Coastal Roots Farm

What it reported doing in 2024

Increasing access to fresh organic produce through sustainable agriculture: coastal roots farm seeks to care for its community while also being good stewards of its land and soil. The farm manages 18 acres of farmland, consisting of 2.5 acres of vegetable production fields, an education farm and garden, a large-scale compost operation, two chicken flocks of around 150 birds, and an 8.5-acre agroforestry "food forest." the farm is on the forefront of sustainable, regenerative farming practices that build healthy soil, sequester carbon, conserve water, and help reduce the impacts of climate change. Since inception in 2014, the farm has turned nutrient-depleted land into a vibrant, productive farm, grown over 636,000 pounds of organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and eggs, built a biodiverse ecosystem (94 species of birds have been observed in the food forest), and diverted over 6.6 million pounds of waste from the landfill through extensive composting operations, and offset co2 emissions by over three thousand metric tons.guided by ancient jewish agricultural traditions and values, coastal roots farm cares for and protects the environment while caring for the most vulnerable, marginalized and food-insecure members of our community. Through the farm's organic food distribution program, we distribute 70,000 - 90,000 pounds of certified-organic, nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, herbs, and eggs annually to feed around 45,000 people. This program is designed to address and reduce food insecurity and ensure low-income, at-risk communities have equal and dignified access to locally grown, fresh, organic food regardless of ability to pay. Food distributions take place on and off-site the farm, including through a "pay-what-you-can" farm stand located at the farm and through free distributions implemented in collaboration with strategic community partners that allow us to serve diverse food-insecure populations. The farm serves marginalized communities including low-income families and seniors, single-parent households, immigrants and refugees, active-duty military and veterans, holocaust survivors, and indigenous/native american families.our organic food distributions for food insecure communities include: (1) a bi-weekly on-site pay-what-you-can farm stand that accepts cal fresh ebt (food stamps) and offers a private and dignified checkout process; (2) a monthly, no-cost mobile farm stand in partnership with helping hand worldwide and other community organizations serving military families and veterans and who provide beneficiaries non-perishable foods, diapers, clothes, and more; (3) a monthly, no-cost mobile farm stand at vista community clinic, a comprehensive health care services clinic serving predominately low-income, immigrant, and uninsured families, and implemented in partnership with feeding san diego who offers beneficiaries non-perishable foods; (4) monthly no-cost deliveries to elderly indigenous/native american families living throughout san diego county in partnership with san diego american indian health center as well as no-cost deliveries to elderly indigenous/kumeyaay families of the iipay nation living at the santa ysabel reservation as well as neighboring reservations including los coyotes indian reservation and mesa grande reservation; (5) weekly, no-cost home deliveries to survivors of the holocaust, many of whom are homebound and living in poverty, and implemented in partnership with jewish family services who provides geriatric care services; (6) weekly donations to mercy housing's cantebria senior homes, a low-income housing complex for seniors; and (7) weekly donations to local social service agencies and food pantries, like community resource center and jewish family services of san diego. The farm's services have been more critical than ever for vulnerable community members struggling with food insecurity. Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 7 san diegans were hungry; now it is 1 in 4 households (san diego hunger c

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.1%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 78.6%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.55 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8.4%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.22; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.56; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.4%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.5% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.3% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.5% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings