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City Seed Inc

EIN 83-0397621 · New Haven, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN GROWING A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. WE AIM TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH A SUITE OF FOOD-BASED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: IMPROVING ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH COORDINATING AND MANAGING A NETWORK OF FARMERS MARKETS WITH OPTIONS FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS; PROVIDING COOKING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION, WITH A FOCUS ON MAXIMIZING NUTRITION BENEFITS; OFFERING FOOD-BASED BUSINESS INCUBATION SERVICES AND SUPPORTING SMALL-SCALE FOOD ENTREPRENEURS; AND SUPPORTING CULINARY EXCHANGE THROUGH COOKING CLASSES AS PART OF OUR SANCTUARY KITCHEN PROGRAM.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
28
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$53,212, excutive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 January 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 (3)
  1. $273,880 spent. SINCE LAUNCHING THE CITY'S FIRST FARMERS MARKET IN 2004, WE HAVE GROWN A NETWORK OF YEAR-ROUND MARKETS THAT CONNECT OVER 60 CONNECTICUT FARMERS AND PRODUCERS TO 60,000 CUSTOMERS, THAT ACCEPTS ALL NUTRITION SUPPORT BENEFITS. CITYSEED'S FARMERS MARKETS OFFER A PLATFORM, ALONG WITH SUBSIDIZED VENDING FEES AND NO-COST MARKET KITS, FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND FARMERS TO EXHIBIT AND SELL THEIR PRODUCTS, PRIORITIZING THOSE FROM NEW HAVEN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THUS CIRCUMVENTING BARRIERS TO ENTRY THAT RISING ENTREPRENEURS FACE.
  2. $186,564 spent. CITYSEED PROVIDES FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATION SERVICES AND ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE.
  3. $607,545 spent. SANCTUARY KITCHEN SUPPORTS NEW RESIDENTS OF GREATER NEW HAVEN BY CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULINARY TRAINING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending January 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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