Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$3,091,127

Total expenses

$1,565,063

Contributions and grants received

$3,013,141

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$74,073

Investment income

$3,913

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$6,142,170

Total liabilities, end of year

$199,833

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$5,942,337

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,118,980

Management and general expenses

$232,032

Fundraising expenses

$214,051

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,118,980

Program services were 71.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• EDUCATION: IN 2023 "FIT AROUND THE FARM: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH PROMOTION FOR ELDERS," HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN SSM - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH. THIS IS A HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT AND HONOR FOR A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN EXPANDING SINCE 2019. FIT AROUND THE FARM (FATF): UFI DEVELOPS PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS THAT FOCUSES ON HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY COOKING AND EXERCISE. A 2023 HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR SENIORS WAS A FARM TO TABLE MEAL IN BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS AT A LOCAL FARM. TWICE A WEEK THERE WERE 50-60 PARTICIPANTS FOR CHAIR YOGA, DANCING, FITNESS AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY GUEST CHEFS. OUR SENIORS VOLUNTEER, GROW FOOD, ATTEND OUR FARM STAND FOR HEALTHY VEGETABLES AND HERBS, PARTICIPATE IN OUR ANNUAL SEEDLING SALE AND ATTEND OUR SPECIAL EVENTS. UFI HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH LOCAL ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. THE MEN'S BLACK GATHERING: A NEW PROGRAM WAS ADDED TO THE BLACK MEN'S GATHERING CALLED BARBERSHOP TALK. MEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO STOP BY FOR A MEAL AND A FREE HAIRCUT. THIS PROGRAM INCREASES NETWORKING AMONG SENIOR MEN, STAVES OFF ISOLATION AND CREATES A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO INCREASE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. MEN CONTINUE TO GATHER TWICE A MONTH FOR TAI CHI, GENERAL FITNESS, HEALTHY FOOD AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTHY EATING. FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM: UFI STARTED A 2-YEAR REVAMP OF THE FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM IN 2025. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT PLANTING, SEEDS, WEEDING, PATHWAY CONSTRUCTION, CROP ROTATION, ORGANIC METHODS FOR PEST CONTROL, HARVESTING, AND FARM BUSINESS PLANNING. OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSHROOM WORKSHOPS, BUILDING RAISED BEDS, GROWING TECHNIQUES ETC. IN THE AREA OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UFI HAS ENCOURAGED ALL STAFF TO INCREASE THEIR LEARNING. THE GROWING TEAM WENT TO PUERTO RICO TO LEARN THE BEST GROWING PRACTICES BY VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL FARMS. THEY RETURNED WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY WILL APPLY FOR THE 2024 GROWING SEASON.

  Expenses $364,130 · Revenue $25,715

• COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/NPO PARTNER OUTREACH/ CORPORATE CONNECTIONS: "LIVE MUSIC: OVER 22 PLUS JAZZ, AFRO-LATIN JAZZ, BOMBA AND BRAZILIAN PERFORMANCES OCCURRED AT THE UFI FARM STAND TO ATTRACT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE TO SHOP, PARTICIPATE IN ARTS & CRAFTS AND MEET GUEST CHEFS. "UFI COMPLETED BUILDING AND INSTALLING ADDITIONAL GROW BOXES IN 2023, MAKING THE TOTAL 129 TO DATE SINCE COVID-19. THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GROWING HEALTHY FOOD IN THEIR BACKYARDS, FRONT YARDS AND PORCHES. GUIDANCE OCCURRED FOR THESE AT THE SEEDLING SALE AND IN-PERSON AT FCEF. UFI PLANS TO CREATE A 'GROW SERIES' FOR 2024 TO FURTHER TEACH RESIDENTS ALL THE STEPS OF GROWING FOOD. "OVER 2250 COMMUNITY MEAL BAGS FOOD DELIVERY CONTINUED INTO 2023. EACH MEAL BAG FEEDS A FAMILY OF 3. FUNDED BY DONORS COMMITTED TO FIGHTING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY THE MEALS WERE PREPARED BY BIPOC CHEFS AND CONSISTED OF FRESH VEGETABLES, STARCH, AND A PROTEIN WITH ENOUGH FOOD FOR A FAMILY OF THREE, "THE 2023 THANKSGIVING / INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S CELEBRATION FOOD DISTRIBUTION OF 400 TURKEYS (WITH ALL THE FIXINGS) FOR FAMILIES IN NEED NOMINATED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORS, "THE UFI FOOD DAY AND GARLIC FEST WAS HELD IN OCTOBER OF 2023. THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH DEMONSTRATIONS OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD BY DIVERSE CHEFS (VEGGIE SOUP, HERBAL TEAS ETC.), AN APPLE CIDER-PRESS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS, AND A FREE BOOK GIVE AWAY, "550 VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO HELP UFI WITH FARMING AND WEEDING. AN AVERAGE VOLUNTEER WORKS FOR THREE HOURS PER PERSON (VOLUNTEERS CONSISTED OF CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS, NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS AND YOUTH), "COLLABORATING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABCD (NEW PARTNER), BOWDOIN STREET HEALTH CENTER, SPORTSMEN'S TENNIS CLUB AND ENRICHMENT CENTER, DORCHESTER FOOD COOP, BETHEL AME CHURCH, THE FOOD PROJECT, AND MATTAPAN FOOD AND FITNESS "SCHOOL PROGRAMS CONTINUED AT THE JOSEPH LEE SCHOOL, PAULINE A. SHAW SCHOOL, CODMAN ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL, BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL, ELLISON PARKS SCHOOL, AND MILTON ACADEMY TO NAME A FEW.

