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Savanna Institute

EIN 46-3004682 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH FARMERS AND SCIENTISTS TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR WIDESPREAD AGROFORESTRY ADOPTION IN THE MIDWEST US. INSPIRED BY THE NATIVE SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS THAT ONCE COVERED MUCH OF THIS REGION, THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE CONDUCTS RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF DIVERSE, PERENNIAL AGROECOSYSTEMS.THE MISSION OF THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE IS TO CATALYZE THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF RESILIENT, SCALABLE AGROFORESTRY.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
59
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$162,273, executive director

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 100% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    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 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. $6.8 million spent. THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE EXPLORES THE POTENTIAL OF DIVERSE WOODY CROPPING SYSTEMS TO BECOME ECOLOGICALLY SOUND, AGRICULTURALLY PRODUCTIVE, AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE CORN-SOYBEAN ROTATION THAT FACILITATES KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS AROUND PERENNIAL AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATES THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PERENNIAL AGRICULTURE.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 May 2015.

    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.