A N N U A L R E P O R T2 0 1 5

Building a Roadmap to Grow Sustainable Local Food & Farm Systems

Our MissionAngelic Organics Learning Center builds sustainable local food

and farm systems through experiential education and training programs in partnership with rural and urban people.

Our VisionWe envision a dynamic and enduring partnership between farmers & eaters who

strive for economies, ecologies and cultures that respect the land and honor the people who work it, know healthy food as a human right, celebrate the beauty & mysteries of life and the living earth, encourage authenticity and self-reliance and cooperation, and are sustainable over many generations.

Dear Friends, Our 16th year was one of action, reflection, and rejuvenation, resulting in a carefully designed three-year strategic plan. We looked at the journey that took us here, analyzed the path we’re on, and created a roadmap to amplify our position as both a leader and partner in building sustainable local food and farm systems.

Every roadmap needs a mission and we refined ours to provide clear, succinct messaging. We aim to regenerate agriculture as the basis for cultural, economic and social renewal. We believe that the farmers we train and the eaters who attend our workshops & events are leaders in this movement. We are investing in their leadership.

Angelic Organics Learning Center is a proud member of Angelic Organics Association. Together with our partner Angelic Organics CSA Farm, we aim to model the kind of world we want to see and to advocate for a sustainable local food system with farmer and eater allies. The Learning Center measures all our work by a quadruple bottom line – Ecology, Economy, Equity and Expression. A sustainable local food & farm system must produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and related to the people it serves. The farms that produce it must be vibrant living systems that sustain Earth, even as they nurture and heal us.

Our strategic plan could not have been possible without the feedback collected from stakeholders, partners and volunteers. Your support inspires and encourages every step we take - thank you. We also want to thank our board members and staff that worked diligently and thoughtfully over the last year to create our roadmap.

The road ahead is a challenging and exciting one, both in opportunities for growth and opportunities to help others grow. Thank you for being part of our journey.

In gratitude,

Mary KhouryPresident, Board of Directors

Thomas SpauldingExecutive Director

Our Impact

Farmer Training Our Farmer Training Initiative grows the next generation of sustainable farmers through farmer-to-farmer training, business planning skills, and opportunities to access financing, land & equipment.

Upper Midwest CRAFT farmer training alliance increased membership to 90 farms and 237 total members. Members farmed 2410 total acres with 1450 acres in production.

We graduated 28 students from our Stateline Farm Beginnings program that helps launch or expand sustainable farms. The program has graduated over 250 new farmers since 2006.

Our “Beginning Farmer of the Year” award was given to Jessica Rinks of Purple Leaf Farms at the 11th annual Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago. Chris & Marcy Prchal of Trogg’s Hollow Farm were awarded “Mentor Farmer of the Year.”

We launched the Illinois Farm Beginnings website with Food Works & The Land Connection as aneffective platform for attracting new Farm Beginnings students across the state.

On-Farm Education Our On-Farm Initiative offers hands-on learning experiences on the beautiful 187-acre Angelic Organics farm. We offer food & farm workshops, field trips, farm tours, and custom learning opportunitiesfor individuals, families, schools, community groups and more. 3,697 people participated in our on-farm education programs.

100% of teachers or leaders reported that field trips helped students receive new knowledge.

97% of parents reported that their children would like to attend another program.

94% of adult participants would recommend our workshops to their friends or loved ones.

Food & Farm Advocacy

Our Civic Engagement Initiative helps create networks that promote policies for healthy local food systems & economies. We’re a founding member and backbone organization of Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts, and the Illinois Food, Farms & Jobs Council.

We sponsored the 3rd Annual Urban Livestock Expo in Chicago for more than 200 participants.The Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts connected more than 1,250 people with education and policy updates for raising chickens & poultry. We also facilitated the 6th Annual WIndy City Coop Tour.

Angelic Organics Learning Center exhibited and spoke on panels at the 30th Annual Farm Aid concert in Chicago. Our Roots & Wings Youth Apprentices were also keynote speakers at the City of Dubuque’s 1st Annual Sustainability Fair.

