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Apple Ridge Farm Incorporated

EIN 54-1409250 · Roanoke, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APPLE RIDGE FARM TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY'S UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ENGAGEMENT IN UNPARALLELED EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES.

Income
$439,755
Spending
$541,421
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
19
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$77,805, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 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 (5)
  1. $433,557 spent. ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP IS APPLE RIDGE FARM'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, PROVIDING LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AGES 6-16 WITH A DAILY MIX OF ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS FOCUS ON READING, WRITING, STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH), AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, HIKING, SWIMMING, TENNIS AND CHALLENGE COURSES. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TECHNIQUES ARE UTILIZED, AND EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON DEVELOPING EACH CHILD'S SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL SKILLS. AT FAMILY CAMP DAY, PARENTS ATTEND PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS TO ASSIST THEM IN DEVELOPING POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC OR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PLANS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
  2. EBASE USA-BLUE RIDGE: LESSONS IN SUSTAINABILITY IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM STRUCTURED AROUND APPLE RIDGE FARM'S UNIQUE OFF-THE-GRID LEARNING LAB HOUSED IN A FORMER 1917 RAILROAD BOXCAR THAT IS HEATED, COOLED, AND POWERED EXCLUSIVELY BY WIND AND SOLAR POWER. OUR EBASE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THE EBASE PROGRAM IS PART OF ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP AND IS ALSO OFFERED AS A STAND- ALONE PROGRAM.
  3. THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES SCIENCE AND NATURE FIELD TRIPS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND CONSERVATION THROUGH FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING ABOUT LIFE CYCLES, ADAPTATION, AND CONSERVATION OF EACH SPECIES.
  4. THE ASPIRE MINDSETS PROGRAM IS AN IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO COMBAT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN YOUNG MEN. THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS TAKING PLACE AT FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CONSISTS OF 5TH GRADE BOYS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM. WITH A COMBINATION OF CHARACTER BUILDING EXERCISES AND MENTORSHIP THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO DECREASE THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN OUR YOUTH AND INCREASE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. GET OUTSIDE IS A SINGLE DAY PROGRAM FOR ANY YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION, CHURCH, SCHOOL, OR ANY OF OUR CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO COME AND EXPERIENCE APPLE RIDGE FARM FOR A HALF DAY OR FULL DAY ADVENTURE FREE OF CHARGE. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE "WHOLE CHILD EXPERIENCE- AND INCORPORATES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, PHYSICAL WELLNESS, MINDFULNESS, AS WELL AS ADVENTURE IN OUR HIGH AND LOW ROPES COURSES. THE PROGRAM RUNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DURING OUR ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP.
  5. THE ASPIRE MINDSETS PROGRAM IS AN IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO COMBAT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN YOUNG MEN. THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS TAKING PLACE AT FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CONSISTS OF 5TH GRADE BOYS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM. WITH A COMBINATION OF CHARACTER BUILDING EXERCISES AND MENTORSHIP THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO DECREASE THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN OUR YOUTH AND INCREASE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. GET OUTSIDE IS A SINGLE DAY PROGRAM FOR ANY YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION, CHURCH, SCHOOL, OR ANY OF OUR CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO COME AND EXPERIENCE APPLE RIDGE FARM FOR A HALF DAY OR FULL DAY ADVENTURE FREE OF CHARGE. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE "WHOLE CHILD EXPERIENCE- AND INCORPORATES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, PHYSICAL WELLNESS, MINDFULNESS, AS WELL AS ADVENTURE IN OUR HIGH AND LOW ROPES COURSES. THE PROGRAM RUNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DURING OUR ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.

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