Berry Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BERRY CENTER WAS LAUNCHED TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF WENDELL BERRY'S WORK AND WRITINGS AND THE EXCEPTIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF HIS FATHER JOHN BERRY, SR., AND HIS BROTHER JOHN BERRY, JR. THE CORE OF OUR WORK IS TO ADVOCATE FOR (SEE SCHEDULE O) FARMERS, LAND CONSERVING COMMUNITIES, AND HEALTHY REGIONAL ECONOMIES.OUR WORK SEEKS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO ESSENTIAL ISSUES THAT ARE RARELY IN PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND CERTAINLY NOT REFLECTED IN AGRICULTURAL POLICIES. "WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO FARM WELL? AND "HOW DO WE BECOME A CULTURE THAT SUPPORTS GOOD FARMING AND LAND USE?" WE BELIEVE THAT THE ANSWERS - WHILE FIRMLY ROOTED IN LOCAL WORK - ARE CENTRAL TO SOLVING SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE DEVASTATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY; RAPID ONSET OF CLIMATE CHANGE; ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INEQUITIES; AND THE COLLAPSE OF HEALTHY FARMING AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 24.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $49,490, president/executive direct
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $732,080 spent. TO ADVOCATE FOR FARMERS, LAND CONSERVING COMMUNITIES, AND HEALTHY REGIONAL ECONOMIES THROUGH OUR ARCHIVE AT THE BERRY CENTER, AGRARIAN CULTURE CENTER AND BOOKSTORE, HOME PLACE MEATS - A LOCAL BEEF INITIATIVE, AND THE BERRY FARMING PROGRAM. THE ARCHIVE OF THE BERRY CENTER COLLECTS AND PRESERVES DISTINCT BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND WORKS OF ART, PHOTOGRAPHS, ORAL HISTORIES AND MANUSCRIPTS THAT OFFER COMPLETING INSIGHTS INTO GOOD FARMING AND LAND USE AND THE RICH CULTURE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST CENTURY. THE AGRARIAN CULTURE CENTER AND BOOKSTORE CARRIES ALL OF WENDELL BERRY'S PUBLICATIONS, AND INSPIRATIONS FROM HIS HOME LIBRARY AND OTHER WORKS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED HIS LIFE. THE HOME PLACE MEATS - A LOCAL BEEF INITIATIVE ESTABLISHES A COOPERATIVE FOR LOCAL LIVESTOCK FARMERS TO SELL TO (SEE SCHEDULE O) LOCAL MARKETS. THE BERRY FARMING PROGRAM PROVIDES FUTURE FARMERS WITH AN EDUCATION IN AGRARIAN THOUGHT AND PRACTICE THAT IS HOLISTIC AND PLACE-BASED.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.