Berkshire Agriculture Ventures
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL VENTURES' MISSION IS TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. WE PROVIDE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE, FLEXIBLE LOANS, AND STRATEGIC RESOURCES TO FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA; LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CT; AND COLUMBIA AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES, NY. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED OVER $420,000 IN LOANS AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 CLIENTS WITH WELL OVER 2,000 HOURS OF BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. OUR WORK HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY BY HELPING FARMS GROW AND THRIVE, EXPANDING ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD, AND KEEPING LAND IN AGRICULTURE.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 13.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $99,250, executive director
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
- $289,191 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BUSINESS AND OPERATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AREA FARMS AND FOOD BUSINESSES TO IMPROVE BUSINESS AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCY. SERVICES INCLUDE COHORT-BASED LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, WORKSHOPS, BUSINESS PLANNING, GRANTWRITING, ONLINE RESOURCES, CLIMATE RISK ASSESSMENTS AND ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATIONS, FINANCIAL READINESS, AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.
- $159,798 spent. MARKET MATCH - ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO 11 AREA FARMERS MARKETS TO PROVIDE MATCHING DOLLARS FOR ELIGIBLE FOOD PURCHASES MADE WITH SNAP AND OTHER FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS. PROGRAM INCREASES CONSUMER PURCHASING POWER, SALES TO LOCAL FARMERS, AND VIABILITY OF LOCAL MARKETS.
- $238,871 spent. LENDING: ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LOW-COST, FLEXIBLE LOANS TO FOOD PRODUCERS THROUGH REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS, ADDRESSING UNDERSERVED NEEDS FOR LOW-COST CAPITAL FOR NECESSARY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. TYPICAL LOAN PURPOSES INCLUDE BRIDGE LOANS FOR REIMBURSEMENT BASED GRANTS, WORKING CAPITAL, AND EQUIPMENT LOANS.
- $333,198 spent. OTHER - ORGANIZATION ENGAGES WITH FOOD PRODUCERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL VALUE CHAINS AND ACCESS TO MARKETS. ORGANIZATION ENGAGES IN WORK TO MITIGATE CLIMATE RISKS AND FACILITATE ON FARM CLIMATE ADAPTATION.
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
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 2025.
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 April 2017.
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.