Calypso Farm and Ecology Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH HANDS-ON EDUCATION IN NATURAL AND FARM ECOSYSTEMS
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $888,754
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 11.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $68,500, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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, 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 (5)
- $613,872 spent. LOCAL FOOD ACCESS, COMMUNITY FOOD RELIEF, COMMUNITY SHARED AGRICULTURE AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS - WORKS TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF AND ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND OUTREACH. SERVES APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
- $2,827 spent. FIELD TRIPS AND DAY CAMPS - PROVIDING HANDS-ON, FARM AND GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION FOR YOUTH OF ALL AGES. SERVING APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
- $1,641 spent. HUNTER SCHOOL GARDEN - MAINTAINING AN EDUCATIONAL GARDEN THAT IS A LEARNING SPACE FOR THE SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND A FOOD PRODUCTION GARDEN DURING THE SUMMER (THE COMMUNITY ROOTS GARDENING AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS TAKES PLACE IN THE GARDEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 10 PEOPLE ANNUALLY). OVERALL - THE PROGRAM SERVES OVER 350 STUDENTS AT 1 SCHOOL.
- $370 spent. FARM & GARDEN TRAINING PROGRAMS - HANDS-ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO START OR MAINTAIN THEIR OWN FARM OR GARDEN. THIS INCLUDES WORKSHOPS, FARM APPRENTICESHIPS, SHORT TERM INTENSIVES, INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE TRAININGS. SERVES 1,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
- FARM & GARDEN TRAINING PROGRAMS - HANDS-ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO START OR MAINTAIN THEIR OWN FARM OR GARDEN. THIS INCLUDES WORKSHOPS, FARM APPRENTICESHIPS, SHORT TERM INTENSIVES, INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE TRAININGS. SERVES 1,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
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
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 2025.
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 February 2000.
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.