Kirby Family Farm
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND ASSIST AT RISK CHILDREN BY OFFERING HANDS ON HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL, HISTORICAL, RECREATIONAL, AGRICULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $564,813
- Spending
- $759,723
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 24.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 1
- Highest pay
- $12,000, president
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $371,868 spent. UTILIZING CONNECTIONS WITH HOSPITALS, SCHOOL PREVENTION PROGRAMS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, GUARDIAN AD LITEM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOSTER ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL WORKERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS, THE FARM IS HOST TO CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER WHO NEED HELP TO OVERCOME LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
- $209,086 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HAS UNDERTAKEN THE SECONDARY MISSION TO PRESERVE RAILROAD HERITAGE AND HISTORY AND CURRENTLY OWNS FIVE LOCOMOTIVES. IT STARTED WITH ONE HISTORICAL LOCOMOTIVE THAT DATES BACK TO THE LATE 1800'S WAS DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION IN 2013 AND WAS LOVINGLY RESTORED BY VOLUNTEERS. THAT ABANDONED TRAIN IS NOW THE CENTERPIECE OF THE FARM GIVING RIDES TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND GUESTS EACH YEAR. IT IS SHARED WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES TO NOT ONLY ENJOY AND LEARN BUT IS ALSO USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW, WITH LOVE AND CARE, THINGS CAN BE RESTORED, OR SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION,INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN. THE COLLECTION CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF FIVE LOCOMOTIVES, SIX OPEN AIR PASSENGER CARS, ONE AND ONE HALF MILES OF TRACK,TWENTY RAILCARS DONATED BY RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS, AND TRAIN DEPOT.
- THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED AND RECEIVED TAX EXEMPT STATUS IN 2013. DURING THE YEARS 2013 AND 2014 THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRED AND BEGAN RESTORATION OF ITS FIRST HISTORICAL LOCOMOTIVE. THIS LOCOMOTIVE IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE FARM. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED ITS PROGRAMS USING RAILROADING, HISTORY AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION TO TEACH AS MUCH ABOUT LIFE AS TO TEACH ABOUT HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANT TIMES. IN 2015 THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN HOLDING THEMED EVENTS AS A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND TO FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.