Alchemist CDC

“Process of board review of form 990: electronic copy emailed to all board members with several days provided for them to either comment/edit or approve electronic filings of forms. Compiling of comments is coordinated by the operations director.”

“When individuals initially join the board, they sign an agreement that includes a statement that they must declare any conficts of interest. Board members are reminded of this obligation at subsequent board meetings (at least annually) and at the time of officer elections. The entire board reviews any declared actual, perceived or potential conflicts. Mitigations are agreed upon.”

“A comparative analysis was made with data from other nonprofit organizations, and from this data an average pay was calculated and adjusted appropriately to expected budgetary limitations.”

“A comparative analysis was made with data from other nonprofit organizations, and from this data an average pay was calculated and adjusted appropriately to expected budgetary limitations.”

“The organization's forms 990 and 1023 are made available on its website. The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available to the public by request with a notice posted on the organization's website.”

“Alchemist cdc connects sacramento area communities to land, food, and opportunity toward a vision in which all neighborhoods are vibrant, equitable, healthy, and diverse. We are best known for enhancing the quality of life in under-resourced communities by improving access to nutritious foods, implementing community-supported public green spaces, and fostering economic self-sufficiency through business entrepreneurship.”

“Farmers' market programs: provided calfresh processing services for 7 farmers' markets, and technical assistance to an additional 13 markets, to ensure that low-income populations have equitable access to healthy food. Also offered the market match incentive program that matches calfresh benefits spent at farmers' markets. Market match empowers low-income shoppers to make healthy food choices by overcoming financial barriers. It supports job creation, local economic development, and civic engagement by leveraging the benefits of farmers' markets for a broader community. In 2020, alchemist cdc processed over 25,000 calfresh transactions, and facilitated the distribution of over 171,710 in market match incentives to low income households.”

“Food business training and incubator: alchemist kitchen is a food business incubator focusing on entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds and under-resourced communities. Through the end of 2020, the program has served 69 entrepreneurs, of whom 71% are low- income, 63% are entrepreneurs of color, 61% are women, 22% are lgbtqia+, and 14% are entrepreneurs with a disability. The alchemist kitchen incubator program (akip) provides one-on-one support, goal planning, connections to resources and opportunities, and reduced-rent at commercial kitchen spaces for participating food businesses. In 2020 akip provided over 140 hours of individualized consulting and technical assistance, and over 210 hours of commercial kitchen time at a reduced rate. The alchemist microenterprise academy (ama) is a 12-week food business training program covering fundamental topics for starting and growing a food business. We graduated our largest cohort to-date with 22 businesses completing the ama training program.”

“Fiscal sponsorship program: recognizing that community residents often have the best insight and ideas for addressing their own community's needs, we see alchemist's role as building a trellis that provides the structure and support on which grassroots efforts can flourish and grow. Alchemist cdc served as the fiscal sponsor for the community connections 95820 project, and the community fruit project. Community connections 95820 is a coalition that formed in order to rapidly redesign food systems in the 95820 zip code area in response to covid-19 shifts in emergency food services. This project is helping families without transportation, single parents, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals access food on a regular and consistent basis. This program provides a week's worth of food to 40 families every week. The community fruit project coordinates volunteers to harvest fruit from residential trees and redistributes it to food banks and directly to local residents.”

“Other programs: neighborhood development: alchemist cdc is committed to working with local neighbors to remake blighted land into vibrant, neighborhood amenities through direct community engagement, design and hands-on participation in creating public gardens, community gathering spaces and privately owned public spaces- leading to a sense of place. Our neighborhood development projects include: the oak park art garden (featuring a 15-fruit tree public food forest, native pollinator garden, spray art free wall, and art installations); oak park sol community garden (featuring 17 rentable plots, an outdoor demonstration kitchen and children's garden/creative space); and the pansy community garden park (currently in construction phase - will feature 6 rentable plots, children's playground, picnic area and 5 fruit trees). These publicly accessible community spaces provide a place to grow food, express and share creativity, demonstrate sustainable practices, share knowledge and build community connectivity. Other programs: participate in collaborative partnerships to develop and explore solutions to improve regional food systems, community redevelopment and related health and wellbeing challenges for low-income and under-resourced neighborhoods. Advocate for systems change in order to address these issues.”