Juneberry Ridge Educational Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship program consists of 3 apprentice tracks and ranges in program length of 12 to 24 months. Apprentices work full-time for the duration of the program while also completing related course instruction at the local community college. This program we host in partnership with the NC Community College system and NC Apprenticeship. We had two students participate in a pre-apprenticeship program and two students who graduated early in December enroll in the apprenticeship program. The goal of this program is to provide students with meaningful work experience on a regenerative farm and help bridge the gap between high school and employment for students with an interest in agriculture. Internships. The education foundation established two internship programs: one for high school students and one for college students. The high school internship is a semester long, 16-week program where students work in one area of the living classroom for 10 hours per week. We had four students from Stanly County participate in the internship program and earn high school course credit for completing the program. This program is geared toward students who are interested in regenerative agriculture and considering agriculture as a possible career. The goal of the high school internship program is to provide students with work experience and inspire them to pursue a career in agriculture. The college internship is a 10-week summer program for students with an agriculture related major. We had 33 applicates and were able to accept 7 students into the program. The interns rotate through the different areas of the farm to gain work experience. The goal of the program is to allow students the opportunity to work on the operational regenerative farm to teach them regenerative agriculture practices. By exposing students to regenerative agriculture and teaching them farm techniques we hope this will help them in their future career in agriculture.School Groups. We had over 1,000 k-12 students attend on-farm programming this fiscal year, 908 students came for an introductory experience to tour the living classroom and be introduced to regenerative agriculture. 172 students participated in a more immersive experience spending a half-day in our living classroom exploring different agriculture topics. The goal of these introductory based programs is to introduce students to regenerative agriculture and show them what happens in our living classroom. We hope by engaging k-12 students early on we can spark their interest in agriculture so that when they are older, they will want to be involved in agriculture.Farm Camp. We hosted 3 weeks of farm camp with a total of 18 students. Week 1 was during Spring break and week 2 and 3 were at the end of May and beginning of June. Each wee of camp is for students in grades 3-5. We had a total of 18 students attend farm camp. Farm camp is Tuesday through Thursday 8am 4pm. The goal of farm camp is to teach students about regenerative agriculture and provide them with an immersive farm experience. During the week students learn about soil health, livestock, nature, aquaponics, and plan production. Students are able to participate in hands-on activities such as harvesting vegetables, caring for animals, and determining soil texture. Through this program we want to educate students and inspire them to be involved in agriculture.In FY25, a Home School Enrichment program has been added.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 61.9%; rating input score 62
• Program expense ratio: 68.1%; rating input score 68
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 57.1%; rating input score 57; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • 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: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 13.4%; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.73; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.74; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.4%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 59.4% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 29.1% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 48.4% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings