Soul Fire Farm Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FURTHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 26.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $92,184, co-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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $2.0 million spent. FARM-BASED - SOUL FIRE FARM INSTITUTE, INC. (SFFI) RAISES 15,000 POUNDS OF VEGETABLES, FRUITS, PLANT MEDICINE, AND EGGS INTENSIVELY ON 2 ACRES OF LAND USING LOW-TILL METHODS; PROVIDES AFFORDABLE, DOORSTEP DELIVERY OF ITS OWN FARM FRESH NATURALLY-GROWN VEGETABLES, HERBS, EGGS, AND PRESERVES TO 240+ CSA MEMBERS PLUS 1600+ FARM-TO-TABLE MEALS; TRAINS 205+ NEW FARMERS THROUGH OUR INTENSIVE IMMERSIONS; STRENGTHENS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE LAND BY PROVIDING DAYLONG FOOD JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO 102+ YOUTH, COMMUNITY FARM DAYS TO 811+ INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND "SOUL FIRE IN THE CITY" LAWN TO GARDEN WORKSHOPS FOR 47+ PEOPLE, WHILE MAINTAINING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AT >10%.
- $529,463 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - THROUGH PUBLIC SPEAKING, TRAINING, AND MEDIA, SOUL FIRE FARM INSTITUTE, INC. AWAKENS THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF 35,424+ LISTENERS AND READERS WHO INTERACT WITH ITS PUBLIC TALKS, INTERVIEWS, AND 52 NEW PUBLICATIONS - AS EVIDENCED BY >75% OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS REPORTING THEIR CONCRETE ACTIONS TOWARD FOOD AND LAND JUSTICE AS A RESULT OF WHAT THEY LEARNED. IN ADDITION, SFFI TRAINS 177+ CHANGEMAKERS THROUGH ONLINE PROGRAMS AND MENTORS 10 NEW FARMERS ANNUALLY IN THE BRAIDING SEEDS FELLOWSHIP. SFFI PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 37 PARTICIPANTS, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES TO 47 MEMBERS IN THE SPEAKERS COLLECTIVE. AS MEMBERS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COALITIONS, INCLUDING HEAL, NBFJA, BUGS, BF ECOSYSTEM, SFFI ADVOCATES FOR A JUST FOOD SYSTEM.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.