Nonprofit · EIN 26-2131406
SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD
Tax-exempt · IMPERIAL BCH, CA 91933
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $199,876 | $343,220 | -$143,344 | $51,410 | $0 | $51,410 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $41,547 | $37,752 | $3,795 | $194,754 | $0 | $194,754 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $191,355 | $4,441 | $186,914 | $190,959 | $0 | $190,959 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $199,876
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $337,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $0
- Other expenses
- $6,220
- Program services (functional)
- $337,000
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $194,754
- Total assets, end of year
- $51,410
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $51,410
- Cash, savings and investments
- $51,410
- Gross receipts
- $199,876
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Groves | President | 1 | $0 |
| Mel Lions | Secretary-Treasurer | 5 | $0 |
| Richard Winkler | Director | 1 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024: 3 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Groves | President | 1 | $0 |
| Mel Lions | Secretary-Treasurer | 4 | $0 |
| Richard Winkler | Director | 1 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 3 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Groves | President | 1 | $0 |
| Mel Lions | Secretary-Treasurer | 4 | $0 |
| Richard Winkler | Director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 153, IMPERIAL BCH, CA 91933-0153
- In care of
- % MEL LIONS
- Signed the 990-EZ
- Mel Lions, Secretary/Treasurer
- Phone
- (619) 602-4721
- Website
- sandiegoroots.org
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 26-2131406 or by the name SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
The organization is chartered to strengthen the local food landscape in the San Diego region; provide a local food network between the community and local farms; Educate and demonstrate sustainable farming practices to support and grow San Diego's local food economy; preserve local farms and farmers; and conserve associated wildlands.
Program accomplishments
- In furtherance of our Purposes and Mission, and to meet our underserved community's need to access healthy food that has been otherwise unavailable, in 2023 San Diego Roots began accepting donations under an attorney-advised, Model C fiscal-sponsorship contract with a community- organized and -led initiative to open a cooperative grocery store in the racially diverse, low-income, food-desert/food-swamp community of Imperial Beach, California, where San Diego Roots is based. Because of Imperial Beach's demographics, retail grocery chains are not interested in siting stores in the city, which is dominated by convenience stores and fast-food chains. To effect this partnership, San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project has a Model C Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement and an MOU with SunCoast Market Co-op, a registered California Cooperative Corporation, acting as its own agency and separately insured, working to open this community-owned grocery store in order to address a critical lack of access to healthy food. In 2025 SunCoast Market Co-op was pre-revenue, with an opening date scheduled for early 2026. In alignment with San Diego Roots' nonprofit Purposes and Mission, the store will prioritize sourcing produce from local farms, as well as purchasing healthy grocery products from local businesses in order to support and strengthen the local food economy. Funds to open the store have been donated primarily by small donors and local businesses. The donated funds are held in a bank account separate from the general operating account of San Diego Roots, with donations and expenses classified and recorded separately from the nonprofit's general funds. For our services, San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project is paid a commission of 5% of donations raised. During the year, San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project distributed $337,000 to SunCoast Market Co-op to help open the store.Expenses $337,000
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 26-2131406
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2008
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $51,410
- Income (IRS master file)
- $199,876
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $199,876 | $343,220 | $51,410 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2024 | $41,547 | $37,752 | $194,754 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $191,355 | $4,441 | $190,959 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-2131406).
Questions about SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD
- What is the EIN of SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD is 26-2131406.
- Is SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2008.
- Are donations to SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 3 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $199,876, expenses of $343,220 and total assets of $51,410 at year end.
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