California Farmlink
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, WE INVEST IN THE PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING OF FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND FISHERS WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFORMATION.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 17.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $269,468, chief executive officer
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (2)
- $2.1 million spent. FARMLINK'S LENDING PROGRAM PROVIDES FLEXIBLY STRUCTURED FINANCING TO UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME, BEGINNING FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FISHERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA FOR OPERATING, EQUIPMENT AND LAND PURCHASE LOANS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES BORROWERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME SECURING FINANCING DUE TO LIMITED HISTORY AS ENTREPRENEURS, LIMITED TRADITIONAL CAPITAL, LITTLE OR NO CREDIT HISTORY, SMALL LOAN SIZE, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, OR NON-TRADITIONAL MARKETING AND BUSINESS MODELS. IN 2024, FARMLINK ORIGINATED 40 LOANS ($13,388,874 IN TOTAL VOLUME) WITH AN AVERAGE SIZE OF $334,721. LENDING PROGRAM. THE LENDING PROGRAM PROVIDES FLEXIBLY STRUCTURED FINANCING TO UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME, BEGINNING FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FISHERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA FOR OPERATING, EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND LAND PURCHASE LOANS. THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2005 WHEN FARMLINK IDENTIFIED A LACK OF ACCESS TO FINANCING AS ONE OF THE TOP OBSTACLES FACED BY SMALL-SCALE AND LOW-INCOME FARMERS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LENDERS, FARMLINK INITIALLY DEVELOPED A FARM LOAN FUND TO PROVIDE FINANCING TO UNDERSERVED GROWERS. DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE PROGRAM, FARMLINK RAISED LENDING CAPITAL AND LENT IT TO PARTNERING LENDING INSTITUTIONS WHO ACTED AS THE LENDER OF RECORD TO MAKE LOANS TO SMALL FARMERS. FARMLINK OBTAINED ITS LENDING LICENSE FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AT THE END OF 2010 AND SECURED GUARANTEED LENDER STATUS FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) IN 2011. IN 2013, FARMLINK RECEIVED CERTIFICATION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI). A CDFI IS A SPECIALIZED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT WORKS IN MARKETS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED BY TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. WITH THIS CERTIFICATION, FARMLINK IS ELIGIBLE TO ACCESS FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY'S CDFI FUND. TO MAINTAIN GOOD STANDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM, FARMLINK IS REQUIRED TO MAKE AT LEAST 60% OF ITS ANNUAL LOAN ORIGINATIONS AND DOLLAR VOLUME TO AN ELIGIBLE "TARGET MARKET" OF BUSINESS BORROWERS. IN 2013, FARMLINK IDENTIFIED LOW-INCOME AND LATINE BUSINESS BORROWERS AS ITS TARGET MARKET. FARMLINK'S LENDING PROGRAM SERVES BORROWERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME SECURING FINANCING DUE TO LIMITED HISTORY AS ENTREPRENEURS, LIMITED TRADITIONAL COLLATERAL, LITTLE OR NO CREDIT HISTORY, SMALL LOAN SIZE, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, OR NON-TRADITIONAL MARKETING AND BUSINESS MODELS. FARMLINK ALSO DIRECTS FARMERS TO OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCES OF FINANCING SUITED TO THE SCALE AND TYPE OF THE BUSINESS. IN 2024, FARMLINK ORIGINATED 40 LOANS ($13,388,874 IN TOTAL VOLUME) WITH AN AVERAGE SIZE OF $334,721. IN 2023, FARMLINK ORIGINATED 65 LOANS ($10,185,000 IN TOTAL VOLUME) WITH AN AVERAGE SIZE OF $156,984. IN 2024, 80% OF LOAN ORIGINATIONS SERVED ITS TARGET MARKET, COMPRISING 82% OF ANNUAL LOAN VOLUME DEPLOYED. IN 2023, 86% OF LOAN ORIGINATIONS SERVED ITS TARGET MARKET, COMPRISING 82% OF TOTAL LOAN VOLUME. FARMLINK ALSO FOCUSES ON GENERATING PATHWAYS TO OWNERSHIP AND HELPING FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FISHERS PLAN FOR LOWER-INTEREST LAND LOANS AND OTHER MEANS TO ESTABLISH SECURE LONG-TERM LAND TENURE. WITH SECURE LAND TENURE, FARMERS CAN BUILD FINANCIAL EQUITY BY INVESTING IN IMPROVEMENTS TO SOIL HEALTH, FARM INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON-FARM HOUSING. OF THE $7.76 MILLION FARMLINK DEPLOYED IN 12 LAND LOANS TO BUSINESSES IN 2024, 77% SUPPORTED LAND FINANCING LOANS FOR LOW-INCOME FARM BUSINESSES, AND/OR FARM BUSINESSES OWNERS OF COLOR. IN 2021, FARMLINK WAS APPROVED BY THE CALIFORNIA OCEAN PROTECTION COUNCIL TO MANAGE THE "CALIFORNIA FISHERIES FUND." AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, FARMLINK WAS SERVICING AN OUTSTANDING PORTFOLIO OF 23 LOANS AND $2,868,746 THROUGH THE PROGRAM. FARMLINK PRIORITIZES LOANS TO BEGINNING, LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED SMALL-SCALE FISHERS. FISHERS FROM THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES ON THE MONTEREY BAY AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PORTS ARE DIVERSE IN ETHNICITY (LATINO, SICILIAN, VIETNAMESE), AND MANY COME FROM MULTI-GENERATIONAL FISHING FAMILIES. SIMILAR TO SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURE, THE AVERAGE AGE OF FISHERS IS 55-60, THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE BARRIERS TO STARTING A BUSINESS, A COMPLEX REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, AND A CHALLENGE TO RETAIN THESE BUSINESSES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. IN 2024, FARMLINK DEPLOYED $944,093 THROUGH 7 LOANS, AND IN 2023 IT DEPLOYED $523,000 THROUGH 6 LOANS TO SMALL SCALE FISHERS.
- $2.4 million spent. LAND AND BUSINESS (LAB) PROGRAMS. THERE ARE THREE RELATED LAND AND BUSINESS PROGRAMS: EQUITY AND CONSERVATION ON WORKING LANDS (ECWL), RESILIENCE AND WEALTH BUILDING (RWB) AND BUSINESS AND INNOVATION (B&I). IN 2024, FARMLINK STAFF PROVIDED DIRECT, INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 313 FARMERS AND RANCHERS ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT ITS PROGRAMMING, FARMLINK EMPLOYS THE "CLIENT JOURNEY", A CLIENT-CENTRIC SERVICE PHILOSOPHY TO HARNESS THE ORGANIZATIONAL PILLARS OF LAND, CAPITAL AND EDUCATION TOWARD THE OVERALL GOAL OF BUSINESS STABILITY, OPERATIONAL ADVANCEMENT, AND OVERALL RISK MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GROWING OUTSTANDING LOAN PORTFOLIO. LAND AND BUSINESS (LAB) PROGRAMS. THERE ARE THREE RELATED LAND AND BUSINESS PROGRAMS: EQUITY AND CONSERVATION ON WORKING LANDS (ECWL), RESILIENCE AND WEALTH BUILDING (RWB), AND BUSINESS AND INNOVATION (B&I). IN 2024, FARMLINK STAFF PROVIDED DIRECT, INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 313 FARMERS AND RANCHERS ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT ITS PROGRAMMING, FARMLINK EMPLOYS THE "CLIENT JOURNEY," A CLIENT-CENTRIC SERVICE PHILOSOPHY TO HARNESS THE ORGANIZATIONAL PILLARS OF LAND, CAPITAL AND EDUCATION TOWARD THE OVERALL GOAL OF BUSINESS STABILITY, OPERATIONAL ADVANCEMENT, AND OVERALL RISK MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GROWING OUTSTANDING LOAN PORTFOLIO. EQUITY AND CONSERVATION ON WORKING LANDS: LAND ACCESS: FARMLINK INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIA'S SMALL-SCALE AND BEGINNING FARMERS TO OBTAIN SECURE, AFFORDABLE, LONG-TERM ACCESS TO FARMLAND THROUGH LEASE OR PURCHASE. FARMLINK APPLIES PROVEN STRATEGIES TO HELP LANDHOLDERS WORK WITH BEGINNING AND SMALL-SCALE FARMERS, INCLUDING WAYS TO IDENTIFY A QUALIFIED TENANT, HOW TO ASSESS A PROPERTY, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING AN EQUITABLE LEASE AGREEMENT. FARMLINK'S LAND PORTAL OFFERS A BILINGUAL ONLINE COMMUNITY TO CONNECT QUALIFIED BUSINESSES WITH LAND AVAILABLE FOR LEASE OR SALE, AND STAFF FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND NEGOTIATION OF STRONG AND EQUITABLE LEASE AGREEMENTS, AND SUPPORT FARMERS WITH FINANCING AND NEGOTIATING LAND PURCHASES. SINCE 2011, FARMLINK STAFF HAVE DEVELOPED 592 SUCCESSFUL LEASES OR PURCHASES TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF LANDHOLDERS AND GROWERS. CONSERVATION: FARMLINK INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIA'S SMALL-SCALE AND BEGINNING FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP THEM ADOPT PRACTICES THAT PROTECT AND IMPROVE NATURAL RESOURCES, SOIL HEALTH, WATER QUALITY AND BIODIVERSITY. IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE WORK INCLUDE DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LAND TRUSTS, RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS (RCDS) AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, AND ORIGINATING