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Caja Solidaria

EIN 87-3887309 · Mills River, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We envision a future where healthy, local foods bring us together as a community of care. Our mission is to ensure everyone has access to the abundance that the Southern Appalachian Mountains offer.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
15
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$77,708, co-executive 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 120% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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

    0 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. $2.3 million spent. Caja Solidarias primary 2024 program delivered Healthy Food Prescriptions through North Carolinas Healthy Opportunities Pilot. The service addressed key population- health nutrition needs by increasing access to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and by providing healthier alternatives to highly processed foods, meats, and oils. Participants received weekly, free-choice prescriptions through mobile and pop-up markets staffed by trained community health workers offering trauma-informed support. Each household selected foods that met their familys preferences and needs for the week. In 2024, we served more than 375 families with over 13,000 prescriptions and invested approximately $1.5 million in local farms and food businesses.
  2. In 2024, Caja Solidaria offered Essential Utility Assistance and Healthy Home Goods as wraparound supports for our Food Is Medicine participants. Caja developed these services in response to community-identified needs that affect the success of nutrition interventions. We distributed $34,000 in utility assistance to 66 families at risk of losing access to water, gas, or electricity, and provided $77,000 in home-safety supplies to 108 families. Items such as air filters, humidifiers, non-toxic cleaning products, and hypoallergenic bedding helped ensure that living environments supported participants overall health and stability.
  3. In 2024, Caja Solidaria advanced the development of our Resilience Hub model, which integrates community support, engagement, and nutrition programs to strengthen household and neighborhood well-being. Through this model, we shared supplies and provided limited direct assistance for urgent household needs identified by participants. We also supported three Community Engagement Circles, where participants organized around shared interests related to health and wellbeing, including culturally relevant nutrition, financial literacy, parenting education, and physical activity. These peer-led efforts built social connection and community capacity, laying the groundwork for our farm-based resilience hub in 2025.

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 September 2022.

    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.