National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 NASDA FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATION THAT DIRECTLY SERVES THE NATION'S STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. WE ARE A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE AMERICAN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND RESEARCH.
- Income
- $4.8 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $396,981, nasda ceo
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
Weak: 34 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 215% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (8)
- $1.6 million spent. REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTER: NASDA FOUNDATION WAS SELECTED BY THE USDA TO ESTABLISH THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTER. THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTER DEVELOPS AND AMPLIFIES LOCAL AND REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS INTO THESE SYSTEMS IN 11 STATES (CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, AND VERMONT) AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. NASDA MEMBER COLLABORATORS INCLUDE THE NORTHEAST STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. NORTHEAST REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTER WILL DIRECT FUNDING INTO TWO GRANT STREAMS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS BUILDER SUBAWARDS TO EXPAND PRODUCTION/PROCESSING, CREATE NEW PRODUCTS, ENCOURAGE FOOD HUB DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR INCREASE SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION AND ACCESS FOR PRODUCERS AND FOOD BUSINESSES.
- $1.3 million spent. FOOD SAFETY PRODUCE AGREEMENT:THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE FDA, THE NASDA FOUNDATION MODELS PRODUCE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK DOCUMENTS TO ASSIST STATES IN ALIGNING THEIR PRODUCE SAFETY PROGRAM WITH THE FDA'S PRODUCE SAFETY RULE. THE NASDA FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH FDA AND KEY STATE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP TRAINING AND TOOLS TO ASSIST STATES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
- $541,244 spent. EPA WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT:THE EPA FARMERS GRANT PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, HABITAT RESILIENCE AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE TO BENEFIT THE ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN THE GULF OF MEXICO WATERSHED. WORK INCLUDES ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH PRODUCERS ON NOVEL OR INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES, METHODS, OR APPROACHES THAT REDUCE NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND COLLABORATION WITHIN AND AMONG COMMUNITIES. NASDA WORKS WITH 14 SUBAWARDEES IN EPA'S OHIO-TENNESSEE REGION AND IS SUPPORTED BY A TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM OF EXPERTS ROOTED IN THE REGION.
- $470,792 spent. FOOD SAFETY FEED AGREEMENT:THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH FDA, THE NASDA FOUNDATION DRAFTED MODEL FSMA PREVENTATIVE CONTROLS FOR ANIMAL FOOD (PCAF) REGULATION IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK DOCUMENTS TO ASSIST STATES TO IMPLEMENT THE RULE AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO ASSIST STATES TO COMPARE THEIR AUTHORITY REGARDING THE PRODUCTION AND SAFETY OF ANIMAL FOOD, IDENTIFYING THE GAPS IN THEIR PROGRAMS, AND DETERMINING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT A STATE ANIMAL FOOD SAFETY RULE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS ESTABLISHED AN ALLIANCE WITH AAFCA TO ASSIST OUR AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION TO ACCOMPLISH ITS GOALS.
- $414,908 spent. PESTICIDE INSPECTOR RESIDENTIAL TRAINING:THE PESTICIDE INSPECTOR RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES NATIONAL PESTICIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING TO INSPECTORS AND ENFORCEMENT STAFF OF PESTICIDE STATE LEAD AGENCIES, TERRITORIES AND TRIBES WORKING UNDER FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE AND RODENTICIDE ACT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. PIRT'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP OR ENHANCE PESTICIDE ENFORCEMENT STAFF'S ABILITY TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT PESTICIDE REGULATORY PROGRAMS AND UNDERTAKE NEW INITIATIVES. OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORT STAFF BY DELIVERING A FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF FIFRA'S BASIC INSPECTOR CONCEPTS AND ACTIVITIES, WHILE ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSPECTIONS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS ONGOING CHALLENGES THROUGH TACKLING COMPLEX AND HIGHLY NUANCED ISSUES SURROUNDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW FEDERAL REGISTRATIONS, RULEMAKING AND PRIORITIES.PIRT USES CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND FIELD TRIPS, INCLUDING MOCK INSPECTIONS, TO TEACH DEMONSTRATED APPROACHES TO CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS. PIRT WILL PROMOTE UNIFORMITY IN ENFORCEMENT APPROACHES AND UNDERSTANDING WHILE CONSIDERING DIFFERING NEEDS BASED ON GEOGRAPHY AND VARYING STATE OR TRIBAL REGULATIONS.
- $126,010 spent. FARM2FOOD ACCELERATOR:THE FARM2FOOD PROGRAM HELPS SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS DEVELOP OR REFINE A FOOD OR BEVERAGE VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ACCESS TO EXPERT VIDEOS, EXPERT ARTICLES, AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES IN MARKETING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, FOOD SAFETY, PACKAGING, KNOWING YOUR COSTS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL TOPICS NECESSARY TO BRING A VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT TO MARKET. THE TRAINING HELPS FARMERS AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH NEW PRODUCTS OR ENHANCE EXISTING PRODUCTS WHILE DE-RISKING THE PROCESS OF ENTERING NEW MARKETS. THIS TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCERS IN NEVADA, COLORADO, AND VIRGINIA. AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT WORKS NATIONWIDE TO HELP PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON EXPORTING AND TRADE OPPORTUNITIES.
- $88,441 spent. CDFA FARMERS & RANCHERS ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROGRAM:THE COUNCIL OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AGENCIES AND NASDA FOUNDATION'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH A 3-YEAR SUB-AWARD CDFA'S USDA 2501 GRANT, ASSISTS FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH BUILDING SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS BY ACCESSING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS CAPITAL. THE PROGRAM, NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, WILL DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES AGRICULTURAL FINANCE IN RELATABLE AND MEANINGFUL TERMS.
- $61,981 spent. STUDENT PROGRAMMING:NASDA'S NEXT GENERATION IS A COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT WAVE OF LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE POLICY AND PUBLIC SERVICE. IN BRINGING TOGETHER THE AGRICULTURE POLICY SUMMIT WITH THE NASDA'S NEXT GENERATION, THIS UNIFIED PROGRAM OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL LEADERS, EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGRICULTURAL POLICY-MAKING PROCESS AND EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
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
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 June 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 August 1981.
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.