Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund Inc

EIN 47-4254347 · Greenfield, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

THE PVGROWS INVESTMENT FUND, INC. (PVGIF) PROVIDES FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES THROUGH COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS. PVGIF OFFERS AN INVESTMENT VEHICLE FOR INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS. IN 2015, THE PIONEER VALLEY GROWS INVESTMENT FUND, INC. ("PVGIF") WAS ESTABLISHED AS A SEPARATE ENTITY (SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION TO THE FCCDC) TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FCCDC. PVGIF USES COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS TO PROVIDE FINANCING TO LOCAL FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES. PVGIF OFFERS AN INVESTMENT VEHICLE FOR INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS TO INVEST IN BUILDING A HEALTHIER FOOD SYSTEM. ITS MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN AND GROW THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY MORE VIBRANT FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES, MORE LOCAL JOBS, AND MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.

Income
$25,000
Spending
$25,000
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-44.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$146,134, president, treasurer, cler

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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. $25,000 spent. THE PVGROWS INVESTMENT FUND, INC. (PVGIF) PROVIDES FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES THROUGH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2015, THE FUND HAS LENT TO MORE THAN 110 FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES IN MASSACHUSETTS, PROVIDING CRITICAL FUNDS SO THAT FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES CAN GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND INCREASE THEIR INCOME, HIRE MORE WORKERS AT LIVABLE WAGES, EXPAND FOOD ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, PROVIDE VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OTHER FARM ENTERPRISES, AND SURVIVE EXTREME WEATHER EMERGENCIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 2016.

    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.