The Food Project INC

Tax-deductible

Lincoln, MA501(c)(3)Since 1994Food & AgricultureEIN 04-3262532Revenue $3.2M in FY2025

On file with the IRSthefoodproject.org10 Lewis St, 01773-3816 · Lincoln, MATax-exempt since May 1995Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The Food project's mission is to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable Food system.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
66¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 14 volunteers and 202 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $20K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
66%
of spending
Fine: 66% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$222K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 67% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $40K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$578K
18% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 18% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.2M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$3.8M
To programs
66%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.2M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$3.0M
FY2025$3.2M
Expenses
$3.8M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$3.9M
FY2025$3.8M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2025▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$2.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1995.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

66 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 66% · $2.5M Management & general 22% · $828K Fundraising 12% · $455K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $222K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Co-Executive Director
$120,449Pt VII · Sec A
President, Co-Executive Director
$101,238Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Maritza Rosario’s $120K as Co-Executive Director is at the 67th percentile of top reported officer pay among 818 $1–10M food & agriculture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2022FY2021FY2020
Anne Hayes——$135,472$129,545$110,777
Maritza Rosario$120,449$100,525———
John Wang$101,238$101,446———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Nurtures youth and adults to build a sustainable food system together.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Food production and enterprise programs provide education and development for youth through the production and distribution of food and creation of food enterprises.

$1.2Mprogram expense
02

Youth leadership and training programs provide opportunities for youth in job readiness training, community service and leadership.

$927Kprogram expense
03

Public education and outreach programs provide opportunities for youth and the public to work in sustainable agriculture, pollution reduction and to feed the hungry.

$357Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
See all 6 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$175K
Investment incomeLn 3$119K
Money outPt IX
$3.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.5M
Managementcol C$828K
Fundraisingcol D$455K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$925K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$578K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$28K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$175K
Investment incomeLn 3$119K
Gains on assetsLn 7$6K
Total revenueLn 12$3.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$511K
SavingsLn 2$414K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$925K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$902K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$950K
Other assetsLn 15$313K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$578K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5202
VolunteersI 614
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M$925K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$902K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M$950K
Total assetsLn 16$3.6M$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$523K$578K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$260K$164K$96K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.0M$1.5M$148K$310K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$3K$2K$337$434
Other employee benefitsLn 9$176K$134K$17K$26K
Payroll taxesLn 10$138K$104K$15K$19K
Legal feesLn 11b$8K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$159K$159K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$101K$14K$80K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$64K$19K$26K$19K
OccupancyLn 16$234K$173K$19K$42K
TravelLn 17$75K$51K$19K$5K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$32K$24K$5K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$167K$97K$70K
InsuranceLn 23$90K$90K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$238K$158K$72K$8K
All other expensesLn 24e$25K$7K$1K$17K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.8M$2.5M$828K$455K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.2M$3.8M−$523K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.0M$3.9M−$825K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.6M$3.8M−$233K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.7M$3.9M$752K$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.0M$3.4M$515K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.2M$2.8M$436K$2.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,229,190 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,533,536$2,936,328
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $221,166$175,215
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $263,700$118,758
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $7,987−$1,111
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,026,389$3,229,190
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,556,470$2,560,324
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,295,332$1,191,982
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,851,802$3,752,306
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$825,413−$523,116
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,229,190 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$27,730
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,908,598
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,936,328
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $175,215$175,215
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $112,401$112,401
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $31,641$31,641
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $6,357$6,357
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$32,752−$32,752
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $175,215 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $117,647$3,229,190
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,752,306 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $164,010 · Management $96,323$260,333
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,524,107 · Management $148,391 · Fundraising $310,267$1,982,765
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,351 · Management $337 · Fundraising $434$3,122
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $133,882 · Management $16,808 · Fundraising $25,687$176,377
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $103,716 · Management $14,887 · Fundraising $19,124$137,727
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $8,084$8,084
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $159,256$159,256
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $13,890 · Management $80,102 · Fundraising $6,573$100,565
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,604 · Management $26,320 · Fundraising $19,330$64,254
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $172,995 · Management $18,954 · Fundraising $41,660$233,609
IX-17 TravelPrograms $50,601 · Management $19,263 · Fundraising $4,752$74,616
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $24,099 · Management $5,458 · Fundraising $2,503$32,060
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $96,640 · Management $69,980$166,620
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $89,727$89,727
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $157,817 · Management $72,421 · Fundraising $8,077$238,315
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $6,724 · Management $1,325 · Fundraising $16,827$24,876
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,469,436 · Management $827,636 · Fundraising $455,234$3,752,306
Part X · Balance sheet $3,174,627 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,414,044$511,473
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $688,488$413,974
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$19,117
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $57,400$66,236
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,056,942$949,528
X-11 Publicly traded securities$901,647
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $323,186$312,652
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,626,792$3,174,627
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $192,255$263,118
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $330,961$314,710
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $523,216$577,828
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,127,602$1,605,907
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $975,974$990,892
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,103,576$2,596,799
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,626,792$3,174,627
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,596,799 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,229,190
XI-2 Total expenses$3,752,306
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$523,116
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,103,576
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$16,339
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,596,799

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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