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Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens

EIN 93-1213893 · Goleta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 35% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CENTERS MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE OF FAIRVIEW GARDENS FARM;PROVIDE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH FRESH ORGANICALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES;DEMONSTRATE THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL METHODS FOR SMALL FARM OPERATIONS; RESEARCH AND INTERPRET THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FOOD, LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING; AND NURTURE THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC ACTIVITIES.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$477,695
Spent on programs
35%
Reserves
86.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
7

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    35% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $166,822 spent. FOR GENERATIONS, FAIRVIEW GARDENS FARM, ONE OF THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN THE GOLETA VALLEY, HAS FED THE URBAN POPULATIONS THAT NOW SURROUND IT, EDUCATED AND INSPIRED YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT FOOD AND FARMING, TRAINED NUMEROUS SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, AND PROVIDED A GATHERING PLACE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. STARTING IN 2022, FAIRVIEW GARDENS UNDERTOOK AN EXTENSIVE REVISIONING AND PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE FARM, ITS AGEING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS PROGRAMS. IN 2023 THE FARM CEASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND PROGRAMMING TO FOCUS PLANNING FOR A MAJOR REBUILD AND THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO FUND THIS WORK. IN 2025 PHASE 1 OF THE FARMS REPLANTING WAS INITIATED WITH COVER CROP PLANTING ON ALL FIELDS AND THE PURCHASE OF 145 BARE ROOT TREES AND EIGHT THOUSAND ASPARAGUS SEEDLINGS. FOR GENERATIONS, FAIRVIEW GARDENS FARM, ONE OF THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN THE GOLETA VALLEY, HAS FED THE URBAN POPULATIONS THAT NOW SURROUND IT, EDUCATED AND INSPIRED YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT FOOD AND FARMING, TRAINED NUMEROUS SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, AND PROVIDED A GATHERING PLACE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. STARTING IN 2022, FAIRVIEW GARDENS UNDERTOOK AN EXTENSIVE REVISIONING AND PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE FARM, ITS AGEING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS PROGRAMS. IN 2023 THE FARM CEASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND PROGRAMMING TO FOCUS PLANNING FOR A MAJOR REBUILD AND THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO FUND THIS WORK. IN 2025 PHASE 1 OF THE FARMS REPLANTING WAS INITIATED WITH COVER CROP PLANTING ON ALL FIELDS AND THE PURCHASE OF 145 BARE ROOT TREES AND EIGHT THOUSAND ASPARAGUS SEEDLINGS.

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 December 1996.

    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.