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NATIVE SEEDSSOUTHWESTERN ENDANGERED

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 942899356 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C300 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.nativeseeds.org
revenue
$1.5M
expenses
$1.5M
net assets
$1.5M
employees
20
volunteers
82
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

NATIVE SEEDS/SEARCH (NS/S) WAS FOUNDED IN 1983 IN RESPONSE TO THE DOCUMENTED AND PROBABLE LOSS OF TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL CROP DIVERSITY OF THE U.S. SOUTHWEST AND NORTHWEST MEXICO. THE SEED THAT NS/S STEWARDS INCLUDES TRADITIONAL VARIETIES OF CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH, AS WELL AS HERBS AND WILD FOODS LONG CONSUMED IN THE AREA. EACH CROP VARIETY IN THE NS/S SEED BANK HAS BEEN GENETICALLY ADAPTING TO ARID SOILS AND CONDITIONS FOR HUNDREDS, OR EVEN THOUSANDS, OF YEARS. SEEDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE ONLINE STORE AND THROUGH OUR FREE SEED ACCESS PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 18,000 SEED PACKETS WERE DONATED VIA THESE PROGRAMS LAST YEAR TO INDIGENOUS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WORKING TOWARD FRESH FOOD ACCESS, FOOD SECURITY, AND GARDENING AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) conserves and shares the seeds of the desert Southwest and Mexico, focusing on arid-adapted crops that benefit local communities. Founded in 1983, the organization maintains a seed bank with over 1,800 varieties, prioritizing Indigenous growers and cultural heritage in its conservation efforts.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $444K
    CONSERVATION: THIS PROGRAM OVERSEES THE GROWING OUT AND REGENERATION OF SEEDS IN OUR CONSERVATION CENTER GARDEN, MANAGEMENT OF THE SEED BANK COLLECTION, INCLUDING GERMINATION TESTING, CONDUCTING SEED INVENTORIES, CLEANING AND PACKING SEEDS AND COORDINATING WITH DISTRIBUTION. THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT ALSO COORDINATED WITH PARTNER FARMERS TO GROW OUT AND REGENERATE RARE AND ENDANGERED SEEDS. IN 2022, BETWEEN OUR TUCSON CONSERVATION CENTER FARM, A PLOT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, AND OVER 40 REGIONAL PARTNERS, WE PLANTED OVER 75 ACCESSIONS FOR REGENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION.
  2. #2 $130K
    EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: OUR EDUCATION WORK IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO GARDENERS AND FARMERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST. WE PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS, INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON SEED SAVING AND ALSO ALLOW FOR VISITS AND TOURS OF THE CONSERVATION CENTER, INCLUDING THE GARDEN, SEEDLAB AND SEEDBANK. SOME OF OUR RECENT ACTIVITIES HAVE INCLUDED A WORKSHOP WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN SEEDSAVERS OF THE SOUTHWEST, A WORKSHOP WITH THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE PEOPLE'S FARM AND PRESENTATIONS TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AND SENIORS.
named programs · 3 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Seed Grants
Provides grants to school gardens and community organizations focused on food security and seed sovereignty.
Partner Farmer Program
Collaborates with farmers to grow and regenerate seed varieties, emphasizing Indigenous agricultural practices.
Seed Bank Conservation
Maintains a climate-controlled seed bank housing over 1,800 traditional crop varieties for future generations.
activities · 3 groups

what they do

  • Indigenous Seed Sovereignty & Rematriation 26 activities
    • Community Seed Grants and Donations
      Provides annual Community Seed Grants to school gardens and community organizations, and offers small donations of seeds to eligible organizations in the Greater Southwest region to support educators, enhance the lives of underprivileged groups, and improve seed security, distribution, saving, and access within their communities.
    • Community Seed Grants and Donations
      Provides Community Seed Grants annually to school gardens and community organizations, and offers small donations of seeds to eligible organizations in the Greater Southwest region to support educators, enhance the lives of underprivileged groups, and improve seed security, distribution, saving, and access within their communities.
    • Community Seed Grants and Donations
      Offers annual seed donations and microgrants to school gardens, community organizations, and culturally connected groups in the Southwestern U.S. to support seed security, distribution, and access, with priority given to organizations that grow and share seeds within their communities.
