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 9 farmers' markets, and technical assistance to an additional 13 markets and farm stands, to ensure that low-income populations have equitable access to healthy food. In 2022 alchemist cdc partnered with nextgen policy to co-sponsor sb907(pan): local, equitable, access to food (leaf) which was successfully signed into law. This law, once funded, will direct state funds to certified farmers' markets in california to provide high quality ebt access and will fund technical assistance support. Alchemist also offered calfresh application assistance and implemented 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 2022, alchemist cdc processed 39,673 calfresh transactions, and facilitated the distribution of 732,607 in calfresh and 523,784 in market match incentives to low income households.”

“Alchemist kitchen: alchemist kitchen is a food business incubator focusing on entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds and under-resourced communities. In 2022, the program served 49 businesses. The entrepreneurs we've served are 74% entrepreneurs of color, 57% low-income, 67% female, 37% lgbtqia+, 26% entrepreneurs with a disability and 4% veterans. The alchemist microenterprise academy (ama) is a 12-week food business training program covering fundamental topics for starting and growing a food business. In 2022 we graduated 36 businesses across two cohorts with each cohort of ama having over 48 hours of instruction and 25 guest instructors. 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 2021 we grew the number of businesses in the incubator program to 19, providing them a combined total of over 318 hours of 1-on-1 technical assistance. Incubator program participants used 1,057 hours at alchemist kitchen and had a combined total of over 390,000 in sales. We also connected these businesses to over 36,000 in grants.”

“Neighborhood empowerment: alchemist cdc served as the fiscal sponsor for multiple grassroots community projects, including: 1) community connections 95820 project, which provides free weekly local produce deliveries to high-need, food- insecure families in south sacramento; 2) community fruit project coordinates volunteers to harvest fruit from residential trees and redistributes it to food banks and directly to local residents; 3) composting and climate education project provides quarterly remote workshops on household composting and related climate benefits. Additionally, 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 and community gathering spaces. These 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 kitchen and children's garden/creative space); and the pansy community garden park (featuring 9 rentable plots, children's playground, picnic area and 5 fruit trees). Alchemist cdc additionally provides community engagement and operational support for the mirasol village community garden, featuring 68 plots, over 30 fruit trees and grape vines, and an outdoor kitchen and education area. 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: participated 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. Advocated for systems change in order to address these issues.”

“Temporarily restricted net assets 448,750”