2026-05-14T21:08:44-07:00 2025-12-31 990 2025-01-01 263662215 FOOD WORKS FOOD 6183703287 PO Box 3855 Carbondale IL 62902 Jennifer Paulson Executive Director 6183703287 2026-04-16 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Food Works Food Works PO Box 3855 Carbondale IL 62902 484456 0 X www.fwsoil.org X 2008 IL 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. 6 0 28 20 0 0 694326 439525 41399 44931 0 0 0 0 735725 484456 89655 0 0 0 264301 327881 0 0 382 179642 216738 533598 544619 202127 -60163 682377 596797 18000 13923 664377 582874 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 0 0 80658 0 79893 1.Food Access: Our Food Access programs are striving to make it easier and more affordable for our community to fill up their plates with locally grown, nutritious food. We are breaking down barriers for that to happen, such as expense, the need for transportation, and access to fresh foods. According to 2023 data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, 15% of southern Illinois' population, over 100,000 people, are food insecure. In this area, we have the right climate to be growing produce year round, with the ability to feed ourselves and those around us. The Mobile Farmers Market and Rural Roots Rx Program reduce the transportation barrier by bringing a well-rounded selection of food into the counties that need it most, at an affordable cost. Link Hub helps facilitate $1 for $1 Link Match on fruits and veggies to help SNAP users stretch their food dollars further. The Winter Farmers Market bridges the gap during the colder months when fresh food options are limited. 70996 0 23570 2.SNAP & Link Match in Farmers Markets- This program expands equitable access to healthy, nutrient dense foods by supporting farmers markets to be able to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Link Match, a double coupon program for free fruits and vegetables. Food Works provides administrative set up and oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at local farmers markets and double value assistance for low income community members who buy from farmer markets. In 2025 Food Works provided support services to be able to accept SNAP, including healthy eating incentives for 428 farmer markets at 11 market locations. Food Works counted 85,939 customers and 5,631 vendors which recorded 1,196 total SNAP transactions. 36357 0 41217 3. Southern Illinois Farming Alliance (SIFA)- Food Works sponsors this farmer-driven network whose focus is to encourage area farmers to learn from each other. The Alliance provides peer-to-peer education and networking opportunities by organizing Field Days and a Regional Conference. In 2025 SIFA held 5 field days and workshop events. 2025 began with our annual SIFA Conference, held on January 14 at The Pavilion in Marion, Illinois. This one-day event is dedicated to advancing sustainable farming by offering resources, expert insights, and networking opportunities for farmers, homesteaders, and local food supporters. Keynote speaker Liz Graznak of Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Missouri, shared how her 16-acre diversified fruit, vegetable, and ornamental cut flower operation is adapting to the impacts of climate change. Six additional breakout sessions addressed topics ranging from organic pest control and strategies for finding farmland to insurance options and retirement planning for farmers. In 2025, two Pasture Walks offered behind-the-scenes tours of livestock farms that integrate multiple animal species into their grazing systems while improving soil and pasture health through rotational regenerative grazing practices. A hands-on Poultry Processing Workshop, held in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Modern Homesteading Series, provided a rare opportunity to learn chicken butchery and best practices for on-farm processing and sales. In 2025, changes to the Illinois Meat and Poultry Inspection Act increased the number of birds farmers may process on-farm, opening new opportunities for farmer entrepreneurs. December's soil health workshop focused on designing whole-farm fertility systems using locally available inputs. Fertile Ground: Whole-Farm Fertility Systems Design & Management brought together soil scientists, practitioners, farm designers, and growers to explore both the science of soil fertility and practical insights from farmers actively building soil health on their operations. Each event included a shared meal featuring ingredients sourced from southern Illinois farmers, creating space to build community and strengthen camaraderie among participants. Partnerships played a critical role in sustaining our farmer-focused educational programming following the sudden loss of funding from the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program early in the year. We extend our sincere thanks to the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, Illinois Farm Bureau, the University of Illinois Extension, the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery, Glacier's End, and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for their support. We are also grateful to Fresh Pasture Farms and The Flock Farm for generously opening their farms for educational programs. The Neighborhood Co-op Farm Crawl is an annual, weekend-long event where local farmers open their farms to the community. Participants have the opportunity to tour working farms, ask questions, and learn about the diversity of farming in our region. This year's crawl featured eight new farms, spanning from Anna to Marion, Illinois. Proceeds from the event benefit Food Works, and the 2025 Farm Crawl raised $3,407 in support of its mission. 