named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Family Biointensive Gardens
Supports low-income families in Nicaragua to establish 30-square-meter organic gardens using biointensive methods, providing materials, training, and ongoing support to improve food security and nutrition.
Reforestation Initiative
Plants native and fruit-bearing trees in deforested areas, particularly near water sources, to restore ecosystems, improve water access, and provide food; includes youth engagement through seed ball distribution.
School Biointensive Gardens
Develops and maintains organic gardens at schools in Leon, Corozo, Ocalca, and Matagalpa to supplement government-provided school lunches with fresh vegetables and fruits, including at a school for children with disabilities.
Seed Saving and Seed Bank
Expands seed-saving training and establishes a community seed bank at the El Corozo demonstration garden to increase seed diversity and availability for family growers.
Solar Oven and Fuel-Efficient Stove Initiative
Promotes clean cooking technologies to reduce deforestation and smoke inhalation, aligning with environmental and health goals in partner communities.
Women’s Arts Collectives and Small Enterprises
Supports women’s leadership and income generation through doll-making, painted tray production, and bakery cooperatives, offering creative respite and economic opportunity alongside agricultural work.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 2 activities
- Implements biointensive gardening programs in NicaraguaEstablishes and supports biointensive gardens in schools and homes across Nicaragua, including over 150 garden beds that improve food access for more than 500 people annually. Provides families with gardening supplies such as seeds, tools, compost, and water barrels, and promotes soil fertility and drought resilience through science-based education and technical support.
- Operates seed-saving programs and demonstration gardensManages a seed bank at a demonstration garden in El Corozo to increase and diversify seed access for family gardeners. Provides seed-saving training and hosts monthly workshops to share local and science-based knowledge on sustainable food systems.
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Women's Educational Advancement 1 activity
- Awards scholarships and provides educational supportProvides scholarships and monthly stipends to women and girls in Nicaragua, including support for school supplies, to promote education and leadership development in agriculture and community programs.
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Tree Planting and Reforestation Initiatives 1 activity
- Conducts reforestation and environmental stewardship projectsPlants nutritional and native trees to support food security, water access, and environmental sustainability in Nicaragua. Includes planting 1,000 trees near a city water source, river clean-up efforts, and providing fruit trees to families.
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Clean Cooking Solutions Implementation 1 activity
- Promotes sustainable cooking technologiesDistributes solar ovens and fuel-efficient stoves to families and schools in Nicaragua to replace wood-fired cooking, reduce environmental harm, and improve household health. Includes education on solar cooking and support for high-efficiency stove adoption.
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Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
- Supports women’s agricultural and income-generating collectivesProvides training, resources, and business planning support to women’s collectives in Nicaragua, including gardening, doll-making, and bakery initiatives. Supports arts-based income generation by selling handmade goods and providing art supplies, while linking agricultural and artistic activities to improve food security and economic opportunity.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$247K
Contributions & grants$247K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$180K
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$13K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$171K
Cash$139K
Investments$0
Liabilities$26K
Net assets$144K
Liquid reserves9.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +51.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- ANA ORIANS — SECRETARY
- JUDITH NICHOLS — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- TRACEY HOLLAND — DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Bard College Partner — Alyeriz A. Zeledón is pursuing her MBA in Sustainability at Bard College, and Nathan Orians was a college counselor there, indicating institutional ties.
- Eleoena Arauz Partner — Program Director who established the demonstration garden on her parents’ farm in El Corozo in 2014.
- FUPROSOMUNIC Partner — Mercedes Álvarez founded FUPROSOMUNIC, a Nicaraguan nonprofit working with women in environmental and small-scale agriculture programs, aligning closely with Artists for Soup’s mission and likely involving coordination.
- Facebook Partner — Uses a Facebook group to share information and engage supporters.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to share information about Artists for Soup.
- Millbrook Partner — Collaborates with Artists for Soup on initiatives supporting Nicaraguan women with gardens and cookstoves.
- National Autonomous University of Nicaragua–León Partner — Interns from the university assist teachers in planting and maintaining garden beds at the Ruben Dario School.
- Nicaraguan women migrants Partner — Collaborates with Nicaraguan women who migrated seasonally for work, informing program design and implementation.
- Solar Women of Nicaragua Partner — Greg Bowles works for Solar Women of Nicaragua, his wife’s nonprofit, and also assists Artists for Soup, suggesting collaborative linkages between the organizations.
- Sustainable Harvest International Partner — Mercedes Álvarez and Greg Bowles have both worked with Sustainable Harvest International, indicating organizational alignment and potential collaboration.
- The Pollination Project Partner — Collaborated with Artists for Soup to provide tree seedlings and fruit trees for reforestation and food security efforts.
- Vassar College Partner — Judith Nichols taught at Vassar College and Tracey Holland teaches there; their affiliation supports Artists for Soup through academic and programmatic engagement.
- Women gardeners in Corozo Partner — Collaborates with women gardeners in Corozo on doll-making and bakery initiatives.
- Women gardeners in La Paz Centro Partner — Partners with women gardeners in La Paz Centro on tray-making and arts programming.
- Women in Corozo and Matagalpa Partner — Supports women in Corozo and Matagalpa through bakery development and eco-friendly oven provision.
- Women in Masaya and Leon Partner — Works with women from Masaya and Leon on the "Dolls for Peace" collective.
- community groups in Nicaragua Partner — Collaborates with local community groups to address environmental challenges in food production.
- indigenous community of Corozo Partner — Collaborates with families in the Corozo community to implement year-round biointensive gardening and food security education.
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.
- Agroecology and Art for Community Engagementmethodology: agroecology_and_artBy combining agroecology with art-based programming, the organization engages marginalized women and youth in food security and environmental initiatives because creative expression builds trust, reinforces cultural identity, and deepens participation in sustainable development.
- Biointensive Gardening for Food Securitymethodology: biointensive_gardeningBy training communities in biointensive gardening methods, the organization increases food production in small spaces and improves household food security because these techniques enhance soil fertility, conserve water, and integrate traditional knowledge with scientific innovation.
- Integration of Science and Local Knowledgemethodology: knowledge_integrationBy combining science-based education with local and indigenous knowledge systems, the organization sustains improvements in food security because this integration fosters culturally appropriate, resilient agricultural practices and strengthens community ownership of solutions.
- Nutritional Reforestation for Climate and Food Resiliencemethodology: nutritional_reforestationBy planting nutritional trees through reforestation efforts, the organization improves food security, water access, and climate resilience because tree cover restores ecosystems while providing edible and medicinal resources.
- Reciprocal Scholarship Modelmethodology: reciprocal_scholarship_modelBy linking educational scholarships to community labor in gardening and reforestation, the organization promotes sustained engagement in food security programs because participants invest directly in shared outcomes, reinforcing responsibility and long-term impact.