The Homestead Co-Op
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE EXIST TO CREATE AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AT-RISK YOUTH AND ADULTS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THEIR COMMUNITIES UTILIZING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SUSTAINABILITY, LITERACY, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, GARDENING, FINANCIAL AWARENESS, AND HOME ECONOMICS. WE SEEK TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS EFFECTIVE CARETAKERS OF BOTH PEOPLE AND THE PLANET WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF IMPLEMENTING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRINCIPLES.
- Income
- $256,998
- Spending
- $181,078
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $30,196, president
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 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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)
- $106,917 spent. PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE GOAL OF CULTIVATING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. WE TEACH CHILDREN THE GLOBE-MIAMI-SAN CARLOS REGION TO BE CURIOUS LEARNERS, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS, AND PEOPLE OF NOBLE CHARACTER WHO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD.
- $56,778 spent. PROVIDE NUTRIENT DENSE PRODUCE AND EGGS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AN AREA DEEMED AS A FOOD DESERT USDA THAT EXPERIENCES HIGH LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND LACK OF CONSISTENT ACCESS TO ENOUGH FOOD FOR AN ACTIVE HEALTHY LIFE.
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 October 13, 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 January 2023.
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 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.