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Sierra Harvest

EIN 90-1026798 · Grass Valley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2007, SIERRA HARVEST IS BUILDING A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES AND EATS AN ABUNDANCE OF FRESH, LOCAL, SEASONAL FOOD; TRAINING SUCCESSFUL LOCAL FARMERS THAT ARE INCREASING SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION; AND CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL, SEASONAL FOOD. WE SERVE DOZENS OF FARMERS, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES, AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. BE THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT AND JOIN US IN THE CONVERSATION AT WWW.SIERRAHARVEST.ORG.

Income
$924,836
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
31
Volunteers
95
Highest pay
$86,602, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 740% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $412,191 spent. SIERRA HARVEST'S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN 12 NEVADA COUNTY SCHOOLS & REACHES OVER 6,500 STUDENTS (97% OF WESTERN NEVADA COUNTY'S K-8 STUDENTS). IT CONNECTS STUDENTS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOOD THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THEIR SCHOOL GARDENS, ON FARMS, & IN THEIR CAFETERIAS. FARM PARTNERS HOST FARM FIELD TRIPS & COME TO THE CLASSROOM TO SHARE FARMING STORIES & ACTIVITIES WITH THE KIDS. SIERRA HARVEST ALSO DELIVERS MONTHLY "HARVEST OF THE MONTH" TASTINGS OF LOCAL, SEASONAL FRUITS & VEGETABLES TO CLASSROOMS ALONG WITH EDUCATOR CURRICULUM & A FAMILY NEWSLETTER. "TASTING DAYS" BRING GUEST CHEFS INTO THE CLASSROOM TO COOK SIMPLE, SEASONAL MEALS WITH OVER 4,000 STUDENTS. SIERRA HARVEST IS PROVIDING FUNDING AND SUPPORT TO CREATE ONE CONSOLIDATED CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR 8 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRANSITIONING MEALS FROM FROZEN, PROCESSED FOODS HEATED & WRAPPED IN PLASTIC TO FRESH FOODS COOKED FROM SCRATCH FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. SIERRA HARVEST HAS SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DONORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INVEST FINANCIALLY IN 12 SCHOOL GARDENS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY WHILE CREATING AN OUTDOOR LEARNING LAB FOR TEACHERS. SURVEY DATA INDICATE THAT PARTICIPATING STUDENTS TRY NEW FRUITS & VEGGIES FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGH HARVEST OF THE MONTH, EAT MORE OF A FRUIT OR VEGGIE AFTER TRYING IT AT SCHOOL, & REPORT THAT THEY SHOP DIRECTLY FROM FARMERS MORE OFTEN.
  2. $242,140 spent. THE FARM INSTITUTE WORKS ALONGSIDE FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO INCREASE SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION. FARM INSTITUTE PROGRAMS BUILD THE PROSPERITY OF ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE PRODUCERS, INCREASE THE LAND IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND TRAIN MORE BEGINNING FARMERS AS THE OLDER GENERATION RETIRES. AGRICULTURAL SKILLS CLASSES TRAIN BEGINNING FARMERS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION. THE SIX-WEEK SKILL-BUILDING BUSINESS COURSE, FARM BIZ, LEAVES PARTICIPANTS WITH A CONCRETE BUSINESS PLAN AND FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE THAT IS CRITICAL TO RUNNING A VIABLE FARM BUSINESS. THE LAND MATCH PROGRAM CONNECTS SUSTAINABLE FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURAL LAND. TO DATE, SIERRA HARVEST HAS TRAINED 157 FARMERS, HELPED 10 FARMS CERTIFY ORGANIC, MATCHED 26 FARMERS TO LOW COST FARM LAND, AND PROVIDED 4,524 HOURS OF EDUCATION. SIERRA HARVEST'S SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FARM CONFERENCE IS AN ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND CONNECT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE FARMING COMMUNITY. NEARLY 200 PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN WORKSHOPS FROM REGIONAL EXPERTS AND LEARNED HOW TO BUILD BUSINESS STRATEGIES, NETWORK WITH OTHER FARMERS AND CONNECT TO NEW LOCAL BUYERS. SIERRA HARVEST ALSO CONNECTS FARMERS AND FOOD BUYERS TO INCORPORATE MORE LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY GROWN FRESH FOODS INTO INSTITUTIONAL MEAL PROGRAMS AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, FOOD PANTRIES, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, SENIOR HOMES, AND HOMELESS SHELTERS. SIERRA HARVEST DOES THIS THROUGH PRODUCER/BUYER MIXERS, ACCESS TO PRODUCER AVAILABILITY LISTS, TOURS OF LOCAL FARMS AND RANCHES, IDENTIFYING SEASONAL, COST-EFFECTIVE RECIPES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH EDUCATING CUSTOMERS ABOUT LOCAL SOURCES OF FOOD AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FARMING COMMUNITY. IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS, SIERRA HARVEST ENGAGES IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL POLICIES THAT SUPPORT JUST, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. THE NEVADA COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL (NCFPC) WAS FORMED IN MARCH 2015 TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL FOOD AND FARMING INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, SET COMMON GOALS AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAXIMIZE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE FOOD ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN HEALTH, AND LIVELIHOODS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NCFPC IS A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING NETWORK AND HAS INVOLVED OVER 80 LOCAL FOOD AND FARMING ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO BUILD A MORE VIBRANT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.
  3. $162,993 spent. SIERRA HARVEST'S FOOD LOVE FARM IS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING NUTRITION EDUCATION, FOOD SECURITY, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN GROWING, HARVESTING, EATING, AND CELEBRATING FRESH FOOD. THE FARM HOSTS EXPERIENTIAL FIELD TRIPS, A SUMMER CAMP, SERVICE PROJECTS, U-PICK/FARM STAND, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAYS. THE FOOD LOVE FARM PROVIDED 3,870 HOURS OF HANDS-ON FARM EDUCATION THROUGH SUMMER CAMP AND FARM FIELD TRIPS TO HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO EXPAND OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMING AMONG FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 August 2014.

    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.