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.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 14.6 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
$81K
29% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 29% 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
$175K
-6% vs prior year
Spent
$195K
To programs
69%
Net assets
$199K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$175K
FY2021▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$186K
FY2021$175K
FY2022$127K
FY2023$156K
FY2025$175K
Expenses
$195K
FY2021▲ +39%
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
$199K
FY2021▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$219K
FY2021$199K
FY2022$149K
FY2023$76K
FY2025−$29K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $135K Management & general 31% · $60K

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 · $135K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

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

$71Kprogram expense
02

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.

$64Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$175K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$66K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Money outPt IX
$195K
Ln 25
Programscol B$135K
Managementcol C$60K
Owns and owesPt X
$199K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$238K
Total assetsLn 16$280K
LiabilitiesLn 26$81K
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$101K
Government grantsLn 1e$14K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$644
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Investment incomeLn 3$140
Other incomeLn 4–11$66K
Total revenueLn 12$175K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$44K
SavingsLn 2$194K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$238K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$41K
Total assetsLn 16$280K
LiabilitiesLn 26$81K
Net assetsLn 32$199K
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$255K$238K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$50K$41K
Total assetsLn 16$315K$280K
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K$81K
Net assetsLn 32$219K$199K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$107K$90K$17K$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$9K$7K$1K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$5K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$7K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$6K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$7K$7K
TravelLn 17$105$105
InterestLn 20$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$26K$26K$710
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$195K$135K$60K$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 Viewing $175K$195K−$21K$199K 990 PDF
FY2020 $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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $174,507 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $86,642$100,553
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $21,721$7,954
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $243$140
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $77,356$65,860
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $185,962$174,507
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 $73,535$115,715
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $66,450$79,343
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $139,985$195,058
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $45,977−$20,551
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 $174,507 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $53,000 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,220
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$14,177
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$85,156
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$644
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$100,553
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,954 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$7,954
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $140 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$140
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $12,860$12,860
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $61,094 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $12,860$174,507
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $195,058 across 13 lines filed
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $89,730 · Management $17,210 · Fundraising $0$106,940
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,363 · Management $1,412 · Fundraising $0$8,775
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $6,142$6,142
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $5,407$5,407
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $7,300$7,300
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $6,445$6,445
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $7,058$7,058
IX-17 TravelManagement $105$105
IX-20 InterestManagement $2,024$2,024
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $12,359$12,359
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,240$4,240
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $25,783 · Management $710$26,493
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $1,770$1,770
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $135,235 · Management $59,823 · Fundraising $0$195,058
Part X · Balance sheet $279,725 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $64,818$44,348
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $190,552$193,692
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,270$355
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,948$829
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $50,097$40,501
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $314,685$279,725
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $21,685$7,276
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $73,600$73,600
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $95,285$80,876
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $219,400$198,849
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $219,400$198,849
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $314,685$279,725
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $198,849 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$174,507
XI-2 Total expenses$195,058
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$20,551
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$219,400
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$198,849

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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