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Community Food Project Inc

EIN 88-4101330 · Brattleboro, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Community Food Project supports the local food system and builds community food sovereignty by making local, ecologically-grown food available to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. We support local farms by leveraging grant funding to purchase local food for distribution, make food available to everyone through our farmstand, and serve local seniors and families in need through our free farm shares. Our Community Garden provides space and technical support to more than 40 families to grow food for themselves and their neighbors.

Income
$12,483
Spending
$393,642
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
7
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$95,680, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3053% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $150,000 spent. Community Garden and Gathering Space: We coordinate, maintain, and provide technical support to a 45-plot Community Garden. The Community Garden provides garden space, water, and a tool bank to allow gardeners from all socio-economic backgrounds to grow food for themselves and their families and neighbors. Additionally we have created an event and recreation space next to the garden for program events and so that families can gather and children can safely play while their parents work in the garden. We partner with another local nonprofit to provide seeds and vegetable starts to gardeners who would not otherwise be able to access them. The revenue is from a modest annual garden fee and gardener donations.
  2. $80,000 spent. Free Farm Shares: We provide a full season (20 weeks) worth of farm-fresh produce. milk, and eggs to 45 households and individuals in need. We also provide a one-time winter holiday share in December that includes locally sourced vegetable, dairy, eggs, honey, maple syrup, and other festive foods. The revenue is from the Brattleboro Senior Center, who pays for 15 senior households to receive weekly farmshares throughout the summer. The rest of the shares are distributed for free to local families.
  3. $110,000 spent. Community Farmstand and other food distribution efforts: We make produce from our farm and other local farms available to the whole community for free in a dignified, beautiful farmstand where everyone is welcome. We serve upwards of 150 individual households in season. We also distribute milk donated by a local dairy farm and other farm products when available to around 5 local food shelves. Revenue is from donations collected at the farmstand.
  4. $53,642 spent. Site Management and Ecological Improvement: We improve and take care of our 2 acre parcel which houses our small farm, community garden, greenhouse, community space, farmstand, and access road. We host and support another local nonprofit who maintains a greenhouse and some programming on our site. We engage in invasive species management on the field edge and cultivate biodiversity and soil health throughout the site through a variety of ecological farming methods. We grow half an acre of diversified organic vegetable crops.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 May 2025.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Health Project Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-3409680. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.