    • Community Seed Grants and Donations
      Provides annual Community Seed Grants to school gardens and community organizations, and offers small donations of seeds to eligible organizations in the Greater Southwest region to support educators and enhance the lives of underprivileged groups. The organization also provides one pre-selected seed variety each year to Seed Libraries and distributes surplus harvested seeds through retail and free seed sharing programs to community gardens, school gardens, and Indigenous communities. Seed donations are prioritized for organizations culturally connected to the seeds that plan to increase or distribute seeds within their communities.
    • Community and Organizational Seed Donations
      Distributes surplus harvested seeds and offers small donations of seeds to eligible organizations in the Greater Southwest region, including community gardens, school gardens, and Indigenous communities, to support educators, enhance the lives of underprivileged groups, and improve seed security, distribution, saving, and access within their communities. This includes providing one pre-selected seed variety each year to Seed Libraries and prioritizing organizations culturally connected to the seeds.
    • Distribution of Surplus Seeds
      Distributes surplus harvested seeds through retail sales and free sharing programs to community gardens, school gardens, and Indigenous communities, enhancing access to locally adapted and traditional crop varieties.
    • Expand seed access through targeted donation programs
      Invites and supports organizations in the Southwest focused on seed security, saving, and distribution—especially those culturally connected to the seeds—to apply for seed donations, aiming to increase populations of traditional seeds within their communities.
    • Microgrant Funding for Native American and Indigenous Farmers
      Offers microgrant funding to Native American and Indigenous farmers who have successfully grown and returned seed for at least one year.
    • Microgrant Funding for Native American and Indigenous Farmers
      Offers microgrant funding to Native American and Indigenous farmers who have successfully grown and returned seed for at least one year.
    • Operate a Partner Farmer Program with financial and technical support
      Provides bulk seeds, growing guidance, and staff consultation to partner farmers who agree to return 50% of their harvest (or 25% for Native farmers), compensating them with 15–20% of the retail value of returned seed and offering stipends of $250–$500 based on the number of accessions grown.
    • Partner Farmer Program
      Operates a Partner Farmer Program that provides seeds from its seed bank collection, information on seed varieties and saving protocols, and staff consultation to partner farmers. In return, recipients of bulk seed return half (or 1/4 for Native farmers) of their seed harvest, with experienced farmers receiving 15% to 20% of the retail value of seed species grown through contract agreements, and stipends of $250-$500 for growing accessions.
    • Partner Farmer Program
      Operates a Partner Farmer Program where the organization provides seeds from its seed bank, information on seed varieties and saving protocols, and staff consultation to farmers. In return, recipients of bulk seed return half (or 1/4 for Native farmers) of their seed harvest, with experienced farmers receiving payment (15-20% of retail value) or stipends ($250-$500) for their contributions.
    • Partner Farmer Program
      Operates a Partner Farmer Program that provides seeds from its seed bank collection, information on seed varieties, and staff consultation to farmers. Participants return half (or 1/4 for Native farmers) of their seed harvest, with experienced farmers receiving 15% to 20% of the retail value of seed species grown, and stipends of $250-$500 for growing accessions.
    • Partner Farmer and Gardener Programs
      Operates a Partner Farmer Program where recipients of bulk seed return half (or 1/4 for Native farmers) of their seed harvest to the organization, with experienced farmers receiving 15% to 20% of the retail value of seed species grown through contract agreements. The program provides seeds from its seed bank collection, information on seed varieties and saving protocols, and staff consultation. Qualified farmers receive stipends ($250 for one to three accessions, $500 for four or more). The Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program provides planting seed at no cost to growers in return for 50% of the seed harvest, with a $50 gift card for successful returns. Microgrant funding is also offered to Native American and Indigenous farmers who have successfully grown and returned seed for at least one year.
    • Partner Farmer and Gardener Programs
      Operates a contract-based Partner Farmer Program and Seed Exchange Program that provides planting seed and technical support to farmers and gardeners, who return 50% of harvest (or 25% for Native farmers), with financial compensation through stipends, microgrants, or gift cards based on participation and success.
    • Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program
      Provides planting seed at no cost to growers in the Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program in return for 50% of the seed harvest, with a $50 gift card as compensation for successful returns.
    • Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program
      Provides planting seed at no cost to growers in the Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program in return for 50% of the seed harvest, with a $50 gift card as compensation for successful returns.
    • Provide seeds and support to community and school gardens
      Offers Community Seed Grants and seed donations to school gardens, community organizations, and seed libraries in the Southwestern U.S., including one pre-selected seed variety annually for seed libraries, to enhance local seed access, education, and food security.
    • Seed Distribution and Exchange
      Distributes surplus harvested seeds through retail and free seed sharing programs to community gardens, school gardens, and Indigenous communities. The organization also provides one pre-selected seed variety each year to Seed Libraries and offers microgrant funding to Native American and Indigenous farmers who have successfully grown and returned seed for at least one year.
    • Seed Distribution to Seed Libraries
      Provides one pre-selected seed variety each year to Seed Libraries.
    • Seed Rematriation Initiative
      Implements a formal rematriation process to return seeds to individuals or tribes with cultural and historical relationships to specific varieties, supporting Indigenous seed sovereignty and the revitalization of traditional agricultural practices.
    • Seed Rematriation and Sovereignty
      Introduces a formal process for rematriation, defined as the return of seed to a person or tribe with a direct relationship to those seeds, to support seed sovereignty in communities represented in its seed collection. This initiative aims to establish and increase populations of traditional seeds in culturally connected communities.
    • Seed Rematriation and Sovereignty
      Introduces a formal process for rematriation, defined as the return of seed to a person or tribe with a direct relationship to those seeds, to support seed sovereignty and establish/increase populations of traditional seeds in culturally connected communities.
    • Seed Rematriation and Sovereignty
      Introduces a formal process for rematriation, defined as the return of seed to a person or tribe with a direct relationship to those seeds, to support seed sovereignty in communities represented in its seed collection and establish/increase populations of traditional seeds in culturally connected communities.
    • Support Indigenous farmers through microgrants and seed exchange
      Offers microgrant funding to Native American and Indigenous farmers who have successfully grown and returned seed for at least one year, and provides free planting seed to participants in the Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program in exchange for 50% of the harvest, with a $50 gift card as compensation for successful returns.
    • Support seed rematriation and seed sovereignty
      Implements a formal rematriation process to return seeds to individuals or tribes with cultural and ancestral ties to specific varieties, supporting Indigenous seed sovereignty and the reestablishment of traditional agricultural practices.
  • Southwestern Native Seed Regeneration 9 activities
    • Conserve regional seed biodiversity in a climate-controlled seed bank
      Maintains a seed bank with approximately 1,900 accessions of traditional crops and nearly 100 additional species of crops and crop wild relatives from the desert Southwest and Northwest Mexico, including varieties used by Apache, Hopi, Navajo, and Tohono O'odham cultures, stored under climate-controlled conditions to ensure long-term preservation.
    • Regenerate and maintain seed viability through cultivation
      Annually regenerates portions of its seed collection by growing aging or low-viability samples at its Conservation Center in Tucson, AZ, and in partnership with regional small farmers, ensuring continued seed viability and genetic integrity.
    • Seed Bank Conservation and Regeneration
      Conserves over 1,800 regional seed accessions, including rare and traditional crops from the desert Southwest and Mexico, in a climate-controlled facility, and regenerates aging or low-viability seed stocks through cultivation at its Conservation Center in Tucson and with regional partner farmers.
    • Seed Bank Conservation and Regeneration
      Conserves over 1,800 regional seed varieties from the desert Southwest and Mexico in a climate-controlled seed bank, including approximately 1,900 different accessions of traditional crops and nearly 100 additional species of crops and crop wild relatives. The organization regenerates aging seed samples annually at its Conservation Center gardens in Tucson and with regional small farmers to produce new viable seeds.
    • Seed Banking and Conservation
      Operates a climate-controlled seed bank preserving over 1,800 regional seed varieties from the desert Southwest and Mexico, including approximately 1,900 different accessions of traditional crops and nearly 100 additional species of crops and crop wild relatives. This includes rare varieties like red-seeded amaranth, black-seeded sunflowers, drought-tolerant beans, and Sonoran panic grass.
    • Seed Banking and Conservation
      Operates a climate-controlled seed bank conserving over 1,800 regional seed varieties from the desert Southwest and Mexico, including approximately 1,900 different accessions of traditional crops and nearly 100 additional species of crops and crop wild relatives. The organization regenerates aging seed samples annually at its Conservation Center gardens in Tucson and with regional small farmers to produce new viable seeds.
