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Black Soil Charitable Fund Inc

EIN 99-1184271 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BLACK SOIL KY IS TO RECONNECT BLACK KENTUCKIANS TO THEIR HERITAGE AND LEGACY IN AGRICULTURE. BY BRINGING TOGETHER URBAN FAMILIES WITH RURAL AND URBAN-BASED BLACK FARMERS/GROWERS/PRODUCERS ACROSS THE STATE, WE HELP INTRODUCE OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE THAT PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING, AND ACTIVATE COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS.OUR VISION IS TO HELP FOSTER A GREATER MARKET SHARE FOR BLACK FARMERS AND PRODUCERS AS THEY PROVIDE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS TO A LARGER CONSUMER BASE. BLACK SOIL KY ORGANIZES FARM TOURS, FARM-TO-TABLE DINNERS, CATERING OPPORTUNITIES, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, TRAINING, EDUCATION & OUTREACH, AND MORE FOR KENTUCKY BLACK FARMERS, CHEFS, AND MAKERS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$870,604
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
9
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$36,333, 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $578,732 spent. IN FY 2025, THE BLACK SOIL CHARITABLE FUND, INC WORKED TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION TO RECONNECT BLACK KENTUCKIANS TO THEIR HERITAGE AND LEGACY IN AGRICULTURE. BY BRINGING TOGETHER URBAN FAMILIES WITH RURAL AND URBAN-BASED BLACK FARMERS/GROWERS/PRODUCERS ACROSS THE STATE, WE HELP INTRODUCE OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE THAT PROMOTE SELF SUFFICIENCY, ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING, AND ACTIVATE COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS.IN FY 2025, WE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED LEASES FOR TWO BRICK AND MORTAR 'NEIGHBORHOOD FARMACY MARKETS' AT 820 LANE ALLEN ROAD, SUITE 176 AND 760 FLORENCE AVENUE IN LEXINGTON, KY. THESE STORES HELP ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY CREATING NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND LARGER MARKETS FOR OUR PARTNER FARMERS, AND THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE GOODS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LOWER COSTS THAN MAJOR RETAILERS. THROUGH THIS, WE ARE ABLE TO ENACT OUR 'EAT LOCAL YEAR ROUND' INITIATIVE TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUPPORTING AND EATING LOCAL IN EVERY SEASON. IN ADDITION, WE RECEIVED OUR SPROUT MOBILE MARKET FOOD TRUCK, WHICH TRAVELS TO LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE FARM FRESH GOODS TO COMMUNITIES EITHER FOR PURCHASE OR THROUGH FREE DISTRIBUTIONS. WHILE THE FARMACY MARKETS PROVIDE A STABLE, STATIONARY LOCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EAT AND SUPPORT LOCAL, SPROUT HELPS TO GO WHERE FRESH FOOD IS NEEDED, HELPING BRING COMMODITIES TO COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.THESE TWO ARMS OF OUR OPERATIONS HAVE DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE SUCCESS OF OUR MISSION, ALLOWING US TO FEED MORE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE WHILE ASSISTING OUR FARMERS IN SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING THEIR OPERATIONS.

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 June 2024.

    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.