Hilltop Urban Gardens
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Serve as a fiscal sponsor organization for other organizations doing work such as: ? Food Security: Growing and distributing healthy food ? Housing and Economic Stability: Investing in Community Based Housing and Economic Development Strategies1 ? Educational Opportunities: Build skill knowledge and resource through educational programming ? Wellness: Create and support opportunities for community well-being
- Income
- $320,448
- Spending
- $623,512
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 249
- Highest pay
- $61,294, board member
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
Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 95% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 11 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
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
6 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 (2)
- $377,020 spent. In 2024 Hilltop Urban Gardens HUG advanced racial equity food sovereignty and social justice in Tacomas Hilltop neighborhood through innovative initiatives in reproductive justice food production agricultural education and cultural preservation. HUG served 551 community members-including 265 youth 49 volunteers and 35 Black Sunday attendees-by offering programs that ranged from weekly Black Sunday gatherings for cultural celebration and mental health support to a Farm to Preschool Program and Agricultural Academy that engaged 62 children in hands-on sustainability at the HUG Farm. The organization also produced and distributed 1,000 lbs of food through its Black Food Sovereignty program and established 12 culturally relevant BIPOC residential food growing sites via the Urban Food Network while transforming a barren 4,800 sq ft lot into the Wellness and Ecology Park a new hub for food production herbal farming and community healing. HUG further bolstered community resilience and healing through its Black Birthworker Initiative BBI which supported 12 Black birth workers and hosted four seasonal community herbal clinics. The BBI Community Blessingway events held in March and August provided healing spaces for 202 BIPOC families affected by economic disparity medical neglect and other birth-related inequities. Complementing these direct service efforts HUG partnered with organizations like the Front and Centered and Surge Reproductive Justice to advocate for policy changes and promote economic and agricultural land stewardship opportunities for displaced Black community members thereby addressing the systemic roots of racism and displacement.
- $200,274 spent. In 2024 Canoe Journey Herbalists expanded our first aid training program as well as our container garden program and were able to serve more individuals and families than ever. On Canoe Journey itself we were able to host 40 BIPOC healers many of whom were trained by the organization and took on new leadership roles within the organization. In 2024 Canoe Journey Herbalists also expanded the Elder services program as well as youth programming.
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 2018.
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.