Green Heart Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Green Heart Project uses school gardens and urban farms to educate students through hands-on learning experiences and to cultivate community through the shared joy of growing and eating food.
- Income
- $982,901
- Spending
- $918,617
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 382
- Highest pay
- $117,494, 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $701,065 spent. The Green Heart Projects Farm to School programs utilize school gardens & urban farms as vehicles for teaching connecting students to food, health, culture & the environment. The garden serves as an outdoor learning laboratory, perfect for reiterating classroom curricula with a focus on STEAM standards through applied learning experiences. Additionally, students are connected with fresh, locally-grown fruits & vegetables as they participate in the growing, harvesting, and cooking processes. Through these hands-on, outdoor learning experiences students learn our core value of respect, and practice essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills while working alongside volunteers, their Green Heart Buddies in both the garden & kitchen classroom. (Continued on Schedule O).Continued From Part II, Line 4a Programs Classic Program At most of our partner schools, we deliver a Classic program, which guides a group of students over the period of a school semester through the process of planting, cultivating, harvesting, and cooking food from the garden. Lessons include: -Respect in the garden -Soil health -Companion planting -Seed saving -Culinary (kale pesto; sauteed collards; strawberry smoothies) -Honey and bees -Planting for future generations STEAM Program At Mitchell Elementary School and Sullivans Island Elementary School, we deliver a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program in alignment with the science curriculum. The program reaches every student at every grade level of the school (pre-K through 5th grade), 4 times per year. The lessons reinforce science concepts at every grade level. Lessons include: -Soil testing -Mapping the garden -Basic plant needs -Plant life cycles -Insect adaptations -Pickling solutions Key Program Outcomes: Educational Achievement and Cognitive Development School-based farms and gardens provide an opportunity for students to engage in experiential, inquiry-based learning right outside their school's front door. Experiential and inquiry-based learning has positive effects on educational achievement, cognitive development, social and emotional development and community engagement. The Green Heart Project curriculum is directly tied to South Carolina state Standards of Learning. Students have the opportunity to take concepts and theories they are learning in the classroom and experience them in real- life application through work in the garden. Studies have shown that inquiry-based and experiential learning in school gardens have had positive impacts on: -Student enthusiasm for learning -Science understanding and skills -Standardized test scores -GPAs -Higher-order thinking skills -Confidence in ability Social and Emotional Development School gardens offer the opportunity for students to develop social and emotional skills through interactions with peers as well as adult and college volunteers who serve as mentors and role models. In several studies, students engaged in garden-based learning demonstrated development in the following areas: -Motivation and enthusiasm -Sense of self and identity -Self-esteem & teamwork -Better school attendance -Fewer disciplinary problems -Parental involvement -Utilize and promotePBIS expectations Becoming Active Citizens in the Community Students who participate in The Green Heart Project also learn the importance of sustainability as it applies to our local food systems, and why it is important for us as citizens to care for our environment. As students participating in service-learning activities, numerous studies have demonstrated significantly increased connection to local community; civic behaviors related to environmental responsibility; skills, values, and other behaviors related to active citizenship; deepened connection to cultural heritage; and a sense of ethics. Farm to School Program Results: During the 2024-2025 school year, we delivered 234 garden and culinary lessons to 1,272 students at our partner schools. Lessons are focused on nutrition education, character development, environmental literacy, support for academic learning, and gardening and cooking skills. All Green Heart lessons are centered on hands-on learning and they always include a garden-fresh taste test!- We surveyed three student groups before and after their participation in Green Heart's Farm to School program. - Students in all three groups: - Showed improvement in their attitudes towards eating vegetables- Student attitudes increased from 69% positive to 89% positive- Said if they grow fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to eat them- Student preference increased from 74% likely to 88% likely- Became more comfortable working in the garden- Student comfort increased from 81% comfortable to 98% comfortableSt. Andrews School 2025 spotlightSt. Andrews School for Math and Science: a "Green Heart Transplant School"Two teachers were part of The Green Heart Project at Mitchell Elementary School since our founding in 2009, before moving to St. Andrews School for Math and Science (SASMS) in 2020, and partnering with Green Heart to bring a garden to the school. The two teachers currently lead a student Garden Club at SASMS and coordinate classroom involvement in the school garden that bridges hands-on, garden-based learning with academic concepts."We have been able to facilitate student exploration of authentic math and science concepts in our school garden thanks to Green Heart. To be clear, building the boxes is not something we would have done at our school without Green Heart's help. Green Heart's contribution to student engagement, learning and well-being continues to have a large impact. Beyond the learning which takes place, we see kids try nutritious foods they've grown. On top of hands-on standards focused learning, these experiences cultivate a valuable life skill (growing your own food) and provide exposure to eating healthy foods." - Teachers at St. Andrews School for Math and ScienceOur Garden Locations Mitchell El
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
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 November 6, 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 July 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 November 2014.
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 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.