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Leaf Project Inc

EIN 46-2626224 · Landisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LEAF PROJECT CONNECTS YOUTH TO THE FOOD THEY EAT, THE LAND ON WHICH IT GROWS, AND TO EACH OTHER THROUGH ENGAGING IN FARM WORK, CULINARY SKILL DEVELOPMENT, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF BUILDING HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. YOUTH ARE MOTIVATED TO MAKE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE WHILE INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND ACCESS TO LOCALLY RAISED FOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$590,530
Spending
$666,776
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
44
Highest pay
$76,080, executive di

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $532,408 spent. THE LEAF PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE YOUTH LEADERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK IN THE FOOD SYSTEM. WE DO THIS BY EMPLOYING YOUTH LEADERS TO MANAGE FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR UNIQUE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. WE UTILIZE SKILL DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA SO YOUTH CAN TRACK THEIR COMPETENCIES IN TASKS LIKE TECHNICAL FARMING SKILLS, CULINARY COMPETENCIES, PUBLIC SPEAKING, ETC. MASTERING THESE SKILLS IN A PROGRESSION WILL GUIDE YOUTH THROUGH THEIR GROWTH WITHIN LEAF AND THE COMMUNITY. AS YOUTH LEADERS GAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP, THEY SHARE AUTHORITY IN BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF CREATING THE LEAF PROJECT WAS TO PARTNER WITH OUR YOUTH'S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. LEAF HAS DONE EXACTLY THAT OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, BY HIRING MORE THAN 100 YOUTH INTO YEAR-ROUND POSITIONS MANAGING ORGANIC FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES, WORKING ALONGSIDE REGIONAL LEADERS IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM, AND LAUNCHING NEW INITIATIVES THAT HAVE FED AND EDUCATED MORE THAN 20,000 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE LEAF PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE YOUTH LEADERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK IN THE FOOD SYSTEM. WE DO THIS BY EMPLOYING YOUTH LEADERS TO MANAGE FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR UNIQUE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. WE UTILIZE SKILL DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA SO YOUTH CAN TRACK THEIR COMPETENCIES IN TASKS LIKE TECHNICAL FARMING SKILLS, CULINARY COMPETENCIES, PUBLIC SPEAKING, ETC. MASTERING THESE SKILLS IN A PROGRESSION WILL GUIDE YOUTH THROUGH THEIR GROWTH WITHIN LEAF AND THE COMMUNITY. AS YOUTH LEADERS GAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP, THEY SHARE AUTHORITY IN BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF CREATING THE LEAF PROJECT WAS TO PARTNER WITH OUR YOUTH'S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. LEAF HAS DONE EXACTLY THAT OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, BY HIRING MORE THAN 100 YOUTH INTO YEAR-ROUND POSITIONS MANAGING ORGANIC FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES, WORKING ALONGSIDE REGIONAL LEADERS IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM, AND LAUNCHING NEW INITIATIVES THAT HAVE FED AND EDUCATED MORE THAN 20,000 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

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 October 13, 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 September 2015.

    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 October 21, 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.