Organic Growers School

What it reported doing in 2024

Spring Conference: For over 30 years OGS has hosted an annual Spring Conference which is one of the largest grassroots gatherings of this kind in the Southeastern US with over 1000 people participating over a three day period. The conference inspires and educates people to farm garden and live organically by providing affordable practical and hands-on education. Farmer Programs: OGS offers a complete farm education curriculum from aspiring to new to experienced farmers through the following programs: Farm Dreams is for those in the exploratory stages of starting their own farm. This entry-level workshop provides practical common sense information on sustainable farming and how to move forward. Farm Beginnings is training for the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: clear goals production experience financial and marketing know-how and more. Farm Beginnings will help build these skills through a one year of farmer-led training mentoring and networking. CRAFT Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training is a peer-to-peer farmer-led effort to bring established farmers farm apprentices and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture. Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. Forest Farming is a series of workshops aimed to train beginning forest farmers and land stewards to understand the opportunities and sustainable production of woodland botanicals and forest products. Organic Crop Management is a webinar series that provides growers with strategies and tools to manage soil health weeds pests and diseases for the whole farm. Organic Growing and Living: Programs such as Homegrown Dreams and Gardening Series help people gain knowledge on sustainable living and growing through various workshops designed to meet their needs. Fiscal Sponsorship: OGS is a fiscal sponsor of the Food Justice Planning Initiative FJPI. FJPI transitioned to a stand alone 501c3 in 2025 called WNC Food Systems Coalition Inc. They are primarily funded through grants. Grant income of $153,525 and program expenses of $31,026 related to these fiscal sponsorships are included in the OGS financial results

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75.7%; rating input score 76
• Program expense ratio: 82.1%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.11 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 96.3%; rating input score 96; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• 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: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • 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: 7.8%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.26; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.9%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.2% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings