Idea Works
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission to rebuild the local food chain Food matters to us. So much so that part of our mission involves supporting and rebuilding our local food chain. We collaborate with Richland Gro-Op, and The Ohio State University at Mansfield in conjunction with their Initiative for Food and Agricultural Transformation (InFACT) program. Together we are building capacity for university-community partnerships to address issues such as racial justice and environmental sustainability. Idea Works made an investment of over $100,000 to help the micro farmers get a solid start when they formed their business, Richland Gro-Op. By providing them free, unlimited access to the kitchen, they have a fully licensed facility to collect, sort and pack their produce for distribution. We are always looking for new opportunities to collaborate with other area businesses to help with the long-term goal of building a vibrant, thriving food campus.
- Income
- $188,368
- Spending
- $193,524
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 73%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 6
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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 (2)
- $51,514 spent. The Organization strives every day to nurture entrepreneurs providing them with the space they need to help turn their ideas into successful businesses. At Idea Works, we offer a variety of coworking spaces, a state of the art podcast studio.
- $50,010 spent. Food is a universal language. We believe food entrepreneurs should be able to access the right facility and resources to grow. The process of buying or leasing your own space is too expensive and time consuming, but we can help you! The Entrepreneurs Kitchen offers shared-used kitchen space for food entrepreneurs to strategically grow their business. We work with caterers, food truck operators, bakers, meal services, food delivery businesses, pop up carryout businesses, and packaged food preparers. By becoming a kitchen member you gain access to our facilities, coaching to pass your inspections and the connections you need to grow your business. As a nonprofit, were on a mission to rebuild the food chain in north central Ohio. Thats why were investing in the facility to make food entrepreneurs successful.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.