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← RURAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL-USA

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by RURAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL-USA.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,083,827
Total expenses
$4,477,350
Contributions and grants received
$4,040,262
Grants paid
$869,927
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$20,733
Other revenue
$22,832
Total assets, end of year
$4,051,492
Total liabilities, end of year
$527,621
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,523,871
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,766,562
Management and general expenses
$577,254
Fundraising expenses
$133,534
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,766,562

Program services were 84.1% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $51,170

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $2,154,366

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,834,726

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $22,686 · excluded $22,686

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $31,861

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $30,886 · other assets $2,928

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $975 · other assets -$2,928

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$1,953 · excluded -$1,953

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $22,832 · related or exempt $22,832

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $22,832

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $802,014 · program services $802,014

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $67,913 · program services $67,913

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $535,146 · program services $457,971 · management and general $52,693 · fundraising $24,482

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,619,817 · program services $1,355,943 · management and general $187,662 · fundraising $76,212

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $42,629 · program services $39,423 · management and general $1,461 · fundraising $1,745

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $289,062 · program services $267,321 · management and general $9,906 · fundraising $11,835

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $159,568 · program services $115,750 · management and general $36,965 · fundraising $6,853

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $6,304 · program services $38 · management and general $6,266

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $80,990 · program services $483 · management and general $80,507

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $6,968 · program services $6,968

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $158,112 · program services $136,986 · management and general $21,126

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,788 · program services $1,615 · management and general $1,072 · fundraising $101

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $95,888 · program services $55,548 · management and general $36,871 · fundraising $3,469

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $122,099 · program services $70,731 · management and general $46,950 · fundraising $4,418

  • 17 · Travel

    total $184,337 · program services $170,347 · management and general $13,990

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $116,529 · program services $113,243 · management and general $3,286

  • 20 · Interest

    total $6,197 · program services $3,590 · management and general $2,383 · fundraising $224

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $32,223 · program services $27,288 · management and general $3,322 · fundraising $1,613

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $11,570 · program services $6,702 · management and general $4,449 · fundraising $419

  • 24a · Other expenses: FACILITIES AND EQUIPMEN

    total $53,895 · program services $0 · management and general $53,895 · fundraising $0

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIPS AND DUES

    total $40,238 · program services $39,064 · management and general $609 · fundraising $565

  • 24c · Other expenses: OTHER PERSONNEL EXPENSE

    total $23,578 · program services $12,111 · management and general $11,230 · fundraising $237

  • 24d · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES, TECHN

    total $14,030 · program services $14,030 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $5,455 · program services $1,483 · management and general $2,611 · fundraising $1,361

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,487,163 · end of year $854,511

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $297,125 · end of year $1,174,766

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,784,058 · end of year $1,340,170

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $90,762 · end of year $72,017

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $1,151,591

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $571,267

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $595,632 · end of year $580,324

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $30,516 · end of year $7

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $19,020 · end of year $29,697

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $243,198 · end of year $339,583

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $35,000 · end of year $8,796

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $107,391 · end of year $165,837

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,670 · end of year $13,405

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,894,285 · end of year $2,005,928

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,022,732 · end of year $1,517,943

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

RAFI CHALLENGES THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNJUST FOOD SYSTEMS, SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY JUST FARMS COMMUNITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO CHALLENGE THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNJUST FOOD SYSTEMS, SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY JUST FARMS COMMUNITIES.

  • AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT:FARM SUSTAINABILITY: RAFI PROVIDES MULTIPLE SERVICES TO SMALL AND MID-SCALE FARMERS TO IMPROVE FARM VIABILITY. OUR RESOURCES FOR RESILIENT FARMS PROJECT PROVIDES PLAIN-LANGUAGE INFORMATION, FARMER TRAININGS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FOR USDA PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SUPPORT GREATER FARM RESILIENCE FOR FARMERS' OPERATIONS. OTHER SUPPORTS TO FARMERS INCLUDE THE CLIMATE SMART CERTIFICATION PROJECT AND MORE.FOCN: IN 2017, RAFI FOUNDED THE FOCN TO MORE INTENTIONALLY SUPPORT FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE GOALS OF IMPROVING THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY, KEEPING THEIR LAND, AND GAINING GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. IN 2022, FOCN EXPANDED OUR SERVICE REACH TO PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS.FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS TO HIGHLIGHT ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS AND KNOWLEDGE.

    Expenses $661,766 · Grants $250,774

  • FARM ADVOCACY: FARM ADVOCACY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPS TOOLS AND RESOURCES, AND PROMOTES POLICIES THAT HELP FARMERS ATTAIN GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ENCOURAGE THRIVING AND SUSTAINABLE SMALL AND MID-SCALE FAMILY FARMS. THE PROGRAM EDUCATES FARMERS ABOUT MANAGING RISK AND EQUIPS THEM TO NAVIGATE FEDERAL FARM PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WHO STAND TO LOSE THEIR FARMS WITHOUT IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.

    Expenses $1,713,718 · Grants $316,912

  • COME TO THE TABLE - COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS AND DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES.

