Root Capital seeks to increase incomes and stabilize employment for farmers in africa, south-east asia, and latin america. Root Capital does this through a proven channel: support for agricultural businesses that collect and market the crops of thousands of farmers. Through a unique combination of Capital, training, and access to global markets, Root Capital helps agricultural businesses increase farmer incomes, empowers women, conserves ecosystems, and creates opportunities for the next generation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.0M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.1M a year · 13% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.0M
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
19 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $40.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 18.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
19
named funders · $4.8M
Looks good: 19 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$55.0M
65% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 65% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$21.4M
Spent
$21.4M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$29.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$21.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$21.4M
FY2021$34.3M
FY2022$52.8M
FY2023$29.1M
FY2024$23.8M
FY2025$22.0M
Expenses
$21.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$21.4M
FY2021$19.5M
FY2022$22.9M
FY2023$32.5M
FY2024$37.1M
FY2025$25.7M
Net assets
$29.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$29.0M
FY2021$43.6M
FY2022$73.1M
FY2023$69.2M
FY2024$55.6M
FY2025$52.0M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2001.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $16.5M Management & general 20% · $4.2M Fundraising 3% · $676K

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

29 people listed on the 990; $2.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$320,983Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$218,133Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel/Chief Talent Officer
$193,314Pt VII · Sec A
CFO/Treasurer
$191,175Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Lending Officer (thru 11/2020)
$190,806Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Credit Officer
$178,011Pt VII · Sec A
Controller and VP Investor Relations
$173,638Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$171,391Pt VII · Sec A

William Foote’s $342K as Founder & CEO is at the 71st percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M international 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
William Foote$341,977$386,365$404,242$309,652$320,648$320,983
Frances Reid—$348,428$311,546$278,219$227,054$218,133
Scott McDonald Thru Dec 2024—$298,759————
Scott McDonald——$294,676$199,335——
Bryan Woliner$167,156$264,383$267,964$225,908$199,935$191,175
Darcy Salinger—$261,698$259,857$218,027$193,300$178,011
Alexandra Tuinstra$226,351$232,588$209,027—$137,597$134,564
Jean Forrester$222,850$229,752$221,585$200,424$176,372$173,638

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.

See Root Capital INC executive salaries →

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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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Empowers farming families globally to build resilience and grow rural prosperity.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $16.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Root capital provides agricultural businesses with a unique combination of credit and capacity building. The organization also catalyzes change in the broader sector through evaluation and shared learning.

$10.8Mprogram expense
02

Advise

Root capital's advisory services program provides targeted training to current and prospective clients in topics such as financial management, governance, agronomic capacity, digital business intelligence, climate resilience, gender equity, and more.

$5.1Mprogram expense
03

Catalyze

Root capital seeks to catalyze a thriving financial market to support historically underserved rural small and growing businesses. The program's strategy is to:- innovate - conduct R&D, study impact at the household and business levels, and look for ways to increase IMPACT.- accelerate - share learning from work with like-minded peers to…

$645Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 19 funders →
Grants paid · 7 grants · $1.2M · 2021–2024
Catholic Relief ServicesMD · FY2024$583,458
Catholic Relief ServicesMD · FY2023$435,847
Sustainable Food LabVT · FY2023$30,001
The Chain Collaborative INCPA · FY2023$20,112
The Chain Collaborative INCPA · FY2022$19,444
Sustainable Food LabVT · FY2021$96,666
The Chain Collaborative INCPA · FY2021$21,444