Neddy Astudillo presented at “Meeting of the Americas on Climate Change” in Bogota, Colombia. Tom Spaulding presented at “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Funding” in Chicago.

Urban Agriculture Our Urban Initiative engages communities in agricultural, educational and leadership programs. Our Roots & Wings program in Rockford included sites at Tinker Swiss Cottage, Hazzard Free Farm and Blackhawk Courts Farm & Garden (on Rockford Housing Authority land). Our Eat to Live Farm & Gardens are located in and around the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.

Chicago 606 people participated in 174 citywide events.

Programs covered 4,200 square feet of growing space, yielding 1500 pounds of produce.

We broke ground on a new Incubator Farm to train and mentor local south side farmers.

Rockford695 people participated in 201 citywide events.

Programs covered 14,595 square feet of growing space, yielding 3582 pounds of produce.

86% of participants reported that working in the garden or farm helped them in other areas of their lives.

A Roadmap for GrowthBuilding sustainable local food & farm systems

Angelic Organics Learning Center was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization in 1999 and with Angelic Organics, its partner CSA farm, formed Angelic Organics Association in 2013. The Learning Center reaches more than 5,000 youth and adults, and the CSA farm grows for more than 3,000 households annually. Our regionally recognized farmer training programs and year-round on-farm programs prepare farmers and eaters to build the local food & farm system. Whether at our home farm or our urban training farms in Chicago & Rockford, participants learn to grow, get and eat good food while developing themselves as leaders.

In 2015, we created a bold strategic plan that serves as a roadmap for our future. We live in a time of major crises, whether ecological, social, economic or cultural. We are convinced that regenerating agriculture will address these and forward needed renewal. We insist that all our programs lead to an agriculture that satisfies a quadruple bottom line: Ecology – we heal Earth as we farm, Economy – we grow food that enlivens, Equity – we are fair to every hardworking hand that brings our food from farm to table, and Expression – we encourage cultural and spiritual freedom.

We have four major goals: (1) Strengthen Angelic Organics Association as an emerging model of agriculture with rural/urban participatory leadership, multi-enterprise cooperation & protection of land in perpetuity; (2) Grow viable sustainable local farms in the Upper Midwest and build farmer-led alliances to help launch and sustain them; (3) Increase the diversity and number of people who grow, get and eat good food while developing them as leaders in the local food & farm system; and (4) Create the policy and cultural framework needed for farmers and eaters to regenerate agriculture.

Angelic Organics Learning Center stands at the forefront of building sustainable local food and farm systems for more than 16 years. We are grateful to you and all our allies, partners & supporters. Let’s grow!

Angelic Organics Learning Center, Inc.

2015 Financial Information

Use of Funds: January 1 through December 31, 2015

Source of Funds: January 1 through December 31, 2015

Condensed Statement of Financial Position Dec 31, 2014 and 2015

2014 2015ASSETS Current Assets 590,183 648,700 Fixed Assets 524,336 517,808 Other Assets 53,702 51,213 TOTAL ASSETS $1,168,221 $1,217,721

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities 55,691 75,619 Long-term Liabilities 65,999 0 TOTAL LIABILITIES $121,690 $75,619

NET ASSETS Unrestricted (undesignated) 686,747 662,691 Unrestricted (designated) 90,115 141,482

Temporarily Restricted 269,669 337,929TOTAL NET ASSETS $1,046,531 $1,142,102TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS $1,168,221 $1,217,721

Condensed Statement of Activities Dec 31, 2014 and 2015

REVENUES AND SUPPORT Individual Gifts & Special Events 136,967 187,378 Program Revenues Sale of Merchandise (net) 7,353 9,136 Other Program Revenue 137,266 146,933 Grants Income Corporations, Foundations & Community Groups 470,904 670,960 Government Grants 638,150 482,260 Miscellaneous & Interest 7,023 24,031 TOTAL REVENUES & SUPPORT $1,397,663 $1,520,698

EXPENSES Program Services 919,399 1,046,940 Management and General 201,380 217,762 Fundraising 141,326 160,425TOTAL EXPENSES $1,262,105 $1,425,127

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 135,558 95,571 NET ASSETS AT START OF YEAR 910,973 1,046,531 NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR $1,046,531 $1,142,102

1  

2  

3  

4  Corporate, Foundation& Community Grants

44%

Program Revenue 10%

Government Grants32%

Individual Gifts, Special Events, Misc.

