Overview
What is Unity Gardens?
Unity Gardens is a nonprofit organization situated in South Bend, Indiana, with the postal address PO Box 10022. Their primary mission is to foster wellness and community engagement by providing access to nutritious food, nature, and human connection. They achieve this by hosting open gardens, classes, and programs. In 2022, Unity Gardens organized 34 "free pick" gardens, allowing 8,923 community members to enjoy fresh produce at their main site. Furthermore, they collected over 3,100 pounds of produce from various sources and donated it to their sharing shelves and St. Margaret's House, a day shelter for women. With a dedicated team of 26 employees, Unity Gardens continues to serve as a vital resource for promoting health and community bonding in South Bend.
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 79%, Three-Star out of Four Stars
Unity Gardens has achieved a Three-Star rating, indicating a solid performance in terms of accountability and finance. The organization has a commendable structure with 100% of its board members being independent and has demonstrated effective governance practices, such as having a conflict of interest policy and a whistleblower policy in place.
User feedback highlights Unity Gardens' positive impact on the community, particularly in combating food insecurity. Volunteers appreciate the organization's efforts to not only provide food through over 50 garden locations but also to educate the community through classes and school gardens. The introduction of initiatives like the Veggie Bus further showcases their commitment to making fresh produce accessible to neighborhoods lacking grocery stores.
While the organization boasts a strong program expense ratio of 68.75%, indicating that a significant portion of its budget goes directly to programs, there may be opportunities for further improvement in areas not detailed in the feedback. Overall, Unity Gardens appears to be making meaningful strides in addressing community needs and fostering a spirit of collaboration and support.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
Is Unity Gardens legitimate?
Unity Gardens is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Unity Gardens submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $45,000
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $242,313
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
What is the mission statement of Unity Gardens?
Unity Gardens' mission is centered around fostering community wellness by bridging the gap between individuals and healthful food, nature, and social connections. They achieve this mission by supporting open gardens, offering free classes, and organizing various programs. In 2022, Unity Gardens hosted 34 "free pick" gardens, providing access to fresh, nutritious produce for over 8,900 guests at their primary site. Furthermore, the organization received donations of over 3,100 pounds of produce from hosted gardens and local farmers, which were distributed to the community and to St. Margaret's House, a day shelter for women. Overall, Unity Gardens' activities extend the availability of healthy food to their community, surpassing the 200,000 pounds measured in 2021.
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
Who is the CEO of Unity Gardens?
Sara Stewart is the Treasurer of Unity Gardens. The CEO's salary of Unity Gardens is $45,000 and their total compensation is $45,000.
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
What is the revenue of Unity Gardens?
Unity Gardens's revenue in 2022 was $552,176.
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
Who are the executives of Unity Gardens and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Unity Gardens during 2022 was $11,050. There are 26 employees and 2300 volunteers at Unity Gardens.
Here are 9 key members and their salaries (Unity Gardens's CEO's salary is $45,000 and their total compensation is $45,000):
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- Compensation: $4,340
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- Compensation: $45,000
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- Other: $0
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Unity Gardens?
Unity Gardens's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.theunitygardens.org
Learn more at the official website: www.theunitygardens.org
Mission Statement of Unity Gardens
Unity Gardens, a community-focused organization, is committed to fostering wellness by bridging the gap between individuals and their surroundings, food, and fellow community members. The mission of Unity Gardens is twofold: firstly, it aims to connect people with healthful produce by sustaining open gardens; secondly, it strives to engage the community through free classes and programs. This mission is carried out by supporting the establishment and maintenance of community gardens, offering guests at the primary site guided tours, tastings, and harvesting assistance to ensure access to fresh, nutritious food. In addition, Unity Gardens collaborates with various partners, such as the Re Entry center and local farmers, to contribute additional produce to the organization's sharing shelves and community outreach programs. As a result, the organization has been instrumental in providing an abundant supply of produce to its community, exceeding the 200,000 lbs measured in 2021.
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Impact
July, 2024
Unity Gardens promotes wellness by connecting our community to healthy food, nature, and each other. In 2022, Unity Gardens hosted 34 "free pick" gardens, allowing everyone in the community access to fresh, nutritious food. Garden Guides welcomed and assisted the 8,923 guests at the primary site with tasting tours and harvesting help. Additionally, the Re Entry center garden, other hosted gardens, and local farmers donated over 3,100 lbs of produce to sharing shelves and 1,300 lbs of produce to St. Margaret's House, a day shelter for women. This significant contribution far surpassed the 200,000 lbs of produce measured in 2021, greatly benefiting the community's access to healthy food.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Unity Gardens. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: -$28,519
- Gross Receipts: $654,127
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $1,180,080
- Total Liabilities: $248,309
- Net Assets: $931,771
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Organization Details
Founding Year
2009
Phone
(574) 315-4361Principal Officer
Sara Stewart
Main Address
PO Box 10022, South Bend, IN, 46680
Website
www.theunitygardens.orgNTEE Category
Code: K20 - Food
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