Passes our checks

Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming

EIN 83-1145521 · Silver Spring, MD

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

What it says it does

Create and sustain a network of neighborhood farms that promote healthy living, inspire food system innovation and build community resilience.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20
It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 35% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

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.
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, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$140,949 spent. Education and community building - taught community members how to run a successful farm or garden in an urban setting, provided internships and field trips for young people, hosted monthly workshops on urban growing for local residents, ran weekly on-farm farmers markets for local customers, engaged volunteers and liasons to cooperatively manage the farms, gardens and events.
$45,330 spent. Management and food production - grew and distributed 5000 lbs of farm fresh produce to residents within 2 miles of the farms and gardens and donated 2500 pounds of farm fresh produce to non-profit food assistance partners.
$32,670 spent. Stewardship and Technical Assistance - hold conservation easement and long-term land use agreements for urban farms and gardens and provide technical assistance for emerging urban farms and gardens.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 4, 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.