Sowing Seeds for Life

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
203162713
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2009
Location
La Verne, CA, USA
Phone
9092937735
Rating
88
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Human Service Organizations

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$5,784,799
Expenses
$5,871,606
Assets
$1,016,223
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

6 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • VICKIE BROWN (CEO AND FOUNDER)

People named in this filing

  • VICKIE BROWN (CEO AND FOUNDER)
  • GREG DE SMET (SECRETARY)
  • AL SNOW (TREASURER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To provide food for the hungry, respond to emergencies for those in need, eliminate hunger in the inland valley and to servce the community with dignity and respect.

What it reported doing in 2024

Since our agency's inception in 2007, we have strived to fight hunger. We do this through the operation of food pantry programs that are designed to meet the needs of the communities and populations we serve. Our programs are comprised of general food pantries along with satellite locations in various cities. Additionally, we offer special distributions for veterans, seniors and persons living with mobility difficulties. We operate a mobile food pantry program that serves students of local colleges and low-income senior living facililties. In delivering our services, we annually provide over 1 million pounds of food free of charge. Ssfl is proud to collaborate with partner agencies to provide wrap around not duplicated services.our clients include infants, children, students, veterans, seniors and homeless individuals. All clients are welcome to receive services which often comprise upwards of two weeks supply of food and hygiene products. By offering items in such abundance clients are able to obtain all needed items in one place while saving food budget monies for other necessities such as rent thus helping them to avoid homelessness.ssel is funded through grants, employee campains, special events, direct donations, corporate and community support.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 98% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 96
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 75
  • Sustainability: 37
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 98.7%; rating input score 99
  • Program expense ratio: 97.3%; rating input score 97
  • Fundraising efficiency: $60.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 81; 81st 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: 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: 66.7%; rating input score 67; 11th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • 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: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -1.5%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.17; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 12.4% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 11.8% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 12.9% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 98.7% of revenue deployed · 97.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 4 of 6 board members independent · 6 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $5.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 6 people listed
  • Consistency: 27 of 27 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • 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.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 28/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 5/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Conflict-of-interest policy not reported.