    • Seed Banking and Conservation
      Operates a climate-controlled seed bank preserving over 1,800 regional seed varieties from the desert Southwest and Mexico, including approximately 1,900 different accessions of traditional crops and nearly 100 additional species of crops and crop wild relatives. The organization regenerates aging seed samples annually at its Conservation Center gardens in Tucson and with regional small farmers to ensure viability.
    • Seed Regeneration and Cultivation
      Regenerates a portion of its seed collection annually at its Conservation Center gardens in Tucson, AZ, and with regional small farmers, growing seeds from its seed bank collection to produce new viable seeds and maintain genetic diversity.
    • Source seeds through donations and Indigenous partnerships
      Holds 70% of its seedbank inventory from donations or seed trades with Indigenous communities of the American Southwest and Northwest Mexico, prioritizing culturally connected seed sources.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Distribute seeds to Native American individuals and communities
      Provides free or reduced-cost seed packets to Native American individuals in the Greater Southwest region, with eligible households receiving up to 15 free seed packets annually (maximum 3 per variety), ensuring access to traditional and culturally significant seed varieties regardless of availability or cost.
    • Native American Seed Share Program
      Provides access to seed varieties for Native American individuals through the Native American Seed Share Program, offering 15 free regular-size seed packets per eligible household once a year, with a limit of 3 packets per seed variety, to ensure access to traditional seed varieties.
    • Native American Seed Share Program
      Provides access to seed varieties for Native American individuals through the Native American Seed Share Program, offering 15 free regular-size seed packets per eligible household once a year, with a limit of 3 packets per seed variety, regardless of seed price or supply. This ensures access to traditional seed varieties for Native American individuals in the Greater Southwest region or belonging to tribes within the Southwest region.
    • Native American Seed Share Program
      Provides access to seed varieties for Native American individuals through the Native American Seed Share Program, offering 15 free regular-size seed packets per eligible household once a year (with a limit of 3 packets per variety) to ensure access to traditional seed varieties, regardless of price or supply.
    • Native American Seed Share Program
      Provides access to seed varieties for Native American individuals through the Native American Seed Share Program, offering 15 free regular-size seed packets per eligible household annually, with a limit of 3 packets per seed variety, to ensure access to traditional seed varieties regardless of price or supply.
    • Native American Seed Share Program
      Provides free or reduced-cost seed packets to Native American individuals and households in the Greater Southwest region, with eligible recipients receiving up to 15 free seed packets annually and a limit of three per variety to ensure broad access to traditional, culturally significant seed varieties.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$1.46M
Contributions & grants$781K54%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$7K0%
Other revenue$668K
expenses
Total expenses$1.48M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$927K
Grants paid out$956
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.86M
Cash$382K
Investments$0
Liabilities$329K
Net assets$1.54M
Liquid reserves3.1 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -3.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ALEXANDRA ZAMECNIK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $86K
GLENN WAGNER FINANCE & OPERATIONS MANAGER 40 $67K
board members · 12
  • ANTHONY FRANCISCO — DIRECTOR
  • BRANDON MERCHANT — DIRECTOR
  • CHERILYN YAZZIE — DIRECTOR
  • CHERYL PAILZOTE — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTOPHER BYRNE — DIRECTOR
  • DOUG SMITH — SECRETARY
  • JACOB BUTLER — BOARD CHAIR
  • JOHN MCLEAN — VICE CHAIR
  • KAREN REICHHARDT — DIRECTOR
  • LINDA PECK — TREASURER
  • TUDOR MONTEGUE — DIRECTOR
  • VALERIE NUVAYESTWA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 6

who they work with

  • Community Seed Grant Program Partner — Provides access to seeds for school or community gardens.
  • Council for Responsible Genetics Partner — Sponsor of the Safe Seed Initiative, which NS/S is a member of.
  • Employer Partner — Employers may participate in employee gift matching programs to support Native Seeds/SEARCH.
  • Native American Seed Share Program Partner — Core program through which seed access is provided to Native American individuals.
  • accounting@nativeseeds.org Partner — Contact point for assistance with stock donations.
  • partner farmers Partner — Help with regenerating aging freezer samples by growing them in the field.