Agricultural Institute Of Marin (AIM)
Agricultural Institute Of Marin (AIM)
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About this organization
Mission
AIM’s mission is to educate, inspire, and connect communities, responsible farmers, and producers as part of a healthy, earth-friendly, equitable local and regional food system.
About
AIM educates the public about the health, environmental, economic and social benefits of eating locally grown food, connects and supports communities and agriculture, and works to ensure all people can access healthy and locally grown food through its community education and outreach programs.AIMs seven year-round certified farmers markets, and seasonal certified market, provide critical learning environments where AIM and farmers engage the community and educate about the health, environmental and economic benefits of eating locally and sustainably produced food. In 2018, AIM managed 364 farmers market events. Farmers, ranchers, fishers, food purveyors, and artisans travel from nearly 40 California counties to have direct access to the public at AIMs markets. Approximately 18,000 weekly visitors directly interacted with over 360 farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheesemakers, food purveyors, and artisans who provide hands-on and multi-sensory educational activities about local and regional food and fiber production. Communities learn about how and where food is grown, the importance of agriculture in the community, California geography, seasonality and growing regions and Californias rich agricultural history and present story. AIM offers three farm-based education programs: Diggin in the Classroom, Diggin at the Market, and Diggin on the Farm. Our goal is to empower youth to make healthy food choices that will positively impact their long-term health. Knowledge of where food and fiber come from, how crops are grown, why farmers choose to farm and whats in season, is a powerful tool for teaching good nutrition. Our Diggin on the Farm educational tours are designed to raise awareness about rural living and to give children and young adults an inside look at what life is really like on the farm. Students tour fields in different growing stages, learn about soil microbes, conduct pond or creek studies, feed sheep, visit baby calves, and explore the natural environment around these organic farms. Through hands-on activities, students learn connections between the environment, agriculture, and the food they eat. AIM offers a fee scale based on ability to pay and have scholarships available for schools or community groups serving low-income youth. In 2018, over 1,200 students in middle and elementary schools attended Diggin on the Farm at nine partner farms. AIM provided $2,240 in scholarships to schools based on need. Our Diggin at the Market program includes a free guided tour and ?eld trip experience for school-aged children. Students use their senses as they taste whats in season while spending a day at the farmers market to learn how to make healthy food choices and build a sense of connection to the people who grow our food. In 2018, AIM provided 61 market tours to approximately 1,225 students and over 300 chaperones, plus 5 tours for 155 older adults.Our Diggin in the Classroom program entails AIM staff visiting the classroom to offer learning opportunities for youth. AIM provides hands-on interactive discussions that challenge school groups of all ages and size to think and care about where their food comes from. In 2018, we visited 11 classrooms at 3 schools. The curriculum includes topics such as how food is grown, seasonality, carbon footprints and the difference between shopping at a farmers market and a food store.AIM also hosts local agriculturally related nonprofit community-based organizations, produces and places educational signage, offers sustainability education activities and participates in related educational events. AIM participated in 11 community educational outreach events in 2018. AIMs dynamic educational website which attracts over 5,000 visitors per month features content about local food, sustainable agriculture, seasonality, nutrition benefit programs, seasonal recipes and farmers markets. AIM produces an e-Newsletter provides community members with important upcoming events and links to articles that relate to sustainable food and news about AIMs programs. AIM also has an online presence through social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. AIM conducts outreach, education and health promotion programs to reach underserved and low-income communities, facilitating access to fresh, healthy, locally-grown food through promotion of WIC, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers and CalFresh Californias name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called the Food Stamp Program. Market Match supports CalFresh participants who use their EBT card at AIMs seven farmers markets, who are eligible to receive a one-to-one match up to $10 in Market Match tokens, which can be used to purchase California grown fruits and vegetables. In 2018, CalFresh participants purchased nearly $149,817 in EBT tokens to shop at AIMs Farmers Markets, while receiving $98,166 in Market Match incentive. In 2018, AIM launched its star food security program, The Rollin Root, a mobile market that increases access to farm-fresh food and nutrition education for older adults and other underserved groups regardless of transportation or economic barriers. AIM sources 100% of products directly from the farmers markets. Since August 2018, The Rollin Root served an average of 81 participants per day, reaching a total of 1,737 