  Expenses $78,129

• FARM OPERATIONS UFI'S FARM OPERATIONS (GROWING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND SEEDLINGS) FROM JUNE TO NOVEMBER ENCOMPASSES: "GROWING FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE FROM ALL SIX FARMING LOCATIONS 131 GLENWAY STREET, ASTORIA QUARTER ACRE FARM, GARRISON TROTTER FARM, AND FCEF FARMLAND. UFI ALSO MANAGES TWO GROWING SITES WITH OUR PARTNER VICTORY PROGRAM/REVISION HOUSE. THE PARTNERSHIP COMES WITH 2 ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSES ALLOWING UFI TO BOOST ITS SEEDLING PRODUCTION, "UFI GREW AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 18.040 POUNDS OF FOOD. DISTRIBUTION OF A TOTAL OF 40,000 POUNDS OF FOOD INCLUDED 4,500 POUNDS OF DONATED FOOD AND ADDITIONAL FOOD BROUGHT IN VIA OUR RURAL PARTNERS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL FRUIT AND OTHER ITEMS UFI DOES NOT TRADITIONALLY GROW IN THE CITY. "DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD THROUGH 135 COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE BOXES (CSA) WITH OUR COLLABORATING COMMUNITY PARTNERS DORCHESTER FOOD COOP, OASIS ON BALLOU/CODMAN SQUARE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, FAMILY NURTURING CENTER, BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND THE BOSTON LIVING CENTER, "RUNNING A WEEKLY FARMSTAND THAT SERVED AN AMAZING INCREASE OF COMMUNITY SHOPPERS FROM 1,350 CUSTOMERS IN 2022 TO 2500 CUSTOMERS IN 2023 MANY OF WHOM WERE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT RELIED UPON SUBSIDIES FROM DOLLARS RAISED BY UFI, HIP/SNAP, WIC AND CITY OF BOSTON FOOD COUPONS. UFI ALSO ENGAGED WITH A FUNDER WHO SUPPORTED AN ADDITIONAL UFI COUPON PER BAG TO ALSO EASE THE COST OF FOOD. THIS SAME FUNDER PROVIDED MARKETING DOLLARS SO THAT UFI COULD DO REGULAR MARKETING FOR THE FARM STAND AND JAZZ PERFORMANCES, "SEEDLING GROWTH AND SALES OF SEEDLING PLANTS: UFI HAD OVER 150 CUSTOMERS FOR 2 SEEDLING SALES. NOT ONLY DID UFI PROVIDE SEEDLINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO SUPPLIED SEEDLINGS FOR OTHER URBAN FARMERS AND NONPROFITS. "EDUCATING UFI CUSTOMERS AND ENCOURAGING PLANTING FOR HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRESH CROPS SUCH AS TURMERIC AND GINGER (GROWN IN OUR GREENHOUSE)

  Expenses $670,021 · Revenue $48,358

• COMPLETING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PURCHASE FOWLER CLARK EPSTEIN FARM AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TWO-AND-A-HALF-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UFI ENGAGED ONE LAST MAJOR DONOR IN 2023 TO CONCLUDE THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. ONCE THE LAST DONOR WAS ENGAGED IN MARCH, HBI AND UFI STARTED TO ARRANGE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE HISTORIC FOWLER CLARK EPSTEIN FARM (FCEF) PROPERTY BY THE URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE. THIS MEANS THAT THE FARMLAND, HISTORIC HOUSE AND BARN, ARE OWNED OUTRIGHT WITHOUT LIENS BY UFI. ZERO MORTGAGE WAS REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY BASED ON THE SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. UFI HAS BECOME A CRITICAL STEWARD OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK PROPERTY. AT A TIME WHEN GENTRIFICATION ABOUNDS IN OUR COMMUNITY UFI WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE AS THE HUB OF URBAN FARMING, FARMER TRAINING, EDUCATION, HEALTH & WELLNESS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THE GREENHOUSE WAS PREVIOUSLY BUILT AND OPENED FOR OPERATION IN 2019 BY UFI. THE GREENHOUSE IS OWNED OUTRIGHT AS WELL. THE ABOVE DECISIONS WILL ALLOW FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. FCEF WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS UFI'S COMMUNITY HEADQUARTERS. OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR ALL AGES.

  Expenses $6,700

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

• PATRICIA SPENCE

  EXECUTIVE DI

  Total calculated

  $140,843

  From this org

  $131,250

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $9,593

  Hours/week

  40

• ABDI ALI EDD

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• TAMIKA FRANCIS

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• JENNIFER HASHLEY

  CLERK

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• LAWRENCE BARRINER II

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• GREGORY MASLOWE

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ANGEL MENDEZ

  BOARD CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• LUCIA SANTINI-FIELD

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• FOLOSHADE SOLOMON

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• SIEDRIC WHITE

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

8 November 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.0

Source object

202403139349304450

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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