Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Elderberry Wisdom Farm provides holistic workforce opportunities for Native Americans pursuing meaningful conservation career pathways, including microenterprise business development. We also provide opportunities for Native Americans, economically challenged individuals and public audiences to increase awareness and understanding of traditional ecological knowledge along with the rich cultural heritage of America's First Peoples. Committed to race reconciliation for all, we feel this strengthens appreciation and respect for the wisdom and knowledge of Native American elders, cultural leaders and indigenous scientists.
- Income
- $899,839
- Spending
- $375,212
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 70%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $84,000, founder and project director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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)
- $289,149 spent. The TEK Workforce Development Project provides conservation career pathway opportunities for Native American and other economically challenged individuals who are pursuing habitat restoration, native plant nursery development, urban agroforestry, Indigenous agroforestry and organic farming. Internships provide cohorts with classroom education and experiential service-learning activities so they can integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge principles and practices with partners' conservation practices. At the same time we work to restore, enhance and protect sensitive Native habitat in Mid-Willamette watersheds using Native American climate adaptation and mitigation practices. This initiative has expanded to include microenterprise development which has helped EWF strengthen its commitment to social, economic and environmental justice for diverse communities of economically challenged individuals in our region. Multiple collaborative partnerships with diverse environmental and tribal NPOs, agencies and institutions have helped EWF and partners to achieve its vision of race reconciliation at a higher level.
- $862 spent. The biography of Martin Rufus High Bear, the late Lakota spiritual leader and medicine man, is being published and was released in 2024. The title is: Martin High Bear: The Seven Commandments of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Maiden (1919-1995). Editor Rose High Bear worked off and on for three decades to complete this obligation after the Spirit World advised her in 1988 that she would be writing the book of Martin's life and that it would "have an impact on the peoples of the world." This biography features High Bear's family lineage, tribal history, and rich cultural values of Martin's ancestors. Several chapters feature the three spiritual lives Martin lived during his lifetime. It continues with the introduction of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Woman and Martin's vision of the seven commandments of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Woman. The closing chapters detail his journey to see Miracle, the white buffalo calf that was born in Janesville, Wisconsin which represents fulfillment of prophecy, and events leading up to his passing in 1995.
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 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 June 2019.
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.