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Jones Valley Urban Farm

EIN 52-2359003 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS (BCS), WE OPERATE SEVEN VIBRANT, STUDENT-CENTERED TEACHING FARMS AND A GOOD SCHOOL FOOD EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP MODEL. THROUGH CROSS-CURRICULAR EXPERIENTIAL LESSONS AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, YOUTH FIND JOY IN LEARNING BY USING FOOD, FARMING, AND COOKING AS A FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC EXPLORATION, LEADERSHIP, AND PURSUIT OF CAREER/POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS. WITH THE GOAL OF CONNECTING THESE RESOURCES WITH OUR LARGER COMMUNITY AND STATE, WE BUILT THE CENTER FOR FOOD EDUCATION ON OUR DOWNTOWN CAMPUS. THE CENTER INCREASES THE OVERALL REACH AND IMPACT OF JVTF'S GOOD SCHOOL FOOD MODEL THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, ON THE JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
18.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
63
Volunteers
912
Highest pay
$150,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 July 31, 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. $2.7 million spent. GOOD SCHOOL FOOD IS JVTF'S PRIMARY PROGRAM. GSF IS A PRE-K-12TH FOOD EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP MODEL THAT CONNECTS STUDENTS TO FOOD THROUGH CROSS CURRICULAR AND STANDARDS BASED CONTENT IN AND AFTER SCHOOL. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JVTF OPERATES STATE OF THE ART TEACHING FARMS AND EMPLOYS FULL TIME EMPLOYEES KNOWN AS GSF INSTRUCTORS, EMBEDDED AT EACH SCHOOL WHO WORK WITH SCHOOL FACULTY TO DEVELOP DYNAMIC PROGRAMS AND CURRICULA. JVTF'S APPRENTICESHIP MODEL USES ON THE JOB LEARNING TO DEVELOP TALENT AND CONNECT YOUTH TO POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE FOOD RESILIENCY, FOOD AND SEEDLINGS THAT ARE GROWN ON JVTF SITES ARE DISTRIBUTED FOR FREE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 July 2002.

    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.

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