Colorado Foundation for Agriculture Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 26% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
NONE
- Income
- $284,423
- Spending
- $358,745
- Spent on programs
- 26%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 141
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1526% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 July 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 (4)
- $31,994 spent. COLORADO READER: A STUDENT ACTIVITY NEWSPAPER GEARED TOWARDS UPPER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, AND ALSO USED BY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. EACH ISSUE COVERS A DIFFERENT AGRICULTURE OR NATURAL RESOURCE TOPIC AND IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. A TOTAL OF 65,000 COPIES OF EACH ISSUE WERE PRINTED AND DIRECTLY MAILED TO CLASSROOMS 3 TIMES DURING THE YEAR, FOR A TOTAL OF 195,000 COPIES ISSUED.
- $45,753 spent. LITERACY PROJECT: THE LITERACY PROJECT IS AN ANNUAL INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHERE EACH PARTICIPATING CLASS RECEIVES A FREE CLASS KIT COMPLETE WITH EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO COMPLETE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES WITH STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM INTEGRATES AGRICULTURAL THEMES INTO PREK-12 INSTRUCTION, CONNECTING TO ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL STUDIES, STEM, AND AFNR. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CULTIVATE A LOVE FOR READING WHILE ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF AGRICULTURAL CONCEPTS, ULTIMATELY FOSTERING EMPOWERED AND LITERATE COMMUNITIES. A NEW TOPIC AND BOOK, FEATURING COLORADO AGRICULTURE STORIES, ARE CHOSEN EACH YEAR. THIS IS A FREE PROGRAM FOR PREK-12 STUDENTS. THIS YEAR THE LITERACY KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 2500 CLASSROOMS AND A TOTAL OF 43,000 STUDENTS.
- $11,191 spent. SUMMER AGRICULTURE INSTITUTES: THE SUMMER AGRICULTURE INSTITUTES ARE MULTI-DAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES DESIGNED FOR TEACHERS. ATTENDEES LEARN ABOUT COLORADO AGRICULTURE, TOUR FARMS, RANCHES, AND FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES, AND GAIN INNOVATIVE, STANDARDS-BASED WAYS TO INCORPORATE FOOD, FIBER, FUEL, AND NATURAL RESOURCE TOPICS INTO ACADEMIC CURRICULUM. TWO COURSES ARE OFFERED EACH YEAR IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS COLORADO. A TOTAL OF 47 TEACHERS AND 76 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS/PRESENTERS RECEIVED TRAINING THROUGH THESE TWO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS.
- $3,846 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDED CLASSROOM VISITS, WATER FESTIVALS, AND VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 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 July 2025.
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 February 1992.
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.