Crown Point Ecology Center

What it reported doing in 2025

Crown point ecology center ("crown point") operates a 115-acre regenerative, certified organic farm and education campus in bath township (summit county), Ohio, providing environmental education, conservation stewardship, and community wellness programs for the public. Crown point stewards the largest undeveloped property in bath township and maintains habitats supporting diverse species. As part of its organic land management, crown point does not use synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, supporting healthy soils and water quality within the lake erie watershed. The property remains open for community access including approximately 5 miles of trails, and during fy2025 crown point welcomed over 5,000 visitors to the farm and trails for public access, educational experiences, and community events. These activities promote environmental stewardship, physical wellness, and connection to nature for individuals and families across the region. Crown point advances food access and social justice through its certified organic farming operations, including community supported agriculture (csa), community partnerships, and produce donations to help address food insecurity in northeast Ohio. During fy2025, crown point donated over 10,000 pounds of organically grown food to community food partners, helping increase access to fresh, nutritious produce for households with limited food access. This work connects regenerative agriculture with community need while engaging volunteers, students, and families in education about healthy food systems, equitable food distribution, and sustainable farming practices. Crown point provided farm- and nature-based education and community wellness programming for youth, adults, and families throughout fy2025. During the year, crown point delivered 15 structured educational programs reaching approximately 300 direct participants, in addition to over 5,000 community members engaged through farm visits, public events, and open land access. Fy2025 included the launch of multiple new programs, including tiny tillers, backyard chickens, meadow music, and roots and wings homeschool programming. Crown point also introduced an abilities-inclusive fall fest and established new partnerships with farming with friends and the special needs class at revere high school, expanding access to farm-based learning for students with disabilities. In addition, crown point reintroduced farm animals on-site (including chickens, ducks, pigs, and goats), enhancing educational capacity and providing new opportunities for youth and family engagement with animal husbandry, farm stewardship, and whole-farm learning.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 91.9%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -129%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.44; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 41.7%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.6% per year; rating input score 0; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -2.7% per year; rating input score 0; 25th percentile among comparable filings