Nonprofit · EIN 83-3696014
THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC
Tax-exempt · ASHEVILLE, NC 28801
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $879,795 | $527,669 | $352,126 | $660,719 | $6,467 | $654,252 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $400,975 | $311,316 | $89,659 | $303,489 | $1,363 | $302,126 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $235,852 | $232,693 | $3,159 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $816,625
- of which government grants
- $91,978
- Program service revenue
- $51,451
- Investment income
- $10,163
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $4,801
- Other revenue
- $1,556
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $3,100
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $81,869
- Other salaries and wages
- $172,320
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $283,103
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $18,212
- Occupancy
- $14,850
- Travel
- $4,731
- Depreciation
- $17,677
- Program services (functional)
- $444,816
- Management and general (functional)
- $80,878
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,975
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $303,489
- Total assets, end of year
- $660,719
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,467
- Net assets, end of year
- $654,252
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $16,371
- Gross receipts
- $879,795
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Year formed
- 2018
- 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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Smith | Executive Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $81,869 | $2,456 |
| Yanna Fishman | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 8 | $0 | $0 |
| Jamie Swofford | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| Jacob Rutz | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Jay Bost | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Luis Martinez | Board Member Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Shelby Mandonado | Board Member Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Smith | Executive Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $72,068 |
| Yanna Fishman | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 8 | $0 |
| Jamie Swofford | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 |
| Jacob Rutz | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| Jay Bost | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Luis Martinez | Board Member Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Shelby Mandonado | Board Member Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Smith | Executive Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $64,039 | $5,600 |
| Yanna Fishman | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Jamie Swofford | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Jacob Rutz | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Asheligh Shanti | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tamarya Simms | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Jay Bost | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Brandon Ruiz | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 243 HAYWOOD ST, ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2618
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Chris Smith, 1577 Alexander Rd, Leicester, NC 28748
- Signed the 990
- Chris Smith, Executive Director
- Phone
- (828) 254-0708
- Return prepared by
- Green Bean Counters LLC
Mission
Our mission is to cultivate, research, and celebrate resiliency in food and farming via crop diversity. Through innovative practices, education, and collaboration, we aim to build a thriving culture of seed sovereignty and agrobiodiversity.
Program accomplishments
- Crop Trials: Our crop trials form the core research of our work. We conduct on-farm trials for crop and variety diversity. Our farms are also a site for education and learning, where we host interns, mentorship programs, and student groups.Expenses $230,413 · grants $500 · revenue $380,309
- Leichester Food Coalition: In 2025, we engaged with our hyper-local community to build deeper food and farming connections, which included a community dinner series, supporting the local Leicester Library Giving Garden, and supporting local food purchasing for local distribution.Expenses $42,245 · revenue $19,362
- Crop Stories: A multi-media project to celebrate and educate around crop diversity. In 2025 we published and distributed Peas, a crop-specific print magazine, recorded and launched an audio podcast companion to the Collard Magazine, and hosted Seed Story Gathering with video production.Expenses $53,652 · revenue $14,908
- All Other Programs: Cultivating Resilience, Nurturing DiversityExpenses $118,506 · grants $2,600 · revenue $435,987
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 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 83-3696014
- 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
- 2020
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Food, agriculture and nutrition (K05)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $660,719
- Income (IRS master file)
- $879,795
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $879,795 | $527,669 | $660,719 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $400,975 | $311,316 | $303,489 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $235,852 | $232,693 | $0 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $281,578 | $174,885 | $209,416 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 83-3696014).
Questions about THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC
- What is the EIN of THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC is 83-3696014.
- Is THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2020.
- Are donations to THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC 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 THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC 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 THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Chris Smith.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $81,869 (Chris Smith, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $879,795, expenses of $527,669 and total assets of $660,719 at year end.
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All nonprofits in ASHEVILLE · North Carolina · Food, agriculture and nutrition