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Roots Rising Inc

EIN 83-2950864 · Pittsfield, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROOTS RISING IS AN AWARD-WINNING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD AND FARMING. THE VISION IS TO LIFT UP TEENS AS COMMUNITY CHANGEMAKERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF MEANINGFUL WORK.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$659,644
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
12
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$88,623, exec directo

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (4)
  1. $250,407 spent. YOUTH CREWS HIRE PITTSFIELD TEENS TO WORK ON FARMS AND IN FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AS WELL AS AT OUR OWN FARMERS MARKET. IT'S NOT JUST A JOB. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL WORK-WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A LARGER SOCIAL GOOD. ROOTS RISING BELIEVES THAT MEANINGFUL WORK IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. IT LEAVES YOUTH FEELING PURPOSEFUL, CAPABLE, AND CONNECTED. WE RUN THREE SEASONAL FARM CREWS A YEAR: SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING, AS WELL AS MARKET CREW, WHICH IS A GRADUATE LEVEL CREW. THESE CREWS ARE BOTH EMPLOYMENT AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO THEIR HOURS WORKING IN THE FARM FIELDS OR IN THE FARMERS MARKET, YOUTH ALSO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CULINARY AND FINANCIAL LITERACY LESSONS, AND FEEDBACK CIRCLES. YOUTH CREWS HIRE PITTSFIELD TEENS TO WORK ON FARMS AND IN FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AS WELL AS AT OUR OWN FARMERS MARKET. IT'S NOT JUST A JOB. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL WORK-WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A LARGER SOCIAL GOOD. ROOTS RISING BELIEVES THAT MEANINGFUL WORK IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. IT LEAVES YOUTH FEELING PURPOSEFUL, CAPABLE, AND CONNECTED. WE RUN THREE SEASONAL FARM CREWS A YEAR: SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING, AS WELL AS MARKET CREW, WHICH IS A GRADUATE LEVEL CREW. THESE CREWS ARE BOTH EMPLOYMENT AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO THEIR HOURS WORKING IN THE FARM FIELDS OR IN THE FARMERS MARKET, YOUTH ALSO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CULINARY AND FINANCIAL LITERACY LESSONS, AND FEEDBACK CIRCLES.
  2. $107,330 spent. THE PITTSFIELD FARMERS MARKET, FOUNDED IN 2013, OPERATES WITH THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD. WE ARE A YEAR-ROUND AND PRODUCER-ONLY MARKET, WITH ALL OF OUR VENDORS SELLING PRODUCTS THAT THEY GROW, RAISE, OR PRODUCE THEMSELVES. LIVE MUSIC, CHEF DEMOS AND WORKSHOPS HAVE HELPED MAKE THE MARKET A TRUE COMMUNITY HUB. ROOTS RISING RUNS SEVERAL FOOD JUSTICE INITIATIVES IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR MARKET MORE AFFORDABLE TO ALL- INCLUDING MARKET MATCH, WHICH DOUBLES THE PURCHASING POWER OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS USING SNAP, WIC, AND SENIOR BENEFITS. THE PITTSFIELD FARMERS MARKET IS THE FIRST TEEN-RUN MARKET IN THE REGION. OUR TEEN MARKET CREW IS INVOLVED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF RUNNING THE MARKET, FROM VENDOR SUPPORT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES. THE PITTSFIELD FARMERS MARKET, FOUNDED IN 2013, OPERATES WITH THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD. WE ARE A YEAR-ROUND AND PRODUCER-ONLY MARKET, WITH ALL OF OUR VENDORS SELLING PRODUCTS THAT THEY GROW, RAISE, OR PRODUCE THEMSELVES. LIVE MUSIC, CHEF DEMOS AND WORKSHOPS HAVE HELPED MAKE THE MARKET A TRUE COMMUNITY HUB. ROOTS RISING RUNS SEVERAL FOOD JUSTICE INITIATIVES IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR MARKET MORE AFFORDABLE TO ALL- INCLUDING MARKET MATCH, WHICH DOUBLES THE PURCHASING POWER OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS USING SNAP, WIC, AND SENIOR BENEFITS. THE PITTSFIELD FARMERS MARKET IS THE FIRST TEEN-RUN MARKET IN THE REGION. OUR TEEN MARKET CREW IS INVOLVED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF RUNNING THE MARKET, FROM VENDOR SUPPORT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES.
  3. $30,839 spent. GENERAL OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR ROOTS RISING.
  4. GENERAL OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR ROOTS RISING.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.