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Agroecology Commons

EIN 85-3343221 · El Sobrante, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 35% 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

Educate farmers about agroecology.

Income
$829,539
Spending
$921,949
Spent on programs
35%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
0
Volunteers
238
Highest pay
$79,583, co-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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    35% 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

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $61,242 spent. Apprenticeships: Services Provided: education in agroecology through apprenticeships People Benefited: 21 Program Activities: 12-month apprenticeship program supporting 13 beginning and evolving farmers who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Femme, and working-class humans focused on land stewardship, small farm production, cooperative marketing and food sovereignty by 9 established farmers. cooperative marketing, and food sovereignty.We also organized and implemented a seed grant program for ten BAFFT graduates and farmer educators to support community projects for agroecology and food sovereignty. Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshares- AC organized seven 1/2 day learning exchanges and trained 238 young and beginning farmers, majority BIPOC. Training topics included soil health and fertility, goat stewardship and cheese making, bee hive resilience, rotational grazing, and cooperative organizing for land stewardship.
  2. $81,273 spent. BAFFT: Services Provided: education in agroecology through farmer training People Benefited: 73 Program Activities: The Bay Area Farmer-to-Farmer Training (BAFFT) is a nine-month program from March 2024 to November 2024hosted by Agroecology Commons, a network of farmers, and community educators with diverse expertise. Focus areas include small farm production, food sovereignty, agroecology, and global social movements. BAFFT promotes critical educational programming that teaches technical agroecological farming skills. Honoring Indigenous and peasant land-based traditions, our curriculum also explores legacies of political organizing within food movements both globally and locally.
  3. $121,182 spent. Incubator Farm: Services Provided:education in agroecology through experiential learning & farmer-to-farmer skillshares. People Benefited: 110 Program Activities: Built out infrastructure for the incubator farm where we provide land access for beginning farmers to autonomously and cooperatively grow crops, hone skills, and launch their farm projects with mentorship and support.We hosted 1 incubator in 2024 who grew an array of crops. AC organized four 1/2 day learning exchanges in collaboration with local organizations and trained 45 participants in Solar Panel Build- UC Berkeley Engineering Program; Farm benches building - Girls Garage; Honey House- Laney College Carpentry Class; Rain Water Catchment Design- UC Berkeley Engineering Program. Hosted farm tours with: Spellman, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, Howard, Laney College, and Tuskegee. Along with multiple 7 volunteer days totalling 64 volunteers.
  4. $59,698 spent. Other Program service expenses
  5. Other Program service expenses 59698. 9452. 0.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 2021.

    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.

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.