LOANS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, FARMLINK PRODUCED A CONSERVATION BRIDGE LOAN PARTNER GUIDE, AND COLLABORATED WITH RCDS IN CORE LENDING COUNTIES (MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ) TO SUPPORT 10 FARM BUSINESSES IN ACCESSING STATE AND FEDERAL CONSERVATION INCENTIVES. SUCCESSION: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ESTIMATES THAT CLOSE TO 50,000 ACRES OF CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL LAND IS TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION EACH YEAR, MOST OF IT CONVERTED TO URBAN, HIGHLY DEVELOPED, AND LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USES. MOST AGRICULTURAL LAND LEAVES AGRICULTURE IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE PRIMARY OPERATOR, OFTEN BECAUSE THE FAMILY HAS NOT MADE A PLAN TO ENSURE THE LAND WILL REMAIN IN THE FAMILY OR IN AGRICULTURE. "THE REGENERATOR: A YEAR OF FARM SUCCESSION PLANNING," IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FARM FAMILIES IN PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT THEIR LANDS CAN REMAIN IN THEIR FAMILY AND CAN REMAIN IN PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE. PARTICIPANTS CONVENE MONTHLY TO LEARN FROM PROFESSIONALS, COMPARE NOTES WITH THEIR PEERS, AND WORK STEP-BY-STEP TO PLAN FOR THEIR ESTATE'S FUTURE, AND THE HEALTH AND CONTINUITY OF THEIR WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES. EACH FAMILY RECEIVES SUBSTANTIAL MEDIATION AND FACILITATION SUPPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION PROGRAM, AND $1,800 TO BE USED FOR LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING FEES. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, EACH MEMBER OF THE SENIOR GENERATION IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A CURRENT WILL, TRUST, POWER OF ATTORNEY, AND ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE, AND EACH FAMILY HAS A DETAILED PLAN FOR TRANSITIONING KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS AND AUTHORITY IN DAILY OPERATIONS. IN 2024, FARMLINK SUPPORTED 6 FARM FAMILIES WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING, PROTECTING 1,344 ACRES OF FARMLAND. RESILIENCE AND WEALTH BUILDING: FARMLINK'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS ASSIST FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FISHERS IN UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THEIR BUSINESSES AND HELP THEM ESTABLISH PRACTICES THAT WILL ENSURE THE FARM, RANCH OR FISHING BUSINESS IS RESILIENT TO FINANCIAL AND LEGAL RISKS, AND ABLE TO REMAIN VIABLE OVER THE LONG-TERM. THE TWO MAIN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RESILERATOR AND THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE RESILERADOR. BOTH PROGRAMS ARE COHORT-BASED AND INCLUDE GROUP LEARNING AND ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM SHORT-TERM SETBACKS, THE ABILITY TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT AND THE ABILITY TO PASS WEALTH TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. DURING 2024, A TOTAL OF 44 FARMS, RANCHES AND FISHING BUSINESSES COMPLETED THE TWO PROGRAMS. BOTH THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS UTILIZE A COMPREHENSIVE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL, THE FARMLINK BUSINESS RESILIENCE SELF-ASSESSMENT, TO HELP PARTICIPANTS SET LEARNING GOALS AND TO ASSIST IN LONG-TERM EVALUATION OF HOW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SHAPES FUTURE BUSINESS SUCCESS. FARMLINK ENGAGES LEADERSHIP FROM AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ADVISORS FROM THE COMMUNITIES FARMLINK SERVES, AS WELL AS PROGRAM ALUMNI SERVING AS PEER-BASED GUEST INSTRUCTORS, TO DESIGN AND DELIVER PROGRAMMING THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO HOW A COHORT OF PARTICIPANTS LEARN NEW SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS. FARMLINK ALSO OFFERS AN ADVANCED BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED THE EMPLOYMENT RESILERATOR. THE EMPLOYMENT RESILERATOR IS A COHORT-BASED PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO GRADUATES OF THE RESILERATOR. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE TEN WEEKS OF INSTRUCTI
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 December 1999.
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 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.