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The Center for an Agricultural Economy

EIN 57-1201683 · Hardwick, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY SUPPORTS RURAL COMMUNITIES AND WORKING LANDSCAPES BY BUILDING A MORE INTERCONNECTED LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
54
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$98,084, executive di

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 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 (5)
  1. $1.4 million spent. FARM CONNEX HELPS WITH ALL ASPECTS OF SELF-DISTRIBUTION. WE SERVICE LOCATIONS IN THE FIRST AND LAST MILE OF VERMONT, CONNECTING OUR PRODUCERS TO A LARGER BASE OF REGIONAL CONSUMERS.
  2. $759,675 spent. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ARE COLLABORATIONS AND SERVICES DESIGNED AND LED WITH PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORS. THESE PROGRAMS HELP BUILD COLLECTIVE, LOCAL RESILIENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, SHARED LEARNING, AND FOOD JUSTICE.
  3. $527,390 spent. JUST CUT PURCHASES LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES AND PREPARES A LINE OF READY- TO-USE PRODUCTS FOR K-12 SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, COLLEGES, AND COMMERCIAL KITCHENS THROUGHOUT VERMONT AND PARTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
  4. $464,053 spent. THE VERMONT FARM FUND, A PROGRAM OF THE CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, IS A COMMUNITY-BASED CREDIT MODEL IN SERVICE OF A COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE NO-HASSLE, FRIENDLY-TERM LOANS TO VERMONT FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS. THE VERMONT FARM FUND INVESTS IN THE LIVELIHOODS OF FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS. THIS PROGRAM OPERATES AS A TRUE REVOLVING LOAN FUND: AS RECIPIENTS PAY BACK THEIR LOANS, FUNDS ARE REPLENISHED FOR THE NEXT CYCLE OF BORROWERS. VERMONT FOOD VENTURE CENTER AND FARM AND FOOD BUSINESS RESOURCES SINCE 2012, THE VERMONT FOOD VENTURE CENTER HAS BEEN A HUB OF FOOD PROCESSING AND INNOVATION. FOOD BUSINESSES CAN RENT COMMERCIAL KITCHENS BY THE HOUR TO TEST OR SCALE UP THEIR BUSINESS MODELS BEFORE INVESTING IN COSTLY EQUIPMENT AND A DEDICATED PRODUCTION SPACE. WE OFFER THREE COMMERCIAL KITCHENS AND THE SPACE FOR YOUR FOOD BUSINESS TO GROW. THE BUSINESS PLANNERS IN OUR FARM & FOOD BUSINESS RESOURCES TEAM OFFER WRAPAROUND SERVICES, INCLUDING BUSINESS PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, AVAILABLE TO ALL VFVC CLIENTS.
  5. THE VERMONT FARM FUND, A PROGRAM OF THE CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, IS A COMMUNITY-BASED CREDIT MODEL IN SERVICE OF A COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE NO-HASSLE, FRIENDLY-TERM LOANS TO VERMONT FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS. THE VERMONT FARM FUND INVESTS IN THE LIVELIHOODS OF FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS. THIS PROGRAM OPERATES AS A TRUE REVOLVING LOAN FUND: AS RECIPIENTS PAY BACK THEIR LOANS, FUNDS ARE REPLENISHED FOR THE NEXT CYCLE OF BORROWERS. VERMONT FOOD VENTURE CENTER AND FARM AND FOOD BUSINESS RESOURCES SINCE 2012, THE VERMONT FOOD VENTURE CENTER HAS BEEN A HUB OF FOOD PROCESSING AND INNOVATION. FOOD BUSINESSES CAN RENT COMMERCIAL KITCHENS BY THE HOUR TO TEST OR SCALE UP THEIR BUSINESS MODELS BEFORE INVESTING IN COSTLY EQUIPMENT AND A DEDICATED PRODUCTION SPACE. WE OFFER THREE COMMERCIAL KITCHENS AND THE SPACE FOR YOUR FOOD BUSINESS TO GROW. THE BUSINESS PLANNERS IN OUR FARM & FOOD BUSINESS RESOURCES TEAM OFFER WRAPAROUND SERVICES, INCLUDING BUSINESS PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, AVAILABLE TO ALL VFVC CLIENTS.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 July 2006.

    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 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.