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EDENS ROSE FOUNDATION
Albany, NY · EIN 263807697 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE Q33 · International Affairs · Small ($100K-$1M) · edensrose.org
revenue
$716K
expenses
$695K
net assets
$359K
employees
10
volunteers
7
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

Edens Rose Foundation advances health equity, housing stability, youth development, and environmental sustainability through community-driven programs. We increase access to nutritious food by distributing over 250,000 pounds of free produce annually, provide dignified housing and urban revitalization through rehabilitation of vacant properties, mentor youth in bike mechanics and environmental stewardship, and strengthen food security by developing organic gardens, micro-farms, and sustainable agriculture training programs. Our work empowers families, reduces insecurities, and builds healthier, more resilient communities.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Eden's Rose Foundation is a community-driven nonprofit based in Albany, NY, that advances health equity, housing stability, youth development, and environmental sustainability. The organization operates programs that rehabilitate vacant properties into affordable housing, distribute fresh produce, train youth and adults in urban agriculture and bike mechanics, and support artisan cooperatives in Ecuador and India. Through local action and international partnerships, it empowers underserved communities with skills, resources, and economic opportunities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $401K
    The Home Again Program rehabilitated vacant and dilapidated properties to provide safe, dignified housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. By restoring abandoned structures, the program addressed urgent housing needs while reducing neighborhood blight. This effort strengthened community stability and supported environmental sustainability through adaptive reuse and revitalization.
  2. #2 $63K
    Through WheelsUp Youth Mentorship, young people learned bike maintenance, mechanical skills, and eco-trail riding while earning refurbished bicycles in exchange for community service. The Albany Victory Gardens and Urban Farmers Training Program expanded green spaces and strengthened the local organic food system through agricultural training and subsistence gardening. Together, these initiatives empowered youth and families with life skills, environmental awareness, and the ability to grow and sustain their own food sources.
named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Albany Victory Gardens
Transforms vacant lots into community gardens to increase food access and teach urban farming skills to residents in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood.
Collaborative Kitchen
Community production kitchen offering culinary training, culturally specific meals, and small business incubation for local entrepreneurs.
Home Again
Rehabilitates vacant properties in Albany to provide safe, low-barrier housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, with wraparound support services.
Normanskill Pollinator Sanctuary & Urban Apiary
Habitat restoration and beekeeping project promoting pollinator health and teaching ecological stewardship in urban environments.
Produce Pick-Up Project
Distributes free, locally grown produce four days a week to families in Albany, improving food access and connecting them to community resources.
SEVA Chocolate & Guayusa Tea
Direct-trade social enterprise empowering women cacao farmers in Ecuador and supporting reforestation through Guayusa tea cultivation in the Amazon.
The Macramé Project
Global artisan initiative supporting women in Ecuador and cross-border trade with artisans in India and Pakistan through handmade jewelry sales.
Urban Farmers Training Program
Provides free, hands-on agricultural training and FSMA certification to adults in underserved neighborhoods, supporting food sovereignty and micro-farm entrepreneurship.
Wheels Up
Mentorship program teaching youth bike mechanics, environmental science, and mobility skills, with bicycles earned through community service.
Youth Blueberry Orchard
Youth employment and ecological education project involving the planting and maintenance of a blueberry orchard to build long-term food assets.
activities · 15 groups