48632 0 11688 Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings (SIFB)- Education program in entrepreneurial, regenerative small farm business that takes a holistic approach to farming and helps beginning farmers plan for resilient farms that can be nimble with the challenges of new business. Farm Beginnings(R), is an intensive training program for beginning and transitional farmers, which aims to create financially solvent and flourishing local farms through education and mentorship. Eight farms (11 participants) completed the program in 2025. They attended 24 sessions, where 29 farmers and expert speakers shared their insights with participants. Each received full scholarships to attend the program, plus stipends for evaluations, farm hosting, mentoring, speakers, and travel expenses. 225289 0 221030 Mobile Farmers Market (MFM)-Food Works Mobile Farmers Market is a farmers market on wheels that connects food insecure communities with fresh, healthy foods produced by local farmers. This program improves healthy food access in rural towns and counties in Southern Illinois, especially for low income households. From June to October, our Mobile Farmers Market brings food from over 25 local farmers and producers to sell to customers in locations where fresh foods might not be plentiful. MFM made 188 total market stops at nine regular market locations in three counties. Partnerships and sponsorships are crucial in helping us offset some of the costs of the food for our shoppers, while still being able to pay the farmers their fair share. The MFM accepts SNAP and Link Match, and in 2025 continued a Healthy Food Prescription Rx program in conjunction with local healthcare providers and LEAF (Little Egypt Area Farmers). The MFM benefits local producers by providing access to additional markets while allowing them to remain focused on production on the farm. The Mobile Food Van provided free home delivery so transportation was not a barrier to the program. 2410 0 100000 The Agrivoltaics Incubator Farm kicked off in October 2025 with a goal of producing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers within the solar array. The Farm is located within the Eldorado Solar Project, a 270 megawatt solar farm in Eldorado, IL. This project will: demonstrate the viability of agrivoltaics in the region train beginning or transitioning farmers in sustainable growing practices, and produce food for consumption in Saline and surrounding counties. 276331 0 332718 464342 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 28 28 1 28 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 IL X X Jennifer Paulson 6183703287 PO Box 3855 Carbondale IL 62902 X Jennifer Paulson Executive Director 30.6 0 X X 57751 0 0 Elizabeth Mikso-DeRuntz Deputy Director 40 0 X 52300 0 0 Ellen Esling Farmer Services Director 40 0 X 43240 0 0 Libby Ervin Assistant Director 25 0 X 32318 0 0 Kyle J McAdams Operations Coordinator 27.5 0 X 26666 0 0 Samantha Mauro RX Manager/Graphic Designer 16 0 X 14117 0 0 Noah Scalero Farm Beginnings Manager 10 0 X 10350 0 0 Jennifer Duensing Coordinator of Farmer Training Programs 5 0 X 5301 0 0 Morgan Schmitt MFM Market Asst/WFM Kids Club/Sol Farm Manager 7 0 X 5251 0 0 Alessandra Nicholson Social Media / Special Events Coordinator 6 0 X 5146 0 0 Mildred K Matfeldt-Beman Market Assistant/extra help 3 0 X 5000 0 0 Indigo Arlette Seiler-Fuller WFM Manager/MFM Market Assistant 5 0 X 4766 0 0 Lova Andersson MFM Market Assistant 4 0 X 3269 0 0 Charlotte K O'Neill Extra Help 2 0 X 2486 0 0 Annaleigh Glory Stanwood Market Assistant 5 0 X 2376 0 0 Elizabeth Virginia Graznak Intern 1 0 X 1830 0 0 Blayne Harris Intern 1 0 X 1500 0 0 Mitchell Elston Intern 1 X 1300 0 0 Dena Haun Intern 1 0 X 1300 0 0 Daniel Bronson Houle Intern 1 0 X 1300 0 0 Brandi Lybarger Intern 1 0 X 1300 0 0 Justin Narusis Intern 1 0 X 1300 0 0 Jaleigh Peterson Intern 1 0 X 1300 0 0 Legal Advocacy Headquarters LLC Legal Advisor 3 0 X 1140 0 0 Brooke Kohlbrecher Intern 1 0 X 750 0 0 Shannon Peiffer Extra Help 1 0 X 750 0 0 Portia Rose Carrera intern 1 0 X 657 0 0 Illinois Farmers Market Association Market outlet 1 0 X 649 0 0 Aur Beck Board Member 2 0 X 0 0 0 Gloria Queriapa-Valdes Board Member 2 0 X 0 0 0 Nwamaka Anaza Board Member 2 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Jeb Asirvatham President 2 0 X 0 0 0 Ruth Hambleton Treasurer 2 0 X 0 0 0 Kathryn Head Secretary 2 0 X 0 0 0 285413 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 383582 55943 0 439525 Revenue from WFM and MFM 111210 44931 44931 0 0 0 0 0 0 44931 0 0 0 0 0 0 484456 44931 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 264520 224842 39678 0 0 0 0 0 24588 24588 0 38773 32957 5816 1251 1251 4658 3440 1218 0 1463 1081 382 9182 9182 13240 13240 171 171 12161 4175 7986 14070 14070 0 0 28874 28874 924 924 24750 24750 0 9454 9454 Purchases of locally grown vegetable for WFM and associated program expenses 57010 57010 0 0 Program Participant stipends and reimbursements 39530 39530 0 0 544619 464342 79895 382 458093 384517 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 240000 27720 224284 212280 0 0 0 0 0 682377 596797 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18000 13923 18000 13923 X 0 0 0 0 664377 582874 664377 582874 682377 596797 -60163 0 0 0 -21340 0 X 0 0 0 X 27630 423434 633141 676899 484456 2245560 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27630 423434 633141 676899 484456 2245560 0 2245560 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2245560 0 1 1 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 240000 27720 212280 0 0 0 0 212280 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 8b no committees assigned for Food Works. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b 990 either reviewed at regular board meeting or via emailing 990 to each board member. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Reviewed by Executive director and then shared with board at regular meetings. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 salaries of similar industries/duties were reviewed and shared for discussion with the board. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Governing documents are available upon request and via Food Works website.