participants at 4 locations who purchased fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products to comprise 3,496 meals. Beginning in Winter 2019, the Rollin Root added four new stops and will continue to grow. AIM plays an active role in the Marin Food Policy Council, Marin Healthy Eating and Active Living Committee, California Alliance of Farmers Markets, and California Food and Farming Network, helping to support initiatives that promote food access programming. In 2018, AIM began planning for a mobile farmers market to provide fresh produce and dairy along with nutrition education to communities experiencing economic or transportation barriers to buying healthy foods. AIM also collaborates with local food recovery organizations. Volunteers pick up excess produce and baked goods from farmers markets and immediately deliver it for people in need. In 2017, AIMs farmers and food purveyors donated more than 17 tons of food to the most vulnerable people in our community.In 2018, AIM and its Board of Directors defined the goals and objectives for developing a new educational center: The Center for Food & Agriculture. The purpose of this project is to create a world-class community gathering space in the Bay Area for all people to connect and learn about their local and regional food systems while honoring the past, present, and future of California agriculture and food production. For the past 35 years, AIM has created a temporary farmers market in the Marin Civic Center parking lot twice each week. The Project will provide infrastructure improvements to allow this important community resource to flourish by enhancing year-round accessibility, consumer appeal, and operations. The Center will be a destination for education, resources, and programming for healthy food systems while preserving the livelihood of small and mid-size farmers and food producers.The Center for Food and Agriculture will feature a year-round farmers market and sustainably designed community gathering space and destination for people around the Bay Area. Its purpose is to increase small to mid-scale California certified farmers direct sales to customers; improve public access to seasonal, local, and sustainably grown food; and provide opportunities for agricultural and nutrition education. The Center will feature a teaching kitchen, a demonstration food garden, and classroom space for AIM to offer its signature educational programs, and use a regenerative design to lessen the impact of the climate crisis. AIM will provide expanded volunteer and work opportunities designed to evolve into food and agriculture-related career pathways for community members.The Marin Farmers Market will continue to be a weekly gathering space for surrounding neighborhoods, visitors, and chefs. AIMs events will include Harvest Talks, cooking demonstrations, and guest speakers. The Center will provide refrigeration for AIM to store fresh produce and dairy products for delivery on the Rollin Root to older adults and underserved communities. The Center will house AIMs programs focused on food access for nutrition benefit clients participating in CalFresh, WIC, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and help clients to stretch their food dollars.In June 2014, Measure B passed with 81% support of Marin voters, confirming the communitys desire for a permanent farmers market. Five years laterand with a memorandum of understanding between the County of Marin and AIMthe Project has evolved in response to stakeholders, shoppers, and farmers. Our community is excited for planned improvements to the Marin Civic Center farmers market that will support year-rou
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The filing outlines the non-profit's goal as “Aims mission is to (1) educate the public about the health, environmental and economic impacts of eating locally grown food directly from farmers and (2) connect and support communities and local and regional food systems so the public can access healthy and sustainably-grown food.”.
When explaining its purpose, the activities were outlined as: “The agricultural institute of marin educates the community about health, environmental and economic benefits of eating local-grown food through programs that teach the importance of local food systems, provide direct interaction with growers and facilitate access to local-grown food.”.
- As per legal reporting requirements, the state of operation for the non-profit is CA.
- The non-profit's address for 2020 is listed as 400 SMITH RANCH ROAD D, SAN RAFAEL, CA, 94903 in the filing.
- As per the non-profit's form, they have 30 employees as of 2020.
- Does not operate a hospital.
- Does not operate a school.
- Does not collect art.
- Does not provide credit counseling.
- Does not have foreign activities.
- Is not a donor-advised fund.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is -$44,094.
- The CEO compensation package within the organization is determined through a review and endorsement by a neutral party.
- The organization has a written policy that describes how long it will retain documents.
- The organization has 14 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2005.
- The organization has a written policy that addresses conflicts of interest.
- The organization is required to file Schedule O.
- The organization pays $1,243,060 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $0 in fundraising expenses.
- The organization provides Form 990 to its governing body.
- The organization has minutes of its meetings.
- The organization has a written whistleblower policy.
- The organization's financial statements were reviewed by an accountant.