The Urban Farm

What it reported doing in 2025

The urban farm (tuf) provides an opportunity for urban youth to engage and participate in local and agricultural systems and farming by removing barriers to participation such as access to land, location and cost. Tuf delivers experiential programs in animal husbandry; organic gardening; environmental education; land conservation and equine. The goal of tuf programs is to provide practical and behavioral life skills for young adults. Our aspiration is to foster compassion and resilience in urban youth and inspire them to build sustainable, healthy, equitable communities. Tuf serves denver metro area residents through year-round programming, signature events, and general admission, all strengthened by our partnerships with local governments and with like-minded nonprofits. Farm to school: pre k-12 students enjoy field trips to the farm. Curriculum is aligned with educational standards in natural and social sciences. Through hands-on activities, students learn abount agriculture, livestock, food systems and horticulture. An estimated 20,000 students participated in the field trips. Tuf grows 13,000 lbs yearly of healthy produce that is then donated back to the community, specifically to lower income households who may have barriers to healthy produce. All around the farm - summer camp: tuf served an estimated 800 children through summer camp, with an additional 150 kids through the summer equine camp. In both camps, youth learn how to care for animals, cultivate crops and become stewards of the land. Tuf removes barriers to the sport which is typically limited to those who can afford to lease or buy a horse. Cultivating change in youth: tuf and denver juvenile services host a collaborative program for at risk and justice involved kids. Since the inception of the program, more than 320 youth have successfully completed the program. Tuf provides earn-while-you-learn opportunities to youth as they learn about horticulture and food systems, animal husbandry and animal care and environmental conservation. Livestock clubs and classes: tuf is the only 4-h club in denver and one of only a few on the front range. Tuf holds clubs and classes that allow participants to utilize animals that live at the farm. Youth learn how to raise, breed and show livestock. Tufs livestock classes sell out every year.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 95.2%; rating input score 95
• Program expense ratio: 89.3%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.74 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 54; 54th 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: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 27th 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: -6.5%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.38; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.51; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.5%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 17.3% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 16.4% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.5% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings