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Urban Community Agri-Nomics

EIN 81-0691944 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 31% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

URBAN COMMUNITY AGRINOMICS' (UCAN) MISSION IS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY, REDUCE AND REVERSE PREVENTABLE HEALTH ISSUES, INCREASE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND INCREASE EXPOSURE TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE. UCANS FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO OPEN GREEN SPACES, EDUCATION AND TRAININGS ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, SEED-TO-TABLE FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION, HANDS-ON STEAM AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. WE EMPOWER FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO GROW THEIR OWN HEALTHY FOOD USING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, IN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT. OUR WORK IS MANIFESTED THROUGH A LENS OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

Income
$350,086
Spending
$429,778
Spent on programs
31%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
14
Volunteers
1,257
Highest pay
$52,000, 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    31% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $134,631 spent. YOUTH PROGRAMMING INCREASED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SEVEN MEMBER AND TWO SUPERVISORS YOUTH CONSERVATION CREW PROJECT. YOUTH WERE PAID A SALARY FOR FOUR WEEKS OF TRAINING IN THE COMPLETION OF AN ADA WALKING TRAIL, REBUILDING OF GARDEN FENCING AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE. WE CONTINUED WITH OUR YOUTH GARDENING PROGRAM, TEACHING YOUTH HOW TO SELECT, PLANT CARE FOR AND HARVEST VEGETABLES. IN ADDITION, WE FOCUSED ON THE TECHNIQUES OF HARVESTING AND BOTTLING HONEY FOR DISTRIBUTION. IN 2025 UCAN CONDUCTED HEALTH RELATED WORKSHOPS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED GARDENERS AS TEACHERS. THESE WORKSHOPS TAUGHT CITIZENS HOW TO USE HERBS, NATIVE PLANTS, FUNGI, GRASS/WEEDS (OFTEN HOW PEOPLE THEM THEN), TREE LEAVES/BARK, ETC. FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLBEING BY INFUSING THEM INTO THEIR DIET AND USE TO MAKE TINCTURES. WE CONDUCTED NINE WORKSHOPS IN 2025 PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO 70 INDIVIDUALS. THE ONLY NOTABLE GOVERNMENT RELATION THAT WE HAD IN 2025 WAS THE APPLICATION FOR FUNDING THROUGH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS, I.E. DURHAM OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS FUNDING. OUR OUTREACH IS PRIMARILY THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, TABLING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCE INFORMATION SESSIONS. OUR OUTREACH IS ALSO CONDUCTED THROUGH ONE-ONE ENCOUNTER/ENGAGEMENT WITH VOLUNTEERS, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. FINALLY OUTREACH IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL ENTITIES SUCH AS PODCASTERS, DOCUMENTARIANS, PROFESSIONAL OR UNIVERSITY MASTERS AND PHD PROJECTS. UCAN COLLABORATES WITH A NUMBER OF THE LOCAL UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN HOW TO CLEAR LAND IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL WAY OR HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY CREATE A REENTRY PROGRAM. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDING/REPURPOSING INITIATIVES CONTINUES WITH THE ADDITION OF MORE WALKING TRAILS FOR PROGRAMMING AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO OPEN GREEN SPACES. TRAIL MAINTENANCE IS ONGOING. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE MILLHOUSE WE ARE NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION. HAVING HVAC, AN EQUIPPED KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND MEETING SPACES, THE CATAWBA TRAIL FARM IS NOW ABLE TO HOST AND SERVE YEAR-ROUND. WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY IN REPURPOSING AN OLD CORN CRIB INTO AN INTERGENERATION HOUSE; A PLACE FOR THE GENERATIONS TO LEARN TO VALUE EACH OTHER AND ENGAGE IN ORAL HISTORY, THE ART OF STORYTELLING AND TRADITIONALLY INTERACTIVE SKILL BUILDING. SINCE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN BEDS ARE UTILIZED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS UCAN INVESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 32'X71' HIGH TUNNEL THEREBY ALLOWING US TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER AGRICULTURE METHOD, TO HAVE FRESH PRODUCE TO DONATE TO THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND TO CREATE MORE SELF-SUSTAINING SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION. KNOWLEDGEABLE CONTRACTORS AND STAFF ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES; RESEARCHED, BEST PRACTICE TECHNIQUES. HAVING STAFF IS AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY. FULL TIME AND THREE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES GETTING PAID A LIVING WAGE (ALTHOUGH STILL BELOW MARKET VALUE) IS COSTLY WHEN ONE FACTOR IN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES AND MANDATES. THE NEED FOR SKILLED CONTRACTOR IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES/BUILDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES IS UNQUESTIONABLE. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF GRANTS AND DONATIONS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT FUNDING AND UNRESTRICTED DONATIONS MADE THIS POSSIBLE. YOUTH PROGRAMMING INCREASED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SEVEN MEMBER AND TWO SUPERVISORS YOUTH CONSERVATION CREW PROJECT. YOUTH WERE PAID A SALARY FOR FOUR WEEKS OF TRAINING IN THE COMPLETION OF AN ADA WALKING TRAIL, REBUILDING OF GARDEN FENCING AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE. WE CONTINUED WITH OUR YOUTH GARDENING PROGRAM, TEACHING YOUTH HOW TO SELECT, PLANT CARE FOR AND HARVEST VEGETABLES. IN ADDITION, WE FOCUSED ON THE TECHNIQUES OF HARVESTING AND BOTTLING HONEY FOR DISTRIBUTION. IN 2025 UCAN CONDUCTED HEALTH RELATED WORKSHOPS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED GARDENERS AS TEACHERS. THESE WORKSHOPS TAUGHT CITIZENS HOW TO USE HERBS, NATIVE PLANTS, FUNGI, GRASS/WEEDS (OFTEN HOW PEOPLE THEM THEN), TREE LEAVES/BARK, ETC. FOR BETTER HEALTH AND WELLBEING BY INFUSING THEM INTO THEIR DIET AND USE TO MAKE TINCTURES. WE CONDUCTED NINE WORKSHOPS IN 2025 PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO 70 INDIVIDUALS. THE ONLY NOTABLE GOVERNMENT RELATION THAT WE HAD IN 2025 WAS THE APPLICATION FOR FUNDING THROUGH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS, I.E. DURHAM OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS FUNDING. OUR OUTREACH IS PRIMARILY THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, TABLING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCE INFORMATION SESSIONS. OUR OUTREACH IS ALSO CONDUCTED THROUGH ONE-ONE ENCOUNTER/ENGAGEMENT WITH VOLUNTEERS, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. FINALLY OUTREACH IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL ENTITIES SUCH AS PODCASTERS, DOCUMENTARIANS, PROFESSIONAL OR UNIVERSITY MASTERS AND PHD PROJECTS. UCAN COLLABORATES WITH A NUMBER OF THE LOCAL UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN HOW TO CLEAR LAND IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL WAY OR HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY CREATE A REENTRY PROGRAM. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDING/REPURPOSING INITIATIVES CONTINUES WITH THE ADDITION OF MORE WALKING TRAILS FOR PROGRAMMING AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO OPEN GREEN SPACES. TRAIL MAINTENANCE IS ONGOING. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE MILLHOUSE WE ARE NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION. HAVING HVAC, AN EQUIPPED KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND MEETING SPACES, THE CATAWBA TRAIL FARM IS NOW ABLE TO HOST AND SERVE YEAR-ROUND. WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY IN REPURPOSING AN OLD CORN CRIB INTO AN INTERGENERATION HOUSE; A PLACE FOR THE GENERATIONS TO LEARN TO VALUE EACH OTHER AND ENGAGE IN ORAL HISTORY, THE ART OF STORYTELLING AND TRADITIONALLY INTERACTIVE SKILL BUILDING. SINCE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN BEDS ARE UTILIZED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS UCAN INVESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 32'X71' HIGH TUNNEL THEREBY ALLOWING US TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER AGRICULTURE METHOD, TO HAVE FRESH PRODUCE TO DONATE TO THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND TO CREATE

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 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 June 2016.

    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.

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.