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' markets operations in 2024, alchemist cdc took over management of two established farmers' markets in sacramento including: florin certified farmers' market and rancho cordova certified farmers' market (formerly sunrise certified farmers' market). Alchemist also launched meadowview certified farmers' market in the meadowview neighborhood in south sacramento - an area that is considered a food desert. Three experienced market managers were hired to coordinate operations of these markets. Between march and december of 2024, alchemist's three certified farmers' markets were open for a combined 110 market days, providing a space for 110,929 customers to buy locally-grown food from a combined 92 small, family farmers.”

“Neighborhood empowerment & community gardens: 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 (under construction and not yet available for public use); 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 also 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.”

“Calfresh at farmers' markets: provided calfresh (supplemental nutrition assistance benefits) processing services for 9 farmers' markets, and technical assistance to an additional 12 partner markets and farm stands, to ensure that low-income populations have equitable access to healthy food. Alchemist also implemented the market match incentive program, that matched calfresh benefits spent at farmers' markets with additional funds to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from california farmers. Market match empowers low-income shoppers to make healthy food choices by overcoming financial barriers. In 2024, alchemist cdc processed 45,576 calfresh transactions, and facilitated the distribution of 798,231 in calfresh benefits, and 802,824 in market match incentives to low-income households (combined alchemist cdc and partner markets).”

“Community food connections (cfc): provided food access support to 296 families identified by sacramento unified school district (scusd) staff as food, housing, and/or transportation insecure enrolled in 47 scusd schools (1,289 people supported monthly, 60% were children). This included 23,367 in fresh seasonal produce procured from local farmers, which was distributed to targeted food-insecure families. Spearheaded a project to impact food security school-wide by increasing participation in school-provided breakfast, while expanding program capacity to provide targeted school-based and home delivery of food boxes, focused on vulnerable subgroups, identifying improvement opportunities for the scusd nutrition services team. Additionally, launched community meals, a monthly event where unhoused families, part of the city of sacramento project homekey motel voucher program, are offered nutritious meals that can be replicated with their limited resources, while helping them connect with other resources to help them meet their basic needs. Community volunteers and students supported cfc providing over 2,104 hours to pack, deliver and/or support the event logistics at the community meals. Distributed 42,000 pounds of food in 2024. Alchemist kitchen: alchemist kitchen is a food business incubator focusing on entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds and under-resourced communities. In 2024, the program served 64 businesses. Since the program's inception, the entrepreneurs we've served are 73% entrepreneurs of color, 63% low-income, 63% female, 21% lgbtqia+, 18% entrepreneurs with a disability and 3% 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 2024 we graduated 31 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 2024 we grew the number of businesses in the incubator program to 28, providing them a combined total of over 600 hours of 1-on-1 technical assistance. Incubator program participants used over 1,500 hours at alchemist kitchen (shared commercial kitchen space), and had a combined total of over 980,000 in sales. Alchemist public markets: alchemist public market is a forthcoming community hub in sacramento's river district. The site will feature a caf, corner market, a shared-use kitchen, coworking space, food pods, and all-electric trailer incubators that will support emerging food entrepreneurs from our alchemist kitchen programs. Alongside retail and dining spaces, the market will house alchemist workforce academy, a new program offering restaurant and hospitality training and career pathways for participants facing barriers to employment. Together, these elements create a space that blends entrepreneurship, workforce development, and food access in a single, inclusive development. In 2024, we advanced alchemist public market from concept to schematic design and, by year's end, into design development, while recalibrating plans in response to rising costs and shifting program needs. Budgets were most impacted by increases in general construction costs, fears of tariffs and an unstable economy, and higher prevailing wage requirements. One key adjustment made to keep the project financially viable included shifting designs toward the inclusion of all-electric trailers and four food pods, rather than eight fully built pods. At the same time, alchemist made the strategic decision to operate workforce development and the caf, bar, and market directly in-house rather than rely on a third-party operator, strengthening alignment with its mission and long-term financial sustainability. By summer, a construction manager had been hir”

“Net change in restricted net assets -205,805”