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Rural Advancement Foundation International-Usa

EIN 56-1704863 · Pittsboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAFI CHALLENGES THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNJUST FOOD SYSTEMS, SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY JUST FARMS COMMUNITIES.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
35
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$202,062, executive director

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 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 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 (8)
  1. $661,766 spent. AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT:FARM SUSTAINABILITY: RAFI PROVIDES MULTIPLE SERVICES TO SMALL AND MID-SCALE FARMERS TO IMPROVE FARM VIABILITY. OUR RESOURCES FOR RESILIENT FARMS PROJECT PROVIDES PLAIN-LANGUAGE INFORMATION, FARMER TRAININGS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FOR USDA PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SUPPORT GREATER FARM RESILIENCE FOR FARMERS' OPERATIONS. OTHER SUPPORTS TO FARMERS INCLUDE THE CLIMATE SMART CERTIFICATION PROJECT AND MORE.FOCN: IN 2017, RAFI FOUNDED THE FOCN TO MORE INTENTIONALLY SUPPORT FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE GOALS OF IMPROVING THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY, KEEPING THEIR LAND, AND GAINING GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. IN 2022, FOCN EXPANDED OUR SERVICE REACH TO PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS.FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS TO HIGHLIGHT ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS AND KNOWLEDGE.
  2. $1.7 million spent. FARM ADVOCACY: FARM ADVOCACY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPS TOOLS AND RESOURCES, AND PROMOTES POLICIES THAT HELP FARMERS ATTAIN GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ENCOURAGE THRIVING AND SUSTAINABLE SMALL AND MID-SCALE FAMILY FARMS. THE PROGRAM EDUCATES FARMERS ABOUT MANAGING RISK AND EQUIPS THEM TO NAVIGATE FEDERAL FARM PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WHO STAND TO LOSE THEIR FARMS WITHOUT IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.
  3. $1.0 million spent. COME TO THE TABLE - COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS AND DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES.
  4. $45,125 spent. COME TO THE TABLE - COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS, AND DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES.
  5. $119,997 spent. JUST FOODS: FROM PROMOTING MEANINGFUL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, TO PIONEERING NEW STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, JUST FOODS PROJECTS SEEK TO MAKE FAIR, SUSTAINABLE FARMING A VIABLE CHOICE. PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL GENETIC DIVERSITY IS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO THE VIABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS. THEREFORE, JUST FOODS ADVOCATES FOR FUNDING FOR CLASSICAL BREEDING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT PUBLICLY-HELD SEEDS AND BREEDS. WITHIN THE JUST FOODS PROGRAM ARE THE PROJECTS: SOUTHERN FARMERS SEED COOPERATIVE AND NC SEED STEWARDS.
  6. $109,320 spent. STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING/POLICY: RAFI-USA DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ADVOCATES ON BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY LEVELS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A FAIRER, MORE JUST AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ALL. OUR POLICY WORK IS DIRECTLY INFORMED BY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE LESSONS WE LEARN AS WE PROVIDE FARM ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES TO FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CHALLENGING CORPORATE POWER IS A PROJECT OF THE POLICY TEAM.
  7. $50,829 spent. DISASTER RESPONSERAFI-USA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO HELP FARMERS ACCESS DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHEN MAJOR DISASTERS, ESPECIALLY NATURAL (OR CLIMATE) DISASTERS SUCH AS HURRICANES, DEVASTATE FARMS IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. RAFI-USA ALSO ENGAGES IN SPECIAL FUNDRAISING TO SECURE FUNDS FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF PAYMENTS AND OTHER SUPPORT TO IMPACTED FARMERS.
  8. $55,008 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS- RAFI PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES TO HELP FACILITATE THE MISSION-RELATED WORK OF PARTNER INITIATIVES THAT LACK THE LEGAL STATUS OR ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY NECESSARY TO RECEIVE GRANTS OR DONATIONS RAFI SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:CAMPAIGN FOR CONTRACT AGRICULTURE REFORM - CCAR IS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR MEMBERS AND RANCHERS INVOLVED IN CONTRACT AGRICULTURE, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

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 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 August 1990.

    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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