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Grow Local South Texas

EIN 46-2315450 · Corpus Christi, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO GROW A HEALTHY LOCAL COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO, EDUCATION ABOUT AND ADVOCACY FOR AFFORDABLE NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS WITH CHILDREN'S TEACHING GARDENS, OUR FARMERS MARKET, PRODUCER EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Income
$374,337
Spending
$382,104
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 15% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (1)
  1. $323,644 spent. THE MISSION OF GROW LOCAL SOUTH TEXAS IS TO GROW A HEALTHY LOCAL COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO, EDUCATION ABOUT, AND ADVOCACY FOR AFFORDABLE NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS. OUR PROGRAMMING TO ACHIEVE THIS MISSION CONSISTS OF THE GROW LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET EVERY WEDNESDAY, PROVIDING LOCAL FOOD ACCESS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORPUS CHRISTI AREA WITH AN AVERAGE OF 250 CUSTOMERS A WEEK AND 25 LOCAL FOOD VENDORS. WE PROVIDE FREE IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL EDUCATION IN GARDENING, SUSTAINABILITY AND NUTRITION TO AROUND 250 STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL AS TWO MULTI-WEEK GARDENING SUMMER CAMPS AND 2 WEEK LONG CHILDREN'S COOKING CAMPS. WE ATTEND MONTHLY COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, PROVIDING HEALTHY RECIPE CARDS, PLANTING AND HARVEST GUIDES, AND ADDITIONAL ALL-NATURAL AGRICULTURE AND HEALTHY EATING INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY GARDEN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES GARDENER EDUCATION AND WE HOST OUR ANNUAL SMALL FOOD PRODUCERS CONFERENCE WHICH PROVIDES A DAY OF EDUCATION TO LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS AND SMALL FOOD PRODUCERS TO HELP THEM WITH ALL-NATURAL AGRICULTURAL METHODS, UNDERSTANDING TEXAS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE LAWS, AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. THE MISSION OF GROW LOCAL SOUTH TEXAS IS TO GROW A HEALTHY LOCAL COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO, EDUCATION ABOUT, AND ADVOCACY FOR AFFORDABLE NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS. OUR PROGRAMMING TO ACHIEVE THIS MISSION CONSISTS OF THE GROW LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET EVERY WEDNESDAY, PROVIDING LOCAL FOOD ACCESS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORPUS CHRISTI AREA WITH AN AVERAGE OF 250 CUSTOMERS A WEEK AND 25 LOCAL FOOD VENDORS. WE PROVIDE FREE IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL EDUCATION IN GARDENING, SUSTAINABILITY AND NUTRITION TO AROUND 250 STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL AS TWO MULTI-WEEK GARDENING SUMMER CAMPS AND 2 WEEK LONG CHILDREN'S COOKING CAMPS. WE ATTEND MONTHLY COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, PROVIDING HEALTHY RECIPE CARDS, PLANTING AND HARVEST GUIDES, AND ADDITIONAL ALL-NATURAL AGRICULTURE AND HEALTHY EATING INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY GARDEN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES GARDENER EDUCATION AND WE HOST OUR ANNUAL SMALL FOOD PRODUCERS CONFERENCE WHICH PROVIDES A DAY OF EDUCATION TO LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS AND SMALL FOOD PRODUCERS TO HELP THEM WITH ALL-NATURAL AGRICULTURAL METHODS, UNDERSTANDING TEXAS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE LAWS, AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

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 2024.

    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 December 2014.

    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.