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THE URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE OF BOSTON INC

EIN 45-3961022 MATTAPAN, MA

Revenue 2024
$3,345,331
Expenses 2024
$1,853,852

Program services were 66.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
S30
Classification
1000
Street
BOSTON INC 487R NORFOLK ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

ORGANIZATIONS MISSION THE URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE'S (UFI) MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE URBAN FARMING TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS IN GROWING FOOD LOCALLY AND BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. VISION: THRIVING, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE LAND, AND STRENGTHENED SOCIAL NETWORKS. TRAINING AND ENGAGEMENT OF BIPOC INDIVIDUALS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ANCHORED AND COMMITTED TO A VISION OF THE FUTURE THAT IS HEALTHY, EMPOWERED, AND SAFE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE'S (UFI) MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE URBAN FARMING TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS IN GROWING FOOD LOCALLY AND BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

  • EDUCATION: FIT AROUND THE FARM (FATF): UFI DEVELOPS PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS THAT FOCUS ON HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY COOKING AND EXERCISE. TWICE A WEEK THERE WERE 67 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 ALL OUR EVENTS. UFI HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH LOCAL ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. MINDFULNESS IN NATURE, A 6 WEEK PROGRAM WAS ADDED THROUGH OUR PARTNERS AT AGE STRONG BOSTON. 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 BY ONE OF 3 SENIOR BARBERS. THIS PROGRAM INCREASES NETWORKING AMONG SENIOR MEN, STAVES OFF ISOLATION AND CREATES A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO INCREASE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE BETWEEN 20-30 MEN. MEN CONTINUE TO GATHER TWICE A MONTH FOR TAI CHI, GENERAL FITNESS, HEALTHY FOOD AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTHY EATING. FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM: UFI HAS REVAMPED THE WELL-KNOWN FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM TO EXPAND. THE PROGRAM KICKS OFF IN 2026. PARTICIPANTS WILL 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. MEMBERS OF THE GROWING TEAM WENT TO MONTREAL TO LEARN THE BEST GROWING PRACTICES IN A COLD CLIMATE. THEY RETURNED WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY WILL APPLY FOR THE 2025 GROWING SEASON.

    Expenses $352,271 · Revenue $12,494

  • COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/NPO PARTNER OUTREACH/ CORPORATE CONNECTIONS: "LIVE MUSIC: OVER 16 PLUS JAZZ, AFRO-LATIN JAZZ, BOMBA PERFORMANCES OCCURRED AT THE UFI FARM STAND TO ATTRACT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE TO SHOP, AND PARTICIPATE IN ARTS & CRAFTS. "UFI COMPLETED BUILDING AND INSTALLING ADDITIONAL 26 GROW BOXES IN 2024. 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 CREATED A 'GROW SERIES' TO TEACH RESIDENTS ALL THE STEPS OF GROWING FOOD. UFI HOSTED 10 SATURDAY/SUNDAY 'HOW TO GROW' CLASSES. "OVER 6700 SERVINGS OF FOOD THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY MEAL BAGS. 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. ALL MEALS WERE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AS WELL (CALLALOO, HAITIAN STEW, JERK CHICKEN, YUCCA AND MORE) "THE 2024 THANKSGIVING / INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S CELEBRATION FOOD DISTRIBUTION OF 475 TURKEYS (WITH 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 2024. THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH DEMONSTRATIONS OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD BY DIVERSE CHEFS AN APPLE CIDER-PRESS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS, AND A FREE BOOK GIVE AWAY. 100 PLUS ATTENDEES. FAMILIES LEARNED ALL ABOUT GARLIC AND HOW TO PLANT GARLIC AT THE EVENT. "779 VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO HELP UFI WITH FARMING AND WEEDING. AN AVERAGE VOLUNTEER WORKS FOR TWO HOURS (VOLUNTEERS CONSISTED OF CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS, NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS AND YOUTH). "COLLABORATING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABCD 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, VICTORY PROGRAMS, AND OASIS ON BALLOU. "SCHOOL PROGRAMS CONTINUED AT THE JOSEPH LEE SCHOOL, CODMAN ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL, DEARBORN SCHOOL, ELLISON PARKS SCHOOL, AND MILTON ACADEMY TO NAME A FEW.

    Expenses $243,745

  • 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 15,794 POUNDS OF FOOD. DISTRIBUTION OF 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 60 COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE BOXES (CSA) WITH OUR COLLABORATING COMMUNITY PARTNER ABCD. PRODUCE PROVIDED FROM OVER 130 PLUS CROP VARIETIES. "RUNNING A WEEKLY FARMSTAND THAT SERVED AN AMAZING INCREASE OF COMMUNITY SHOPPERS FROM 2500 CUSTOMERS IN 2023 TO SHY OF 3000 IN 2024 (20% INCREASE) MANY OF WHOM WERE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT RELIED UPON HIP/SNAP, WIC AND CITY OF BOSTON FARM MARKET COUPONS. UFI ALSO CONTINUED ITS OWN UFI FARM STAND COUPON TO EASE THE COST OF FRESH PRODUCE PER BAG. "SEEDLING GROWTH AND SALES OF SEEDLING PLANTS: UFI HAD OVER 250 CUSTOMERS FOR 2 SEEDLING SALES ATTENDED BY 250 PEOPLE. 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 $597,886 · Revenue $131,886

  • COMPLETING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PURCHASE FOWLER CLARK EPSTEIN FARM AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TWO-AND-A-HALF-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UFI PURCHASED THE HISTORIC FOWLER CLARK EPSTEIN FARM IN MATTAPAN IN JANUARY OF 2024. THIS MEANS THAT THE FARMLAND, HISTORIC HOUSE AND BARN, ARE NOW OWNED 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 $30,086

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • PATRICIA SPENCE

    EXEC DIR/ PR

    Total calculated
    $138,332
    From this org
    $130,901
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,431
    Hours/week
    40

  • JUSTIN BING BRODERICK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ABDI ALI EDD

    CLERK

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SHOMA HAQUE

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GREGORY MASLOWE

    DIRECTOR

    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

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $3,345,331
    Expenses
    $1,853,852
    Contributions
    $3,067,542
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $3,091,127
    Expenses
    $1,565,063
    Contributions
    $3,013,141
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $3,609,124
    Expenses
    $1,393,922
    Contributions
    $3,456,709
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,305,440
    Expenses
    $1,302,091
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,728,852

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,843,610
    Expenses
    $936,075
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,841,942

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $725,949
    Expenses
    $711,692
    Assets (EOY)
    $938,639

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,324,346
    Expenses
    $624,177
    Assets (EOY)
    $887,597

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

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

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

  • Exemption revoked 15 May 2014, reinstated 15 May 2014.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.