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Genesis Garden

EIN 46-0944829 · Macomb, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Sharing food, providing shelter and empowering community.

Income
$815,646
Spending
$811,165
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
13
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$5,420, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $573,626 spent. Housing Initiatives. Genesis Garden provides an continuum of services to assist individuals and families who are unstably housed or without housing. During the fiscal year, 122 individuals in 47 households received eviction prevention assistance, 2 individuals in 2 households were successfully diverted to housing options other than emergency shelter, 69 individuals in 46 households were provided emergency shelter, 84 individuals in 47 households who were without housing were re-housed in permanent housing through the rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing programs. Genesis Garden also participates in regional and state networks, sharing best practices, with a goal of making homelessness in our area brief, rare and non-recurring.
  2. $156,312 spent. Food Initiatives.Genesis Garden serves as fiscal sponsor for Loaves & Fishes, Inc., an ecumenical organization with a pending application for 501(c)(3). Loaves & Fishes distributes food vouchers to McDonough County households for food purchases at area grocery stores. Loaves & Fishes serves an average of 480 households per month. Loaves & Fishes, Inc. expenses totaled $130,569.Genesis Garden also provides summer meals for kids through the ISBE/USDA SFSP program. During the summer of 2025, Genesis Garden provided 4,748 meals to children and youth under 18. Summer meals expenses totaled $25,182.
  3. $28,847 spent. Community Empowerment Initiatives. Empowerment-focused initiatives continued during the year. (1) the Family Dinner Project which promotes food, fun and conversation about things that matter. (2) The Open Table which focuses on community assets that are renewable, sustainable, and transformational through organizing and investing relational and social capital. A group of volunteers develops long-term, reciprocal relationships with an individual or family. Tables meet weekly to share friendship and access social networks to support life goals. (3) Mental Health Resiliency training and peer supports to improve mental wellness in the community, and(4) becoming a HUD-certified Housing Counseling agency. As a Housing Counseling agency, Genesis Garden will offer groupeducation and one-on-one counseling to individuals on topic such as landlord-tenant interactions, improving credit scores,pre-home purchase counseling and foreclosure prevention.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 2013.

    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.