What they do

  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 2 activities
    • Distribute free fresh produce
      Distributes over 250,000 pounds of free, locally grown produce annually through weekly Produce Pickup events and community distributions in West Hill, Albany. The program is staffed by community volunteers and increases access to nutritious food for underserved populations.
    • Provide supportive services to asylum seekers and refugees
      Provides practical assistance and supportive services to asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals rebuilding stability, including emergency food, water, and shelter distribution during crisis response efforts.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Fund humanitarian and sustainable development programs
      Funds humanitarian aid for Tibetan refugees, medicinal herb and organic farming initiatives, and sustainable development in remote Himalayan villages through proceeds from Lama Chodpa incense sales.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Operate Normanskill Pollinator Sanctuary
      Operates a pollinator sanctuary in Albany, NY, to combat pollinator decline and habitat loss. The sanctuary supports mite-resistant bee populations, native plant restoration, and offers volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and seasonal tours to promote ecological stewardship.
  • Local Food Market Operation 1 activity
    • Operate West Hill Farmers Market
      Operates a weekly farmers market in West Hill, Albany, offering affordable access to locally grown produce. The market prioritizes neighborhood farmers and graduates of the Urban Farmers Training Program, accepts veggie vouchers and Double Up Food Bucks, and supports local food entrepreneurship.
  • Shared Kitchen Incubator for Food Entrepreneurs 1 activity
    • Operate community production kitchen
      Operates a community kitchen that provides culinary training, prepares culturally specific meals, supports small business incubation, and hosted a pilot event where refugee chefs sold traditional meals with proceeds going directly to them and their families.
  • Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
    • Operate urban micro-farms and community gardens
      Converts vacant lots into productive urban micro-farms, greenhouses, and community gardens that support food-based businesses, subsistence gardening, and educational programming. These spaces serve as training sites for youth and community members in land stewardship and urban agriculture.
  • Indigenous-Led Ecosystem Stewardship 1 activity
    • Partner on reforestation with Indigenous communities
      Partners with the Shuar community on the One Tree Deep reforestation project to restore rainforest ecosystems in Ecuador using Guayusa trees, promoting ecological restoration and sustainable land use.
  • Youth Cycling Education and Access Programs 1 activity
    • Provide youth workforce development through bike mechanics and STEM education
      Runs the WheelsUp program and a youth workforce development initiative that integrates STEM education with community bike repair services. Youth receive hands-on training in bicycle mechanics, tool usage, and preventative maintenance, and earn refurbished bicycles by completing community service.
  • Affordable Home Construction & Rehabilitation 1 activity
    • Rehabilitate vacant properties for affordable housing
      Rehabilitates vacant and dilapidated buildings to create safe, low-barrier housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, veterans, and at-risk populations. In 2022, five units of affordable housing were created through renovation of two multi-unit buildings in Albany, NY.
  • Youth Scouting Leadership Programs 1 activity
    • Run Urban Mountain Biking Initiative for environmental STEM education
      Provides environmental science education and outdoor STEM learning to youth in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood through the Urban Mountain Biking Initiative, which includes trail riding, exploration, and eco-trail riding programs.
  • Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
    • Run blueberry orchard youth employment program
      Operates a multi-year youth employment and ecological education project centered on a blueberry orchard in Albany, providing hands-on agricultural experience, fostering ownership, and creating long-term food assets for the community.
  • Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
    • Support women cacao farmers and chocolate cooperatives
      Established six women-owned chocolate cooperatives in Ecuador and provided technical training, leadership development, cooperative governance support, equipment, and logistical assistance to transform raw cacao into award-winning, small-batch chocolate.
  • Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives 1 activity
    • Transform neglected spaces into community hubs
      Leads grassroots projects like the Community Corner and operates neighborhood engagement hubs that transform neglected urban spaces—such as troubled intersections and vacant lots—into safe, welcoming community spaces for events, education, and distribution efforts.
  • Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
    • Urban Farmers Training Program
      Provides professional farming skills, FSMA and Produce Safety Alliance certifications, business training, and hands-on agricultural experience through a seasonal training program in Albany. Participants gain experience in community gardens and urban micro-farms, with pathways to property ownership and food-based entrepreneurship.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Build community infrastructure in high-risk areas
      Completed a Community Basic Needs Center in a high-risk community in Ecuador, featuring sanitation facilities, a commercial kitchen, specialized rooms for infants and children with disabilities, emergency shelter, community spaces, and a 13,000-liter purified water system serving the entire village.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$716K
Contributions & grants$183K26%
Program service revenue$515K72%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$695K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$110K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$336K
Cash$21K
Investments$0
Liabilities$-23K
Net assets$359K
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +130.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Gregory Sheldon Executive Director 40 $49K
board members · 3
  • Josh Goldfeder — President
  • Leon Shelhamer — Secretary
  • Rion Marmulstein — Treasurer
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Adorn Jewelry Partner — Connected Eden's Rose Foundation with Free People for a production partnership, supporting the growth of The Macramé Project.
  • Albany Victory Gardens Partner — Host site for the Urban Farmers Training Program, providing land and infrastructure for training and community gardening.
  • Albany’s West Hill Neighborhood Partner — Community location for the Urban Mountain Biking Initiative, where youth participate in nature-based STEM programming.
  • Bizberg Themes Partner — Design firm responsible for website theme
  • Double Up Food Bucks Albany Partner — Collaborates to provide matching benefits for SNAP users at the West Hill Farmers Market.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for outreach, volunteer coordination, and sharing information about events and donation opportunities.
  • Free People Partner — Collaborated on the first paid production of macramé jewelry, enabling expansion of the project's impact.
  • Grateful Villages Partner — Collaborates with Eden's Rose Foundation on the Community Corner Initiative.
  • Local Beekeepers Partner — Collaborates with local beekeepers to identify and selectively breed resilient bee colonies.
  • Not specified Partner — Seeking partners to renovate a vacant space into a refugee-run kitchen.
  • Shuar community Partner — Partnered on the One Tree Deep reforestation project to restore rainforest ecosystems using Guayusa trees.
  • St. Catherine’s Center for Children Partner — Partner organization providing rental assistance, trauma-informed care, and service navigation to tenants.
  • Tashi Jong Partner — Monastic community associated with the production and spiritual blessing of Lama Chodpa incense, including the use of its wax seal.
  • WordPress Partner — Platform used for website development
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Economic Empowerment through Cooperative Models
    methodology: cooperative_economics
    By using cooperative governance and training in artisanry or agriculture, the organization enables women and marginalized producers to achieve economic self-sufficiency because shared ownership and leadership development foster sustainable income generation and multiplier effects within communities.
  • Experiential Learning for Youth Skill Development
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By engaging youth in hands-on activities like urban farming and bike repair, the organization builds technical skills and community involvement because experiential learning combined with peer-to-peer teaching deepens retention and fosters ownership of knowledge.
  • Housing First with Wraparound Support
    methodology: housing_first
    By providing housing without prerequisites such as sobriety or program compliance, and pairing it with trauma-informed care and rental assistance, the organization increases housing retention and stability because removing structural barriers enables individuals to address other challenges from a foundation of security.
  • Integrated Community Development
    methodology: integrated_community_development
    By combining housing, food access, employment support, and ecological restoration into unified programs, the organization addresses root causes of instability because interconnected social problems require coordinated solutions that build community assets holistically.
  • Urban Land Reuse for Community Empowerment
    methodology: urban_land_reuse_for_community_empowerment
    By transforming vacant urban lots into productive spaces like community gardens and training farms, the organization fosters economic opportunity, food sovereignty, and neighborhood leadership because hands-on engagement in reclaiming space builds agency and collective efficacy among residents facing systemic barriers.