The Talking Farm grows produce, herbs, and flowers using sustainable practices while educating the community about agriculture, biodiversity, and horticulture through hands-on learning and example at Howard Street Farm and off-site teaching gardens.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
58¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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
1 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $13K a year · 7% of revenue · last 2 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
58%
of spending
Worth a look: 58% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
22 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 21.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $28K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$95K
30% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 30% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$186K
Spent
$140K
To programs
58%
Net assets
$219K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$186K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$186K
FY2021$175K
FY2022$127K
FY2023$156K
FY2025$175K
Expenses
$140K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$140K
FY2021$195K
FY2022Not on file
FY2023Not on file
FY2025Not on file
Net assets
$219K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$219K
FY2021$199K
FY2022$149K
FY2023$76K
FY2025−$29K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · 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 Jul 2007.

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

Where the money goes

58 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 58% · $82K Management & general 42% · $58K

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

7 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer Engel’s $5K as Board Member is at the 4th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education 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.

See The Talking Farm 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

Programs and updates

Grows food sustainably and teaches community members about farming and nature.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $82K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Howard Street Farm is a 3-acre urban farm in Skokie, IL. The farm is a site for growing fresh produce using sustainable agriculture practices, educational programs, and community gatherings.

$74Kprogram expense
02

Set-up and maintenance of mini-gardens and mini-farms at elementary, middle schools, and high schools in Evanston and Skokie Illinois.

$7Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$28K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$186K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$87K
Investment incomeLn 3$63K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$22K
Money outPt IX
$140K
Ln 25
Programscol B$82K
Managementcol C$58K
Owns and owesPt X
$219K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$255K
Total assetsLn 16$315K
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$87K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$250
Fees for servicesLn 2g$22K
Investment incomeLn 3$63K
Other incomeLn 4–11$14K
Gains on assetsLn 7$63K
Total revenueLn 12$186K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$65K
SavingsLn 2$191K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$255K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$50K
Total assetsLn 16$315K
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K
Net assetsLn 32$219K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 620
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$104K$255K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$63K$50K
Total assetsLn 16$181K$315K
LiabilitiesLn 26$8K$95K
Net assetsLn 32$173K$219K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$0$0$0$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$70K$47K$24K$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$6K$4K$2K$0
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$5K$0$5K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3K$0$3K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$0$6K$0
Office expensesLn 13$6K$0$6K$0
Information technologyLn 14$6K$0$6K$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$0$0$0$0
TravelLn 17$0$0$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$845$0$845$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$13K$13K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$6K$0$6K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18K$18K$208$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$140K$82K$58K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $175K−$29K 990 PDF
FY2024 Not on file
FY2023 $156K$76K 990 PDF
FY2022 $127K$149K 990 PDF
FY2021 $175K$195K−$21K$199K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $186K$140K$46K$219K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $185,963 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $86,325$86,642
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $35,605$21,721
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $157$63,425
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $52,805$14,175
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $174,892$185,963
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 $67,905$75,961
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $74,589$64,025
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $142,494$139,986
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $32,398$45,977
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $185,963 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$250
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$86,392
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$86,642
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $21,721 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$21,721
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $243 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$243
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $63,182 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$63,182
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $14,175 · Excluded from tax $0$14,175
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $85,146 · Unrelated business $14,175 · Excluded from tax $0$185,963
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $139,986 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $46,573 · Management $23,505 · Fundraising $0$70,078
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,910 · Management $1,973 · Fundraising $0$5,883
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $4,799 · Fundraising $0$4,799
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $3,194 · Fundraising $0$3,194
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $6,216 · Fundraising $0$6,216
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $5,593 · Fundraising $0$5,593
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $6,187 · Fundraising $0$6,187
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $845 · Fundraising $0$845
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $13,145 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$13,145
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $5,772 · Fundraising $0$5,772
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $18,066 · Management $208 · Fundraising $0$18,274
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $81,694 · Management $58,292 · Fundraising $0$139,986
Part X · Balance sheet $314,685 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $33,845$64,818
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $70,229$190,552
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $8,238$4,270
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,507$4,948
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $63,242$50,097
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $181,061$314,685
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,638$21,685
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$73,600
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,638$95,285
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $173,423$219,400
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $173,423$219,400
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $181,061$314,685
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $219,400 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$185,963
XI-2 Total expenses$139,986
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$45,977
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$173,423
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$219,400

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

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