Soil Health Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE IS A GLOBAL NON-PROFIT WITH A MISSION OF SAFEGUARDING AND ENHANCING THE VITALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF SOILS THROUGH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENT. THE INSTITUTE BRINGS TOGETHER LEADERS IN SOIL HEALTH SCIENCE AND THE INDUSTRY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EMPOWER FARMERS AND OTHER LANDOWNERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADOPT REGENERATIVE SOIL HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT CONTRIBUTE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $7.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $382,659, president/ceo
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 2511 of 11 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 (1)
- $7.1 million spent. THE SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE'S COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO SAFEGUARD AND ENHANCE THE VITALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF SOIL EMPLOYS FOUR LEVERS OF CHANGE: BUSINESS CASE, MEASUREMENT, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION & OUTREACH. WE COLLABORATE WITH FARMERS AND RANCHERS, ADVISORS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO ENABLE STANDARDIZED, SCIENTIFICALLY CREDIBLE SOIL HEALTH DECISION MAKING AT SCALE. IN THE BUSINESS CASE, SHI PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON MORE THAN 160 NORTH AMERICAN FARMS THAT DEMONSTRATES LONG-TERM ADOPTION OF SOIL HEALTH SYSTEMS REDUCES COSTS, INCREASES NET INCOME, AND MITIGATES RISKS ACROSS CLIMATES AND PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. IN MEASUREMENT, SHI RECOMMENDED 3 ESSENTIAL SOIL HEALTH INDICATORS AND ESTABLISHED HOW HEALTHY SOILS CAN BECOME ON MORE THAN 19 MILLION ACRES OF CROPLAND SO FARMERS, ADVISORS, AND INDUSTRY CAN SET SOIL HEALTH GOALS AND TRACK PROGRESS. IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, SHI IS DEVELOPING TOOLS TO MORE ACCURATELY MODEL AND MEASURE IMPROVEMENTS IN SOIL HEALTH, LIKE WATER STORAGE AND AVAILABILITY, CARBON STORAGE, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY, AND EROSION. IN EDUCATION, SHI ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR FARMERS AND THEIR ADVISORS ACROSS 35 U.S. STATES AND THREE CANADIAN PROVINCES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY ADOPT PROFITABLE, RESILIENT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND REGENERATIVE SOIL HEALTH SYSTEMS.
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 2025.
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 February 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.