Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Village Agricultural Cooperative

EIN 87-3766784 · Rochester, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECT PEOPLE WITH LAND, WATER, AND CULTURE. PROVIDE EDUCATION AND RESOURCE CONNECTIONS. GROW THE FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS OF TOMORROW.

Income
$377,171
Spending
$395,220
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 40%
Employees
10
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$64,910, ceo

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 (3)
  1. $136,815 spent. URBAN FARMLAND ACCESS PROGRAM: FOUR URBAN FARMS AND TWO RURAL FARM PROVIDE OVER 200 SMALL FARMS FOR FARMERS WHO ARE LOW-INCOME, FOOD INSECURE, AND FROM MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS WHO LACK ACCESS TO LAND.
  2. $165,202 spent. TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR FARMER'S: THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, THE COOP HAS ESTABLISHED A FARMER'S MARKET THAT SERVES 75 PEOPLE PER WEEK. TWENTY-FIVE FARMERS ARE BUILDING AN ONLINE HUB FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR FARMER'S FOOD. THE COOP ALSO EDUCATES 60+ INDIVIDUALS ON GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, FOOD PRESERVATION LAWS AND LICENSES, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $20,680 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION: THE VILLAGE PROVIDES AGRO-TOURISM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH AND COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS, LOCAL LEADERSHIP GROUPS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND AGRICULTURAL PARTNERS THROUGH TOURS AND LECTURES REGARDING OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT, OPERATIONS, AND SERVICES. THE COOP COLLABORATES WITH AT LEAST FIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SPACES AND EDUCATE FARMERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOIL HEALTH AND POLLINATOR AREAS. FARMERS SHARE THEIR AGRICULTURAL METHODS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURAL CUSTOMS. THE VILLAGE CREATES A POINT OF CONTACT FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS LOOKING TO CONNECT SERVICES WITH EMERGING FARMERS.

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 March 2022.

    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.