Food Works
Food Works is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable food economy in Southern Illinois. Through farmer training and consumer education, Food Works promotes long-term farming networks that create healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities in the 23 counties that make up Southern Illinois
Food Works at a glance
- Total assets
- $596,797
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $484,456
- -34.2% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $544,619
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Food Works funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2023) to $43K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $43K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf Tunnel Hill, IL | Food Works sub contracts with LEAF which supports local farmers who supply fresh produce for local farmers' markets and mobile food market program in Southern IL. They were part of the RX Food pilot project. | $43,230 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $596,797 | $484,456 | $544,619 | — | — |
| 2024 | $682,377 | $735,725 | $533,598 | $43,230 | 1 |
| 2023 | $565,316 | $633,141 | $397,988 | $34,960 | 1 |
| 2022 | $130,632 | $423,434 | $292,802 | — | — |
| 2021 | $6,030 | $49,893 | $71,624 | — | — |
| 2020 | $9,403 | $29,812 | $45,936 | — | — |
| 2019 | $7,527 | $49,978 | $45,739 | — | — |
About Food Works
Based on IRS filings
Food Works is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Carbondale, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $597K in total assets.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Food Works is led by Jennifer Paulson, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 26 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Paulson
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
30.6 hrs/week
$7K (2019) → $58K (2025)
Jeb Asirvatham
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Esling
Farmer Services Director
Carbondale Community Farmers Market Manager → Mfm & Wfm Market Manager, 2024
Mfm & Wfm Market Manager → Farmer Services Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $43K (2025)
Libby Ervin
Assistant Director
Market Coordinator → Farming Alliance & Market Coordinator, 2021
Farming Alliance & Market Coordinator → Assistant Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
25 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $32K (2025)
Kyle J McAdams
Operations Coordinator
Office Assistant Extra Help → Operations Coordinator, 2025
On filings since 2022
27.5 hrs/week
$360 (2022) → $27K (2025)
Elizabeth Mikso-DeRuntz
Deputy Director
Project Manager → Deputy Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$9K (2023) → $52K (2025)
Jennifer Duensing
Coordinator of Farmer Training Programs
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$36K (2023) → $5K (2025)
Samantha Mauro
Rx Manager & Graphic Designer
Mobile Farmers Market Assistant → Rx Manager & Graphic Designer, 2025
On filings since 2023
16 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $14K (2025)
Alessandra Nicholson
Social Media & Special Events Coordinator
Communications & Special Events Coordinator → Social Media & Special Events Coordinator, 2025
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$128 (2024) → $5K (2025)
Lova Andersson
Mfm Market Assistant
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $3K (2025)
Morgan C Schmitt
Mfm Market Assistant, Wfm Kids Club & Sol Farm Manager
Extra Help → Mfm Market Assistant, Wfm Kids Club & Sol Farm Manager, 2025
On filings since 2024
7 hrs/week
$409 (2024) → $5K (2025)
Noah Scalero
Farm Beginnings Manager
Frm Beginnings Facilitator → Farm Beginnings Manager, 2025
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
$7K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Annaleigh Glory Stanwood
Market Assistant
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Blayne Harris
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$2K (2025)
Brandi Lybarger
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Brooke Kohlbrecher
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$750 (2025)
Charlotte K O'Neill
Extra Help
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Daniel Bronson Houle
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Dena Haun
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Elizabeth Virginia Graznak
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$2K (2025)
Indigo Arlette Seiler-Fuller
Wfm Manager & Mfm Market Assistant
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Jaleigh Peterson
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Justin Narusis
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Mildred K Matfeldt-Beman
Market Assistant & Extra Help
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Mitchell Elston
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Portia Rose Carrera
Intern
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$657 (2025)
Shannon Peiffer
Extra Help
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$750 (2025)
Kathryn Head
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Hambleton
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aur Beck
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Queriapa-Valdes
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nwamaka Anaza
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Karen Jensen-Britton (2020–2024) — Market Manager
- Former: Regan W Roberts (2022–2024) — Extra Help
- Former: Mark L Fisher (2023–2024) — Extra Help
- Former: Arlette M Seller-Fuller (2024) — Extra Help
- Former: Kennedy Rawlings (2024) — Extra Help
- Former: Marika Josephson (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Marjorie Sawicki (2019–2023) — Program Director Farm Beginnings
- Former: Sarah N Koth (2021–2022) — Market Director
- Former: Charles Bradley (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jill Rendleman (2019–2021) — President of Board of Directors
- Former: Karen Schauwecker (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Miller (2019–2020) — Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Former: Rhea Joslin (2019–2020) — Farmers Market Assistant
- Former: Kathy Head (2020) — Director
- Former: Brad Genung (2019) — Vice President of the Board of Directors
- Former: Jessie Jo Warner (2019) — Farmers Market Manager
- Former: Sandra Sorensen (2019) — Farm Beginnings Coordinator
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 $58K, to Jennifer Paulson (Executive Director). 26 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Food Works
How large is Food Works?
Food Works reported $597K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $484K.
What is Food Works?
Food Works is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Carbondale, IL. It holds $597K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Food Works operate?
Food Works has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Food Works's EIN?
Food Works's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3662215. 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 15, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Food Works funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Food Works's focus areas in our free grants database
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Food Works down — hundreds of funders to go?