Organic Growers School
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.
Organic Growers School at a glance
In short: Organic Growers School gave $124K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $124K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $124,137
- +2209.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $124,137
- Median grant
- $124,137
- Total assets
- $178,715
- +32.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Organic Growers School funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WNC Food Systems Coalition Inc ($124K).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 6 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Organic Growers School gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2024) to $235K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $124K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WNC Food Systems Coalition Inc Old Fort, NC | Donation to WNC Food Systems Coalition who we fiscally sponsored | $124,137 |
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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 | $178,715 | $751,086 | $692,224 | $124,137 | 1 | $445 |
| 2024 | $135,371 | $550,881 | $742,430 | $5,375 | Total only | $-376 |
| 2023 | $453,291 | $1,169,519 | $1,090,937 | $235,066 | 3 | — |
| 2022 | $281,092 | $994,444 | $897,329 | $113,733 | 2 | — |
| 2021 | $238,120 | $442,497 | $391,404 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $172,228 | $490,386 | $519,596 | — | — | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Organic Growers School
Based on IRS filings
Organic Growers School is a public charity focused on Education, based in Asheville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $179K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $124K. Net investment income was $445.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Organic Growers School is led by Cameron Farlow, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cameron Farlow
Executive Director
Current Executive Director → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $71K (2025)
Michael Higgins
Director of Finance & Administrator
Director of Finance → Director of Finance & Administrator, 2025
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
$34K (2024) → $32K (2025)
Macon York Costlow
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Saunders Bulan
Board Member
Treasurer → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarinii Shanai
Board Member
Board Member → Co-Chair, 2021
Co-Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannah Bundy
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Felicianna Marquez
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kady Brotherton
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mandy Helwig
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Leonard
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Burke
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Blumenfeld
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mads Mirassou
Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Turner
Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sass Ayres
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susanne Hackett
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Angott
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Bob Turner (2021–2024) — Co-Chair
- Former: Maddie Mirassou (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Rachel Letcher (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Cathy Cleary (2020–2022) — Co-Chair
- Former: Ellie Wigodsky (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Deborah Gibb (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Peter Brezny (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Alison Czeczuga (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Eileen Lee Warren (2020–2021) — Prior Executive Director
- Former: Rodney Bowling (2020–2021) — Director of Administration
- Former: Zo Mpofu (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Eric Christiansen (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Bob Goettling (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Ellen Chelmis (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kimberly Hunter (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $71K, to Cameron Farlow (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Organic Growers School
How much does Organic Growers School give each year?
Organic Growers School gave $124K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $5K in grants paid.
How large is Organic Growers School?
Organic Growers School reported $179K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $751K.
What is Organic Growers School?
Organic Growers School is a public charity focused on Education, based in Asheville, NC. It holds $179K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Organic Growers School operate?
Organic Growers School has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Organic Growers School's EIN?
Organic Growers School's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-3166329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Organic Growers School funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Organic Growers School's focus areas in our free grants database
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Organic Growers School down — hundreds of funders to go?