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39 North Agtech Innovation District

EIN 92-3227038 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

39 North aims to be the agri-food tech/plant science hub that brings together people, resources, and facilities to grow St. Louis' economy and global reputation.

Income
$484,842
Spending
$744,304
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
3
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$207,000, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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. $211,046 spent. Support the startup and scaleup of early-stage companies and connect agtech and agri-food tech innovators with one another to help form connections and collaborations. 39 North hosted 21 events in 2024. Over 400 agtech innovators attended regular 39 North events at The Hub in 2024, representing more than 39 companies. 39 North expanded the resource section of its website to help provide additional resources for companies. In addition, as part of the office and lab graduation space study, 39 North identified the future needs of companies within the footprint to better accommodate needs.
  2. $211,045 spent. Amplify and develop the local, national, and international agtech narrative to help inform and educate people about St. Louis' agtech leadership. 39 North gave a total of 25 tours in 2024 to over 300 individuals, many of whom were from outside of the St. Louis region and were considering relocating or increasing their economic activity in St. Louis. 39 North gave approximately 11 relavant talks and panels in 2024 to amplify the agtech narrative for St. Louis. In addition, 39 North attended 29 events outside of the district to amplify the narrative locally, nationally and internationally. Notably, 39 North hosted two notable and prestigious "platform" events at The Hub in 2024 that brought national and international audiences to St. Louis, many for the first time. The XPrize Agtech Brainstorming Event, brought 50 leading agtech experts and representatives from major corporations together to discuss the future of ag. The Association for Corporate Growth AgTech Investor Conference brought over 120 investors from across North America to 39 North to discuss agtech investment trends and meet local growing companies.
  3. $77,582 spent. Developing the physical footprint of 39 North to create opportunities for early-stage agtech and agri-food tech companies to grow and scale. Opened The Hub at 39 North, a 10,000 sq/ft mixed-use co-working, meeting, and event space for growing agtech companies. In 2024 The Hub proved a successful tool in helping 39 North to develop the physical footprint of the district to benefit growing agtech companies. The Hub was used by companies for over 760 hours of meetings, events, and co-working in 2024, and 9 companies joined The Hub full time as members. In addition to The Hub, 39 North also developed the physical footprint of 39 North by completing two key studies for the future development of the district, one to identify the feasibility of lab and office graduation space within 39 North and in proximity to the Helix Center Incubator, and one to identify the existing conditions of the 600-acre footprint of 39 North to enable future development.

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 November 6, 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 April 2023.

    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 November 4, 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.