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Top Rated

Farm Aid

CharityWatch report issued
February 2019

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
83%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$14
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

Farm Aid
501 Cambridge St.
3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02141

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.farmaid.org

Stated Mission

To build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.

View similar charities

Ratings & Metrics

Learn more about Ratings & Metrics
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2017

Program Percentage: 83%

The percentage of Farm Aid's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$2,300,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $14

How many dollars Farm Aid spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$1,300,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Farm Aid IRS Form 990 36-3383233
Farm Aid Audited Financial Statements 36-3383233
Entity: Farm Aid
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 36-3383233
Entity: Farm Aid
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 36-3383233

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about Governance & Transparency
CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Farm Aid
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Farm Aid
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

Top Salaries

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Unable to Provide Salaries

CharityWatch is unable to provide a range of Top Three Salaries for this charity for the above fiscal reporting year because we lack complete salary data for the organization. Except for officers, directors, and trustees, the IRS does not require breakouts of salaries totaling less than $100,000.

For example, XYZ charity would be required to provide a breakout in its tax form of compensation to its president of $55,000, but would not be required to provide a breakout of $99,000 in compensation to its top medical researcher if that person is not also an officer, director, or trustee of the organization.

This charity reports that compensation to its officers, directors, and trustees is under $100,000 per individual. Donors who would like to view limited salary data for this organization should refer to its tax form, which may be available on the charity's web site or from a number of third-party sources. See CharityWatch's Links page for information on obtaining copies of charity tax forms.

Analysts' Notes

Learn more about Analysts' Notes
CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.
According to the Farm Aid audit of December 31, 2017 (Note 8, In-Kind Services and Donated Materials), Farm Aid received in-kind services and donated materials on which it placed a total value of $80,220. Farm Aid reports: "These in-kind services and donated materials are included in concerts and special events revenue and contributions in the [audited] statement of activities and changes in net assets" for the year ended December 31, 2017.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]
According to the Farm Aid 2017 tax filing, Farm Aid reports that Willie Nelson and Lana Nelson have a "family relationship" (IRS Form 990, Schedule O). Both of the Nelsons are officers, President and Secretary, respectively, and board members. Farm Aid reports having 11 people on its board and five (5) total officers in 2017 (IRS Form 990, Part VII, Section A).

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