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Farm Aid

CharityWatch rating issued
May 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
84%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$11
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

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
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 84%

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

$4,600,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $11

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

$2,800,000

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

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  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Caroline McCormick Operations Director $154,738
2 Jennifer Fahy Communications Director $147,876
3 Glenda Yoder Assistant Treasurer $142,480
1
Name: Caroline McCormick
Title: Operations Director
Compensation: $154,738
2
Name: Jennifer Fahy
Title: Communications Director
Compensation: $147,876
3
Name: Glenda Yoder
Title: Assistant Treasurer
Compensation: $142,480

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, 2023 (Note 10, In-Kind Services and Donated Materials):

Farm Aid received in-kind services and donated materials during the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2023, on which it placed a total value of $153,412.

[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 audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 9, Paycheck Protection Program Loan):

"On March 26, 2021, the Organization received a Paycheck Protection Program ('PPP') second draw loan of $229,344 granted by the Small Business Administration (the 'SBA') under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. All or a portion of the loan and accrued interest of 1% was forgivable based on the amount of qualifying expenses incurred and certain other criteria. On April 6, 2022, the Organization received full forgiveness of the PPP second draw loan and an immaterial amount of interest by the SBA, and therefore, recognized the entire loan amount of $229,244 as a gain on forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loan on the statement of activities and changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 2022."

According to the Farm Aid audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 14, Concentrations):

"...Contributions from one donor comprised 25% of total revenue and support of the Organization for the year ended December 31, 2023..."

According to the Farm Aid audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 15, Subsequent Event - New Cooperative Award Agreement):

"On September 26, 2024, the Organization entered into a cooperative award agreement with USDA in the budgeted amount of $4,236,302 to develop a distressed borrowers assistance network for farmers. The grant's availability period dated back to February 1, 2024 which includes pre-award activities and costs, and lasts through September 30, 2027."

According to the Farm Aid 2023 tax filing, Farm Aid reports re: the existence of a family or business relationship among officers, directors, trustees, or key employees that Willie Nelson, Lana Nelson, and Annie Nelson have a "family relationship," and Willie Nelson and Mark Rothbaum have a "business relationship" (IRS Form 990, Schedule O re: Form 990 Part VI, Section A, line 2).

Willie Nelson is reported as "Chairman/Director," Lana Nelson is reported as "Secretary/Director," Annie Nelson is reported as "Director," and Mark Rothbaum is reported as "Director." Farm Aid reports having 8 voting members on its board at year-end 2023 (IRS Form 990, Part VII, Section A & Part VI, Section A).


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