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Croatan Institute

EIN 46-3673347 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak17 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

CROATAN INSTITUTE IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND ACTION INSTITUTE WHOSE MISSION IS TO BUILD SOCIAL EQUITY AND ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE BY LEVERAGING FINANCE TO CREATE PATHWAYS TO A JUST ECONOMY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
14
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$149,901, president/chair, senior fellow

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: 17 out of 100. Higher than 0% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 99% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $423,490 spent. ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE - CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SOIL WEALTH AREAS, PLACE-BASED FINANCING DISTRICTS THAT CONNECT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS AND VALUE CHAIN BUSINESSES WITH ALIGNED CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ORGANIZED A CONVENING OF OVER 40 STAKEHOLDERS IN NC FOR A TWO-DAY WORKING SESSION FOR DEEP DISCUSSIONS, FIELD VISITS, AND TRUST BUILDING. LAUNCHED A NEW COHORT OF TEN FARMERS TO SUPPORT ON-FARM IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES, DEVELOP BUSINESS PLANS, AND CONNECT FARMERS TO ALIGNED CAPITAL. RELEASED A NEW REPORT, "MODELS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCING GRAIN CHAINS IN THE MIDWEST." FINALIZED RESEARCH ON TWO PROJECTS, ONE ON AGROFORESTRY FINANCE AND ONE ON THE MARKET POTENTIAL OF THE NUTRITIONAL AND ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE WHICH WILL CULMINATE IN FORTHCOMING REPORTS TO BE RELEASED IN 2025. FINALIZED AND PREMIERED ITS FIRST-EVER SHORT FILM, "SOIL WEALTH: INVESTING IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE," WHICH DEMONSTRATES EFFECTIVE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR FUNDING THE FUTURE OF RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.
  2. $414,760 spent. SOCIAL EQUITY - CROATAN INSTITUTE WELCOMED OVER 30 FARMERS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS, AND INVESTORS TO THE INAUGURAL FARMER STAKEHOLDER MEETING IN NORTH CAROLINA TO PROVIDE DIRECT ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO NEW PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS' NEEDS. LED 6TH COHORT OF UNDERSERVED FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH INCLUDED AN IN-PERSON WORKSHOP DAY CENTERED ON PERSONAL FINANCIAL SECURITY. BUILT THE FARMWISE HUB, A VIRTUAL PLATFORM OFFERING FREE, ONLINE WORKSHOPS ALONG WITH ONE-TO-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING TO ASSIST UNDERSERVED FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND LANDOWNERS BUILD STRONG FINANCIAL SYSTEMS THAT LEAD TO GREATER RESILIENCE AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO WEALTH-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. DEVELOPED THE NORTH CAROLINA EQUITABLE FOODSHED MAP, A RESOURCE TO SUPPORT FARMERS SEEKING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. COMPILED A COLLECTION OF USDA RESOURCES AND BUILT AN AGRITOURISM DIRECTORY OF SMALL AND UNDERSERVED FARMS FOR THE FARMWISE PLATFORM.
  3. $410,190 spent. TRANSFORMATIVE FINANCE - CROATAN INSTITUTE RELEASED A NEW RAISER (RESEARCH, ACTION, AND INSIGHTS FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RETURNS) TOOL TO HIGHLIGHT THE INSTITUTE'S RIGOROUS INVESTMENT RESEARCH, INCLUDING A POWERFUL DATABASE OF INVESTABLE PRODUCTS ACROSS ASSET CLASSES. LAUNCHED TWO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATASETS ON THE INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE - A FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INVESTMENT DATASET HIGHLIGHTING INVESTIBLE OPPORTUNITIES ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, AND A RACIAL EQUITY INVESTING DATASET HIGHLIGHTING INVESTIBLE PRODUCTS AND ADVISORS ADVANCING EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES AND ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR. HOSTED THE BLAISE PROGRAM'S VIRTUAL LEARNING WEEK WITH OVER 80 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING NEARLY FIFTY UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO LEARN FROM AND NETWORK WITH TWENTY-EIGHT INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE IMPACT INVESTING SPACE.

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 October 2014.

    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.