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Our Village Gardens

EIN 85-3985259 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR VILLAGE GARDENS BRINGS A SPIRIT OF HOPE TO THE PEOPLE BY GROWING AND SHARING FOOD, LEARNING AND TEACHING SKILLS, AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR VILLAGE GARDENS LEVERAGES COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, SKILL BUILDING, ANDLEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO ADDRESS CURRENT AND LONG TERM DISPARITIES TOFOOD ACCESS.

Income
$725,514
Spending
$583,895
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
14
Volunteers
438
Highest pay
$70,836, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $256,020 spent. VILLAGE MARKET VILLAGE MARKET IS A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF OREGON'S LARGEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD. IN 2010, THE VILLAGE MARKET PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO MEET A BASIC COMMUNITY DEFINED NEED: THE LACK OF ACCESS TO A LOCAL CORNER GROCERY STORE WHERE FRESH, HEALTHY, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD CAN BE PURCHASED AT A REASONABLE PRICE. TODAY, VILLAGE MARKET WELCOMES 300 CUSTOMERS A DAY AND PROMOTES THE GOOD FOOD PROGRAM. LAST YEAR, VILLAGE MARKET PROVIDED 15,659 FREE APPLES, BANANAS, AND ORANGES TO NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH (THROUGH THE FREE FRUIT FOR KIDS PROGRAM).THE MARKET ALSO PROMOTES ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH A 20% PRODUCE DISCOUNT (PRODUCE FOR THE PEOPLE) AND A $1 FOR $1 MATCH WHEN PEOPLE USE SNAP BENEFITS TO PURCHASE PRODUCE (DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS). DURING THE GROWING SEASON, VILLAGE MARKET HIGHLIGHTS PRODUCE GROWN TWO BLOCKS AWAY AT OUR SEEDS OF HARMONY COMMUNITY GARDEN. THE MARKET IS ALSO A PRIMARY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
  2. $103,466 spent. GROWING PROJECTS - LAUNCHED IN SPRING OF 2006 IN THE NEW COLUMBIA COMMUNITY, THE SEEDS OF HARMONY COMMUNITY GARDEN PROVIDES ACCESS TO LAND, SEEDS, PLANT STARTS, AND COMPOST TO OVER 75 GARDENER HOUSEHOLDS. VILLAGE GARDENS' STAFF SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SEEDS OF HARMONY GARDEN COMMITTEE AS THEY OVERSEE A 42,000-SQUARE-FOOT GARDEN THAT SERVES AS A COMMUNITY MEETING PLACE, A FOOD SOURCE, AND AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FRUITS OF DIVERSITY COMMUNITY ORCHARD A 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT ORCHARD LAUNCHED IN 2013 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORTLAND FRUIT TREE PROJECT IS THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMUNITY ORCHARD PLANTED IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND. FRUIT HARVESTED FROM THE ORCHARD GOES TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO VOLUNTEER AT MONTHLY WORK AND HARVEST PARTIES. WE LAUNCHED THE NEIGHBOR-2-NEIGHBOR PROGRAM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE HARVEST AND PURCHASE SEASONAL PRODUCE DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY GARDENERS TO PROVIDE FREE WEEKLY PRODUCE SHARES TO SENIORS AND OTHER NEIGHBORHORS WHO ARE UNABLE TO GARDEN. 28 FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE WEEKLY DELIVERIES OF FRESH PRODUCE AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROWERS ARE ABLE TO SELL DIRECTLY TO FEED THEIR NEIGHBORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 2021.

    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.