Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network

Overview

Mission

DBCFSN works to build self-reliance and food security in Detroits black community by influencing public policy promoting urban agriculture, promoting healthy eating and encouraging youth to pursue careers in food related fields.

What it reported doing in 2023

Our Program Activities included: D-Town Farm Program which is a seven-acre organic farm located in the City of Detroits Rouge Park where we grow more than 30 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are sold at farmers markets and to wholesale customers. The farm features three hoop houses for extended season growing, beekeeping, large-scale composting, farm tours, and an annual harvest festival. Food Warriors Youth Development Program engages young Detroiters in experiences that teach them about food security and food justice and also the value of gardening, healthy eating, and exercise. Detroit Food Commons is in the final stages of construction and is a project that will house the Detroit Peoples Food Co-op, a full-service cooperatively owned grocery store that will be located in Detroits North End.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 96% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
331140762
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2023
Forms available
Form 990 2023, Form 990-N 2008
Headquarters
Detroit, MI, USA
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Nutrition

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and liabilities are high compared with assets.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 66
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Accountability: 88
  • Sustainability: 72
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 70.1%; rating input score 70
  • Program expense ratio: 82.3%; rating input score 82
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 15.8%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.18; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 9.2% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 16.7% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 26.3% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 70.1% of revenue deployed · 82.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 6 of 6 board members independent · 5 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $1.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 25 of 25 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 14 annual filings from 2010 to 2023
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2023.