Tilth Alliance works in community with Washington farmers, gardeners, and eaters for a more sustainable, healthy, and equitable food future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$115K 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

FY2022 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$115K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
21
named funders · $414K
Looks good: 21 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$745K
31% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 31% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.7M
+37% vs prior year
Spent
$3.9M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$1.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.7M
FY2022▲ +37%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.8M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$4.4M
FY2024$4.7M
Expenses
$3.9M
FY2022▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.5M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$4.9M
FY2024$5.2M
Net assets
$1.7M
FY2022▲ +88%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$987K
FY2021$904K
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$726K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 1997.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $3.1M Management & general 12% · $488K Fundraising 8% · $333K

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; $115K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Di
$114,647Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chair (end)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Melissa Spear’s $121K as Executive Di is at the 45th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Melissa Spear$120,711$117,718$114,647$113,613$114,314

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 Tilth Alliance 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

Promotes a sustainable, equitable food system in Washington by supporting local farmers and providing low-income communities with access to fresh, locally grown food.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.0M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Community Programs

Provides adult classes and engage the community in organic gardening, food preservation, composting, waste management, and environmental stewardship. Manage and maintain two learning gardens where programmatic, educational and community engagement activities take place.

$764Kprogram expense
02

Farm and Agriculture Programs

Supports small to midsize farmers and diversified crop agriculture throughout washington with a focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Activities include an annual conference, farm walks and a farmer podcast, and eat local first, a program to connect consumers directly to local farms and grow demand for local food.

$645Kprogram expense
03

Market Programs

Provides access to sustainably locally grown food to low income communities. Operates the farm stand at rbufw.

$548Kprogram 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
Forterra NwFY2024$26K
PatagoniaorgFY2024$20K
Total grants receivedfrom 21 funders$414K
See all 21 funders →
Grants paid · 154 grants · $1.8M · 2020–2024
Gustavsen & Co LLCFY2024$29,265
Yang FarmFY2024$10,000
Willow Brook FarmFY2024$10,000
Vashon Peony CoFY2024$10,000
Spotted Frog FarmFY2024$10,000
Social Good Fund INCCA · FY2024$10,000
Rabbit Fields FarmFY2024$10,000
Old Brick FarmFY2024$10,000
Ola Aina FarmsFY2024$10,000
North Star FarmFY2024$10,000
Maverick FarmFY2024$10,000
Lovgren DairyFY2024$10,000
Kezama FarmFY2024$10,000
Jembe FarmFY2024$10,000
Hop Frog FarmFY2024$10,000
Hogstead FarmFY2024$10,000
Hillcrest FarmFY2024$10,000
See all 154 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$294K
Other incomeLn 4–11$244K
Money outPt IX
$3.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.1M
Managementcol C$488K
Fundraisingcol D$333K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$882K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$745K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$294K
Investment incomeLn 3$283
Other incomeLn 4–11$244K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$3K
Total revenueLn 12$4.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$147K
SavingsLn 2$735K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$882K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$166K
Other assetsLn 15$456K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$745K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 551
VolunteersI 6374
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$872K$882K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$87K$166K
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$567K$745K
Net assetsLn 32$904K$1.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$163K$163K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$102K$102K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$116K$12K$75K$29K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.4M$126K$203K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$26K$22K$3K$548
Other employee benefitsLn 9$184K$133K$19K$32K
Payroll taxesLn 10$193K$149K$20K$24K
Accounting feesLn 11c$29K$29K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$394K$368K$7K$18K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$10K$6K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$27K$9K$2K$16K
Information technologyLn 14$32K$4K$27K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$133K$76K$57K
TravelLn 17$25K$25K$61$235
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$13K$13K$320
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$45K$45K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$803$18K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$668K$618K$46K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$27K$13K$14K$316
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.9M$3.1M$488K$333K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $4.7M$5.2M−$428K$726K 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.4M$4.9M−$541K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $4.7M$3.9M$792K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.5M$3.5M−$83K$904K 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.8M$3.5M$274K$987K 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 FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,729,876 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,898,069$4,191,411
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $249,038$294,252
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $314−$2,385
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $303,026$246,598
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,450,447$4,729,876
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $286,763$264,873
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,035,468$2,246,388
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,211,416$1,426,956
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,533,647$3,938,217
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$83,200$791,659
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $4,729,876 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $243,555 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$2,355
VIII-1e Government grants$3,177,291
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,011,765
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,191,411
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $294,252$294,252
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $283$283
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$2,668−$2,668
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $3,043$3,043
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $535,139 · Excluded from tax $3,326$4,729,876
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,938,217 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $163,363$163,363
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $101,510$101,510
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $11,601 · Management $75,408 · Fundraising $29,003$116,012
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,399,101 · Management $125,934 · Fundraising $202,785$1,727,820
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $22,103 · Management $3,400 · Fundraising $548$26,051
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $133,413 · Management $18,780 · Fundraising $31,704$183,897
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $149,109 · Management $19,829 · Fundraising $23,670$192,608
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $29,491$29,491
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $4,000$4,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $368,411 · Management $6,738 · Fundraising $18,427$393,576
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,354 · Fundraising $3,937$10,291
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,055 · Management $1,529 · Fundraising $16,432$27,016
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,782 · Management $26,666 · Fundraising $1,605$32,053
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $76,291 · Management $56,537$132,828
IX-17 TravelPrograms $24,600 · Management $61 · Fundraising $235$24,896
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $13,060 · Management $320$13,380
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $45,007$45,007
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $803 · Management $18,271$19,074
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $618,013 · Management $45,862 · Fundraising $4,584$668,459
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $12,570 · Management $13,999 · Fundraising $316$26,885
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,117,139 · Management $487,832 · Fundraising $333,246$3,938,217
Part X · Balance sheet $2,439,908 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $64,882$147,442
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $807,019$734,719
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $500,133$889,662
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $12,073$46,023
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $86,907$165,967
X-15 Other assets$456,095
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,471,014$2,439,908
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $171,541$286,789
X-25 Other liabilities$457,806
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $567,360$744,595
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $670,615$1,556,473
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $233,039$138,840
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $903,654$1,695,313
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,471,014$2,439,908
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,695,313 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,729,876
XI-2 Total expenses$3,938,217
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$791,659
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$903,654
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,695,313

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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