irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $525KFOOD EDUCATION: AMBER WAVES CONNECTS EATERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, TO THEIR FOOD AND THE FARMERS GROWING IT, TO ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LAND STEWARDSHIP AND HEALTHY EATING THROUGH ON-FARM EDUCATION; FIELD TRIPS, SUMMER CAMPS AND WEEKLY COMMUNITY FARM VISITS.
- #2 $621KAPPRENTICISHIP PROGRAM: PROVIDES FARM APPRENTICES WITH THE PRIMARY SKILLS NEEDED TO PURSUE A CARER IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH IN-DEPTH, ON-FARM INSTRUCTION IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS MOST IMPORTANT TO ORGANIC FARMING, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO NEARBY WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AND CONFERENCES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Apprenticeship Program
Offers in-depth, on-farm training in organic farming practices, including access to workshops and conferences, to prepare aspiring farmers for careers in agriculture.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Members receive weekly boxes of seasonal produce grown on-site, with options for add-ons like bread, cheese, fruit, and flowers; includes educational materials and farm access.
Food Security Initiative
Provides a 25% discount on CSA shares to individuals facing financial hardship and donates over 25,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to local food pantries and community partners.
On-Farm Education Program
Provides field trips, summer camps, and weekly community farm visits to connect children and adults with food and farming, promoting lifelong land stewardship and healthy eating.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth and Family Cooking Education 1 activity
- Deliver on-farm food and nature-based education programs for childrenProvides free and low-cost educational programs, field trips, and outdoor classroom experiences for children, connecting them with farming and food through hands-on learning. In recent years, served over 10,000 children annually through these programs.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Donate fresh produce and prepared foods to food pantries and communities in needAnnually donates over 25,000 pounds of fresh produce and more than $100,000 worth of vegetables, flowers, plants, and prepared foods to local food pantries and community partners, including unused CSA shares.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Operate community farm visits and public access programsOffers free farm exploration and public access to the farm for community engagement, welcoming over 275,000 visitors to date and more than 90,000 in a single year.
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Local Food Market Operation 1 activity
- Operate retail farm markets and on-site food serviceRuns the year-round Amber Waves Market in Amagansett and a retail shop in East Hampton Village, offering for-sale produce, grab-and-go vegetarian and vegan meals, and prepared foods made from on-site harvested ingredients.
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Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
- Provide apprenticeship and training programs for aspiring farmersOffers an on-farm apprenticeship program that provides in-depth instruction in organic farming, workshops, and access to conferences, graduating over 60 new farmers since 2012 and more than 65 since 2009.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Run a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with sliding-scale accessOperates a CSA program providing weekly boxes of fresh, seasonal produce to over 370 families, offering a 25% discount to members experiencing financial hardship and donating unused shares.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.12M
Contributions & grants$1.15M28%
Program service revenue$724K18%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$2.24M
expenses
Total expenses$3.90M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$2.75M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.85M
Cash$131K
Investments$0
Liabilities$644K
Net assets$1.21M
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +62.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMANDA MERROW | PRESIDENT | 50 | $126K |
| CATHERINE BALDWIN | CO-DIRECTOR | 50 | $126K |
board members · 5
- JOSEPH CROTTY — TRUSTEE
- JUDIE TAYLOR — TRUSTEE
- JULIE RESNICK — TRUSTEE
- KRISTINA UNKER — TRUSTEE
- MELANIE WOODS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- 1% for the Planet Network — Nonprofit Partner of 1% for the Planet, receiving donations from member businesses through the network to support environmental and food system initiatives.
- Amagansett Citizens Advisory Committee Partner — Amanda Merrow serves on this committee, reflecting civic participation in the local community.
- Balsam Farms Partner — Supplies seasonal fruit for CSA fruit add-on shares.
- BookHampton Partner — Retail shop is located behind BookHampton in East Hampton Village.
- Briermere Farms Partner — Supplies seasonal fruit for CSA fruit add-on shares.
- Catapano Dairy Farm Partner — Supplies goat cheeses for CSA cheese add-on shares.
- Children's Museum of the East End (CMEE) Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- East Hampton Agricultural Advisory Committee Partner — Amanda Merrow serves on this committee, indicating formal involvement in local agricultural policy.
- East Hampton Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board Partner — Amanda Merrow serves on this advisory board, reflecting community-level engagement.
- East Hampton Food Pantry Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- East Hampton Senior Center Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- East Hampton Town Government — Local government entity from which Amber Waves Farm leases preserved farmland.
- Food Rescue US Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- Good Eats Program Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- Goodale Farms Partner — Provides goat cheeses for CSA cheese add-on shares.
- Hamptons Community Outreach Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- Il Buco Bakery Partner — Provides artisan breads for CSA bread add-on shares.
- Island Harvest Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- LDV at the Maidstone Hotel Partner — Partners with Amber Waves by featuring organically grown flowers from the farm in guest rooms and dining areas, supporting local agriculture.
- Long Island Farm Bureau Partner — Amanda Merrow is a former board member, indicating past organizational affiliation.
- Maggie de Cuevas Partner — Protector of the farmland who ensured its agricultural use in perpetuity, enabling the establishment of Amber Waves Farm.
- Mecox Bay Dairy Partner — Provides cow’s milk cheeses for CSA cheese add-on shares.
- Mill Partner — Corporate donor and affiliate partner that supports Amber Waves by making a donation for every purchase of a Mill Food Recycler through a dedicated link.
- Montauk Food Pantry Partner — Receives donated fresh produce from Amber Waves Farm.
- Orwashers Partner — Supplies heritage breads for CSA bread add-on shares.
- Panadda Sourdough Partner — Supplies sourdough bread for CSA add-on shares using regionally sourced grains from Amber Waves Farm.
- Part Wild Partner — Fundraising partner that donates a portion of sales to the Amber Waves Food Security Program during co-hosted events and provides donated work wear for farmers.
- Pat Struk Partner — Founder of the Amagansett Farmers Market whose legacy contributed to the development of Amber Waves Farm.
- Peconic Land Trust Partner — Amanda Merrow serves on the Board of Directors, indicating an organizational affiliation.
- Peconic Land Trust Partner — Landowner from which Amber Waves Farm leases preserved farmland.
+ 9 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Apprenticeship-Based Farmer Trainingmethodology: apprenticeship_modelBy combining immersive on-farm work with structured instruction, we prepare a diverse cohort of individuals for careers in sustainable agriculture, because experiential learning and inclusive recruitment strengthen both individual capacity and the broader farming ecosystem.
- Community-Integrated Food Systemsmethodology: community_integrated_modelBy embedding community access, education, and shared participation—through CSA, pick-your-own programs, and public spaces—into the farm’s operations, we strengthen local food equity and resilience, because inclusive models foster ownership, connection, and sustained engagement.
- Experiential Education Model for Food and Farmingmethodology: experiential_educationBy using the farm as an immersive, hands-on learning environment, we cultivate lasting habits around healthy eating, environmental stewardship, and agricultural literacy in children and aspiring farmers, because direct experience fosters deeper understanding and sustained engagement.
- Sustainable and Zero-Waste Farm Systemsmethodology: zero_waste_farmingBy integrating organic practices, closed-loop systems, and full utilization of harvested food—including composting and free distribution—we advance environmental stewardship and community food access, because sustainable farming must regenerate land and reduce waste to be resilient.