    Expenses $1,010,799 · Grants $254,913

  • COME TO THE TABLE - COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS, AND DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES.

    Expenses $45,125

  • JUST FOODS: FROM PROMOTING MEANINGFUL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, TO PIONEERING NEW STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, JUST FOODS PROJECTS SEEK TO MAKE FAIR, SUSTAINABLE FARMING A VIABLE CHOICE. PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL GENETIC DIVERSITY IS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO THE VIABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS. THEREFORE, JUST FOODS ADVOCATES FOR FUNDING FOR CLASSICAL BREEDING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT PUBLICLY-HELD SEEDS AND BREEDS. WITHIN THE JUST FOODS PROGRAM ARE THE PROJECTS: SOUTHERN FARMERS SEED COOPERATIVE AND NC SEED STEWARDS.

    Expenses $119,997

  • STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING/POLICY: RAFI-USA DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ADVOCATES ON BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY LEVELS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A FAIRER, MORE JUST AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ALL. OUR POLICY WORK IS DIRECTLY INFORMED BY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE LESSONS WE LEARN AS WE PROVIDE FARM ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES TO FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CHALLENGING CORPORATE POWER IS A PROJECT OF THE POLICY TEAM.

    Expenses $109,320 · Grants $5,848

  • DISASTER RESPONSERAFI-USA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO HELP FARMERS ACCESS DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHEN MAJOR DISASTERS, ESPECIALLY NATURAL (OR CLIMATE) DISASTERS SUCH AS HURRICANES, DEVASTATE FARMS IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. RAFI-USA ALSO ENGAGES IN SPECIAL FUNDRAISING TO SECURE FUNDS FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF PAYMENTS AND OTHER SUPPORT TO IMPACTED FARMERS.

    Expenses $50,829 · Grants $41,480

  • FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS- RAFI PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES TO HELP FACILITATE THE MISSION-RELATED WORK OF PARTNER INITIATIVES THAT LACK THE LEGAL STATUS OR ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY NECESSARY TO RECEIVE GRANTS OR DONATIONS RAFI SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:CAMPAIGN FOR CONTRACT AGRICULTURE REFORM - CCAR IS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR MEMBERS AND RANCHERS INVOLVED IN CONTRACT AGRICULTURE, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

    Expenses $55,008

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Edna Rodriguez

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $202,062
    From this org
    $147,466
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,596
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,466
    Bonus
    $3,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,424
    Nontaxable benefits
    $50,172
    Filer's total
    $202,062

  • Claire Kelloway

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Helga Garza

    BOARD VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Maria Dominique Villanueva

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Daramonifah Cooper

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Norysell Massanett

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sarah Sohn

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lacey Brown

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ivette Ruiz

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ray Jeffers

    MEMBER AT-LARGE & STAFF REP (JAN-APR)

    Total calculated
    $26,152
    From this org
    $17,749
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,403
    Hours/week
    40

  • Lisa Misch

    MEMBER AT-LARGE & STAFF REP (MAY-AUG)

    Total calculated
    $109,298
    From this org
    $97,746
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,552
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jarred White

    MEMBER AT-LARGE & STAFF REP (AUG-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $68,247
    From this org
    $61,151
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,096
    Hours/week
    40

  • Michelle Osborne Mo Murrie

    SECRETARY - NON-VOTING

    Total calculated
    $129,386
    From this org
    $96,967
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,419
    Hours/week
    40

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

  • ALLIANCE FOR AGRICULTURE

    $120,036

    PROVIDE LAND, CAPITAL, AND MARKET SUPPORT TO FARMERS AND EXPAND DELIVERY OF CONSERVATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED FARMERS

  • VIRGIN ISLANDS GOOD FOOD COALITION INC

    $101,292

    EXPAND DELIVERY OF CONSERVATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND PROVIDE LAND, CAPITAL, AND MARKET SUPPORT TO FARMERS

  • WINROCK INTL INST FOR AG DEV

    $50,571

    TO SUPPORT FAITH COMMUNITIES ENGAGED IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS WORK

  • NATIONAL ASSOC OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS

    $38,203

    TO SUPPORT FAITH COMMUNITIES ENGAGED IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS WORK

  • FOUNTAIN HEIGHTS COOPERATIVE LLC

    $26,315

    EXPAND DELIVERY OF CONSERVATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED FARMERS

  • INQUIRING SYSTEMS INC

    $25,625

    TO SUPPORT FAITH COMMUNITIES ENGAGED IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS WORK

  • GREEN HEFFA FARMS INC

    $14,494

    EXPAND DELIVERY OF CONSERVATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED FARMERS

  • HENSON'S CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

    $10,000

    TO SUPPORT FAITH COMMUNITIES WORKING WITH FARMERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

  • SPRUCE PINE UMC

    $10,000

    TO SUPPORT FAITH COMMUNITIES WORKING WITH FARMERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

  • RIDGEVILLE OKRA CO

    $9,581

    SUPPORT TO FARMERS FOR NEW AND INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS.

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
27 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513029349300441

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

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