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$21.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$14.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$116K
Money outPt IX
$21.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$16.5M
Managementcol C$4.2M
Fundraisingcol D$676K
Owns and owesPt X
$29.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$33.3M
Total assetsLn 16$84.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$55.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$14.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$116K
Other incomeLn 4–11$20K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2K
Total revenueLn 12$21.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$29.5M
SavingsLn 2$3.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$33.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$40.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$679K
Other assetsLn 15$471K
Total assetsLn 16$84.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$55.0M
Net assetsLn 32$29.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 572
VolunteersI 617
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$40.3M$33.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$42.6M$40.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$906K$679K
Total assetsLn 16$99.3M$84.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$70.0M$55.0M
Net assetsLn 32$29.3M$29.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$12K$12K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$1.7M$1.7M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.6M$508K$847K$198K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.2M$4.3M$1.7M$169K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$128K$85K$37K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.1M$801K$220K$36K
Payroll taxesLn 10$576K$365K$182K$29K
Legal feesLn 11b$346K$197K$148K$450
Accounting feesLn 11c$168K$28K$140K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.1M$1.7M$170K$177K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$3K$2K$516
Office expensesLn 13$204K$167K$37K$194
Information technologyLn 14$805K$382K$415K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$941K$663K$235K$44K
TravelLn 17$305K$261K$38K$6K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$76K$76K$107
InterestLn 20$1.3M$1.3M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$276K$209K$66K
InsuranceLn 23$107K$9K$98K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.6M$3.8M−$166K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$21.4M$16.5M$4.2M$676K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $22.0M$25.7M−$3.7M$52.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $23.8M$37.1M−$13.3M$55.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $29.1M$32.5M−$3.4M$69.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $52.8M$22.9M$29.9M$73.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $34.3M$19.5M$14.8M$43.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $21.4M$21.4M−$6K$29.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $21,396,934 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $21,446,858$14,688,149
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $6,972,914$6,572,482
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $373,034$116,301
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $80,783$20,002
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $28,873,589$21,396,934
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $163,153$1,671,518
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $8,525,596$9,476,443
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $12,791,580$10,255,049
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $21,480,329$21,403,010
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $7,393,260−$6,076
Part VI · Governance 16 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members16
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 $21,396,934 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,540,467
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,147,682
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$14,688,149
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,572,482$6,572,482
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $113,965$113,965
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,336$2,336
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $20,002$20,002
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,592,484 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $116,301$21,396,934
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $21,403,010 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $12,333$12,333
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $1,659,185$1,659,185
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $508,023 · Management $846,953 · Fundraising $197,941$1,552,917
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,260,008 · Management $1,732,640 · Fundraising $169,318$6,161,966
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $84,863 · Management $37,240 · Fundraising $5,881$127,984
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $801,052 · Management $220,493 · Fundraising $35,569$1,057,114
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $365,424 · Management $182,254 · Fundraising $28,784$576,462
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $196,647 · Management $148,479 · Fundraising $450$345,576
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $27,561 · Management $140,250$167,811
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,703,784 · Management $169,632 · Fundraising $177,000$2,050,416
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,087 · Management $2,104 · Fundraising $516$5,707
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $167,078 · Management $36,798 · Fundraising $194$204,070
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $381,781 · Management $414,788 · Fundraising $8,490$805,059
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $662,725 · Management $234,661 · Fundraising $43,635$941,021
IX-17 TravelPrograms $260,551 · Management $38,484 · Fundraising $5,711$304,746
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $76,193 · Management $107$76,300
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,327,717$1,327,717
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $209,473 · Management $66,277$275,750
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,296 · Management $98,013$107,309
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,807,038 · Management −$166,040 · Fundraising $2,569$3,643,567
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $16,523,819 · Management $4,203,133 · Fundraising $676,058$21,403,010
Part X · Balance sheet $84,001,332 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $17,656,775$29,484,806
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $22,692,277$3,776,766
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $13,494,601$8,139,773
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $650,328$110,158
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $772,641$722,699
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $905,520$678,820
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $270,411$225,928
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $42,326,410$40,391,200
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $502,229$471,182
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $99,271,192$84,001,332
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,799,731$1,615,207
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$500,000
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $65,150,830$51,369,635
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $107,115$328,083
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $69,985,354$54,974,293
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $14,647,481$15,530,359
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $14,638,357$13,496,680
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $29,285,838$29,027,039
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $99,271,192$84,001,332
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $29,027,039 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$21,396,934
XI-2 Total expenses$21,403,010
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$6,076
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$29,285,838
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$252,723
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$29,027,039

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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