Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures' mission is to support local farms and strengthen local food systems. We provide business assistance, flexible loans, and strategic resources to farmers and food producers in Berkshire county, ma; Litchfield county, ct; and columbia and Dutchess counties, ny. In 2024, we provided over $420,000 in loans and served approximately 100 clients with well over 2,000 hours of business assistance. Our work has an impact on our local economy and community by helping farms grow and thrive, expanding access to local food, and keeping land in agriculture.
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc at a glance
In short: Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc gave $128K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $127,781
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,254
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $3,168,944
- +28.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Local Meat Processing Support Program
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Market Match Fund
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Market Match Fund Grant
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling
Who Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Adams Farmers Market ($32K). Together the top 7 received $128K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 29 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $76K (2020) to $531K (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $128K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Adams Farmers Market North Adams, MA | Market Match Program | $32,000 |
| Roots Rising Pittsfield, MA | Market Match Program | $31,281 |
| Great Barrington Farmers Market Great Barrington, MA | Market Match Program | $26,000 |
| MX Morning Star Claverack, NY | Market Match Program | $15,000 |
| Berkshire Grown Great Barrington, MA | Market Match Program | $10,000 |
| Williamstown Farmers Market Williamstown, MA | Market Match Program | $7,000 |
| Sonrisas Cheshire, MA | Market Match Program | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,168,944 | $2,132,615 | $1,467,493 | $127,781 | 7 | $32,889 |
| 2024 | $2,469,780 | $1,942,943 | $1,643,640 | $109,950 | 6 | $25,835 |
| 2023 | $2,102,645 | $1,499,229 | $1,354,230 | $132,995 | 5 | $10,650 |
| 2022 | $1,736,009 | $1,691,955 | $1,153,507 | $131,063 | 7 | $12,819 |
| 2021 | $1,616,175 | $1,451,156 | $993,269 | $530,961 | 4 | $7,777 |
| 2020 | $654,933 | $282,799 | $433,504 | $75,635 | 7 | $7,285 |
| 2019 | $889,141 | $528,324 | $410,473 | $104,320 | 5 | $4,519 |
About Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
Based on IRS filings
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Great Barrington, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $128K. Net investment income was $33K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc is led by Rebecca Busansky, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rebecca Busansky
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$62K (2023) → $99K (2025)
Maryann Tebben
President
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Bergman
Director
Interim Executive Director → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$48K (2021) → $0 (2025)
David Valicenti
Director
Director → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Moriarty
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Freund
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Page
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Gardner
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meg Bantle
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mimi Beaven
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Schaeffer
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Don Perdue
Clerk
Vice President → Director, 2020
Director → Clerk, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Rasmussen
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Thomas Gardner (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Cynthia Pansing (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Jennifer Dowley (2019–2020) — Clerk
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $99K, to Rebecca Busansky (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc
How much does Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc give each year?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc gave $128K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $110K across 6 grants.
What is Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's typical grant size?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $18,254, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc give grants?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Great Barrington, MA (2 grants).
Does Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Market Match Program" (7 grants).
Who are Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's largest grantees?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's largest 2025 grantees include North Adams Farmers Market ($32,000), Roots Rising ($31,281) and Great Barrington Farmers Market ($26,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.1M.
What is Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Great Barrington, MA. It holds $3.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's EIN?
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4386302. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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