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Ideagarden Institute Incorporated

EIN 86-2425643 · Healdsburg, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To cultivate the success and enduring impact of mission-driven entrepreneurs emerging from University programs whose food systems innovations will positively transform culture, community, climate, health and social equity.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
6
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$110,269, director plant futures intitiatives

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 174% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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. $614,098 spent. In 2024, Plant Futures advanced its mission to equip students to become the next generation of ethical leaders, systems thinkers, and effective advocates for a plant-centric future. Plant Futures hosted the Challenge Lab course at UC Berkeley, partnering with over 10 Lab businesses; 99% of students reported that the Lab helped them gain multiple professional contacts in the plant-based food and ag sector. Plant Futures also received a grant to launch a new three-unit, cross-campus course by Spring 2025. Plant Futures chapters expanded from 44 to 80 campus chapters, and engaged over 2,100 active student chapter members from diverse racial, geographic, and academic backgrounds. Other student support included, but is not limited to, hosting a Career and Leadership Series that engaged 250 students and launching a Mentorship Program that connected 40 students with experienced professionals from leading sustainable enterprises. In February, Plant Futures hosted the Plant Futures Fest with over 500 attendees from around the globe to celebrate the future of plant-forward food systems. Plant Futures continues to explore and grow its international presence, particularly in Mexico. In 2024, Plant Futures hosted a leadership networking event and began exploring chapter growth across Mexico. Plant Futures was honored as a finalist for the Program of the Year award at the Vegan Women Summit.
  2. $168,950 spent. FARMpreneurs joined Ideagarden in 2024 and executed strategic programming planning for its flagship Strategic Sprints-week-long boot camps enhancing farming business success. In 2024, FARMpreneurs hosted a Design Congress bringing together farmers, educators, and stakeholders to advance program design, and conducted landscape discovery research to understand potential partnerships. FARMpreneurs also hosted a community event with approximately 100 attendees including farmers, funders, and local food system leaders to connect influential stakeholders to the FARMpreneurs goal to enhance the profitability of community-based farmers. FARMpreneurs successfully designed curriculum and recruited farmers for two Strategic Sprints launching in 2025.
  3. $73,133 spent. Climate Farm School joined Ideagarden Institute in spring 2024. In 2024, Climate Farm School engaged 125 participants in 11 on-farm courses. The program engaged diverse professionals including physicians, educators, entrepreneurs, farmers, and policymakers. Climate Farm School continued to grow its specialized course programming, including a course for 18 farm-based educators in partnership with Shelburne Farms and the Farm-Based Education Network and a professional development workshop for 15 San Francisco Unified School District School Nutrition Services participants. The program directed $95,000 to regenerative farmers for education, lodging, and food procurement, and featured 15 farmer guest speakers across Climate Farm School programming. The program's alumni network now exceeds 200 individuals connected through email and WhatsApp groups, and approximately 40 alumni successfully transitioned to food and farming system roles after a Climate Farm School course. The program participated in multiple conferences with a speaking opportunity at TEDxBoston, sharing the importance of connecting individuals with on-farm, in the soil, experiences.
  4. $101,328 spent. The Institute played a role in facilitating the Greg Steltenpohl Pragmatic Visionary Award process to support businesses accelerating the transition to plant-centric food systems.

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 August 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.