEN RUNS AFTER SCHOOL GARDEN CLUBS, SUMMER AGRICORPS, FARM FIELD TRIPS AND EARN AND LEARN PROGRAMMING AT THE URBAN FARM CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY PARTNER LOCATIONS.
  4. $22,884 spent. OUTREACH/ FUNDRAISING/GENERAL :REACHING AND TEACHING GARDNERS(NEW AND EXPERIENCED) ABOUT GARDEN PLANNING, MAINTENANCE, PERMACULTURE, HEALTHY COOKING, RAINWATER CONERVATION AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 January 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 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.