Nonprofit · EIN 75-3166329
ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL
Tax-exempt · ASHEVILLE, NC 28806
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $751,086 | $692,224 | $58,862 | $178,715 | $14,393 | $164,322 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $550,881 | $742,430 | -$191,549 | $135,371 | $30,621 | $104,750 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,169,519 | $1,090,937 | $78,582 | $453,291 | $156,992 | $296,299 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $673,052
- of which government grants
- $131,043
- Program service revenue
- $76,460
- Investment income
- $445
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $367
- Other revenue
- $1,129
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $128,972
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $70,357
- Other salaries and wages
- $279,384
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $384,927
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $2,230
- Occupancy
- $13,205
- Travel
- $22,228
- Program services (functional)
- $568,644
- Management and general (functional)
- $72,232
- Fundraising (functional)
- $51,348
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $135,371
- Total assets, end of year
- $178,715
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $14,393
- Net assets, end of year
- $164,322
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $164,322
- Gross receipts
- $800,638
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 90
- Year formed
- 2006
- State of legal domicile
- NC
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 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Farlow | Executive Director Officer, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $71,187 |
| Michael Higgins | Director of Finance and Admin Officer | 20 | $31,930 |
| Mary Bulan | Board Member Former | 1 | $0 |
| Macon York Costlow | Board Member Former | 1 | $0 |
| Tarinii Shanai | Board Member Former | 1 | $0 |
| Hannah Bundy | Board Member Former | 1 | $0 |
| Felicianna Marquez | Board Member Former | 1 | $0 |
| Mads Mirassou | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Robert Turner | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Kady Brotherton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Mandy Helwig | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Tim Burke | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Thomas Leonard | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tina Angott | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sass Ayres | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erica Blumenfeld | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Susanne Hackett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 14 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Farlow | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $60,840 | $1,780 |
| Michael Higgins | Director of Finance Officer | 20 | $33,617 | $0 |
| Bob Turner | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Saunders Bulan | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Hannah Bundy | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kady Brotherton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tim Burke | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Macon York Costlow | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Mandy Helwig | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Thomas Leonard | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Rachel Letcher | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Maddie Mirassou | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Ta'rin'ii Shanai | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Felicianna Marquez | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Farlow | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $60,840 |
| Bob Turner | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| Mary Saunders Bulan | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| Hannah Bundy | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| Kady Brotherton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| Macon York Costlow | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 |
| Mandy Helwig | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 |
| Maddie Mirassou | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 |
| Ta'rin'ii Shanai | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 |
| Felicianna Marquez | Board Member Trustee or director | 2.5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 38 HAWK HILL RD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806-0093
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Michael Higgins, 38 HAWK HILL RD, Asheville, NC 288060093
- Signed the 990
- MICHAEL HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
- Phone
- (224) 763-3694
Mission
Through accessible peer-to-peer education and collaborative networks Organic Growers School empowers individuals and communities in Southern Appalachia to advance organic growing practices strengthen local food systems and promote food sovereignty in ways that nourish both people and the planet.
Program accomplishments
- Spring Conference: For over 30 years OGS has hosted an annual Spring Conference which is one of the largest grassroots gatherings of this kind in the Southeastern US with over 1000 people participating over a three day period. The conference inspires and educates people to farm garden and live organically by providing affordable practical and hands-on education. Farmer Programs: OGS offers a complete farm education curriculum from aspiring to new to experienced farmers through the following programs: Farm Dreams is for those in the exploratory stages of starting their own farm. This entry-level workshop provides practical common sense information on sustainable farming and how to move forward. Farm Beginnings is training for the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: clear goals production experience financial and marketing know-how and more. Farm Beginnings will help build these skills through a one year of farmer-led training mentoring and networking. CRAFT Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training is a peer-to-peer farmer-led effort to bring established farmers farm apprentices and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture. Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. Forest Farming is a series of workshops aimed to train beginning forest farmers and land stewards to understand the opportunities and sustainable production of woodland botanicals and forest products. Organic Crop Management is a webinar series that provides growers with strategies and tools to manage soil health weeds pests and diseases for the whole farm. Organic Growing and Living: Programs such as Homegrown Dreams and Gardening Series help people gain knowledge on sustainable living and growing through various workshops designed to meet their needs. Fiscal Sponsorship: OGS is a fiscal sponsor of the Food Justice Planning Initiative FJPI. FJPI transitioned to a stand alone 501c3 in 2025 called WNC Food Systems Coalition Inc. They are primarily funded through grants. Grant income of $153,525 and program expenses of $31,026 related to these fiscal sponsorships are included in the OGS financial resultsExpenses $568,644 · grants $128,972 · revenue $77,589
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 75-3166329
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B60)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $135,371
- Income (IRS master file)
- $551,482
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $751,086 | $692,224 | $178,715 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $550,881 | $742,430 | $135,371 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $1,169,519 | $1,090,937 | $453,291 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $994,444 | $897,329 | $281,092 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | 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 75-3166329).
Questions about ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL
- What is the EIN of ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL is 75-3166329.
- Is ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL 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 ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Michael Higgins.
- Who are the officers and directors of ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $71,187 (Cameron Farlow, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $751,086, expenses of $692,224 and total assets of $178,715 at year end.
Other nonprofits in ASHEVILLE
- MOUNTAIN AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER INC EIN 56-1071426 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ASHEVILLE SCHOOL INCORPORATED EIN 56-0530248 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL INC EIN 56-0125490 · last filed 990 for 2025
- INVEST COLLEGIATE IMAGINE INC EIN 82-2635693 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FRANKLIN SCHOOL OF INNOVATION INC EIN 46-1548530 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BUNCOMBE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN INC EIN 56-1942178 · last filed 990 for 2025
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FOUNDATION INC EIN 23-7073829 · last filed 990 for 2025
- EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL EIN 56-2094405 · last filed 990 for 2025