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Ron Finley Project

EIN 47-1416564 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceWeak31 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CONVERSION OF UNUSED PARKWAYS AND VACANT LOTS TO INTO URBAN GARDEN IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A GATHERING PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY LEARNS ABOUT NUTRITION AND JOINS TOGETHER TO PLANT AND WORK IN THE GARDEN. THIS CREATES MYRIAD JOBS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND IS A SELF-SUFFICIENT ECOSYSTEM OF GARDENING, EDUCATION, COOKING, BUSINESS LEARNING AND MANAGEMENT.

Income
$35,185
Spending
$123,691
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
39.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 252% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 60 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: 31 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    1 of 2 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $61,479 spent. DETERMINED TO CHANGE SOUTH LOS ANGELES FROM FOOD DESERT TO FOOD FOREST, HE WANTS HIS ACTIONS TO BE EDUCATIONAL, INSPIRING, AND NUTRITIOUS. HE WANTS KIDS TO GROW UP WITH THE OPTION OF HEALTHY FOOD, INSTEAD OF FRIED, FATTENING STAPLES. HE WANTS TO SWEEP UP AND TRANSFORM HIS STREET, HIS HOOD, THE CITY OF LA AND COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE.IN 2014, CONVERTED AN UNUSED STRIP OF LAND INTO COMMUNITY GARDEN.IN 2017, PURCHASED HEADQUARTERS TO ACT AS A FACILITY TO TEACH THE VIRTUES OF GARDENING AND SELF-SUSTAINABILITY.IN 2018 AND 2019, SPONSORED A COMMUNITY FUNCTION TO BRING A WIDE RANGE OF LA COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AROUND A LIFESTYLE THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY AND FULL OF LIFE-GIVING CULTURE

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 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 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.