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Passes our checks

Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development Inc

EIN 52-2227244 · Riverdale, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood85 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

Sowing Empowerment & Economic Development Inc. (SEED) is a non-profit organization created to provide food, clothing, education, and training, while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment directly to low to moderate income families.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
23
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$173,244, seed - president no independent

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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 139% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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. $837,685 spent. 106,200 pounds of emergency food, and 64,000 pounds of fresh produce provided to 4,260 individuals through the SEED Food Distribution Center in Riverdale and EXCEL Academys Family Market in Fort Washington, MD. 8 food pantries in Councilmanic Districts 1-4 in Prince Georges County, MD received monthly supplemental food items from the SEED food hub to serve 1,300 people. 88,000 pounds of food provided to 254 people in Detroit, MI. Diapers distributed to 179 babies. 100 families received holiday baskets. 225 seniors in Detroit, MI received customized utility carts to transport their donated food. 47 first time home buyers educated through virtual workshops. 10 received education through online courses. The education helped 7 clients purchase homes. 194 individuals received financial literacy training. Foreclosure Prevention counseling was provided to 26 households, with 1 received modification. 106,200 pounds of emergency food, and 64,000 pounds of fresh produce provided to 4,260 individuals through the SEED Food Distribution Center in Riverdale and EXCEL Academys Family Market in Fort Washington, MD. 8 food pantries in Councilmanic Districts 1-4 in Prince Georges County, MD received monthly supplemental food items from the SEED food hub to serve 1,300 people. 88,000 pounds of food provided to 254 people in Detroit, MI. Diapers distributed to 179 babies. 100 families received holiday baskets. 225 seniors in Detroit, MI received customized utility carts to transport their donated food. 47 first time home buyers educated through virtual workshops. 10 received education through online courses. The education helped 7 clients purchase homes. 194 individuals received financial literacy training. Foreclosure Prevention counseling was provided to 26 households, with 1 received modification. Free aftercare program provided to 30 scholars in Cornerstone Jefferson-Douglass Academy in Detroit, MI through SEED Extended Learning Program. 72 scholars participated in the SEED Freedom School Program in Fort Washington, MD and Detroit, MI.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 2000.

    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.