14%

1  

2  

3  Educational Programs

74%

Fundraising11%

Management & General 15%

Thank you to . . .Individual DonorsGrant AbertCeleste AblerSusan Agate and Michael SlutskyChristopher Allen and Ginny HolbertKathy AndersenJoseph and Ann Marie ArdenAlphonse and Anna AriasGustavo AstudilloClara BakerJohn and Barbara BaranMichael BaranRobin and Peter BaugherKris Beck and Stuart StrongAlexandra BensonTom BentonPatricia and Al BeranekRobert BernatKasey BersettPamela Betz-BaronJane Bilger and Andrew PhilipsbornLisa BlackOlive BlakeDavid and Susan BlasiMattie Blythe-WilsonSarah BoehmJim and Judy BolinKathleen BolinBrekke BoundasJeannie BoutelleRichard BoydMartha BoydKJ BradleyJody BridgeJulie Brown and Steve SchneckJohn and Nonie BrownKathryn BrownAlison and Ben BrownDan and Julie BunnellWilliam BurdettCarol and Ron BurmeisterBarry BursakConor ButkusPamela CallahanJennifer CaponiAlida CarpenterLisa and Jeff CarterLaura CassidyJina ChoiYoung ChungCarol ConklinNicole CreelRichard and Marcia CrockettDeb Crockett and Bill ConoverLee Nagan and Amy DavisNancy DennettBetsy Dietel and Michael Sands

James DifferdingMatt DineJackie DrakeKim DuchossoisCarolyn and Keith DushaneBrady DwyerPaul and Laurie EichelmanMatt ElmoreKevin EricksonAlice Estrup and Tom NielsenTim EvoySarah FerenceCarol Fitzgerald

Carol and Bill FitzgeraldMelissa and Michael FlynnLinda FormanTheresa FrankiewiczJanine FronEwa and Stan FudalaSusan and Mike FumoAdam GarciaCatherine and Gilbert GarciaDavid and Mbaresa GentryAva and Alistair George StewartJanet GerskeAnne Gill-BloyerLarry and Lou Ann GrabowskiDominic Green & Jessica Swoyer GreenMark GrotzkeGlenn GungelElizabeth Haderlein and Tom CubrJohn and Marisol HakansonRebecca HaldemanThe Hanson Family FoundationWill HeelanJessica and Chris Hehmeyer

Don and Marilyn HeneghanGeorge and Julie HernandezKacy HertzCynthia and Robert HeywoodShirley HilzingerMark HipplerPeggy and David HirschJohn and Kelly HoogenakkerJeannette HoogestraatElizabeth Hopp-Peters and Kurt PetersMargaret HowardMegan HryndzaTom HurrleJessica ImpsonJim and Laurel JacobusRegina JahnKelann JanesakLucyna JodlowskaLaManda JoyNancy Juda and Jens BraschJoanne Kalnitz and Marshall SorkinMeliisa Kane-Hyde and Tim HydeKeeling/Green Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern IllinoisHelen KesslerInduk Kim and Ilter SayginSusan and Mike KirbyJosephine KishkunasSylvia and Randy KlakerEmily and Jeremy KlonickiJeanne KracherKrause Family Giving FundAltfrid and Susan KrusenbaumKarl KrutschTazio KubbsJason Kunesh, in honor of Dan RatnerMichael Laidlaw and Tammy BallMary Lammert Khoury and Rob KhouryBeth Lange and William MartinRebecca Lavigne and Dan KapnerLeah LawsonLeFort-Martin FundKaren LehmanSara and John LohrmannDiane and Doug MacdonaldMarcin MatelskMichelle Maton and Michael SchaefferLaura McAlpineConstance McCarthyMargie McCarthyMary Jo McCarthyCarissa and Jim McCarthyConstance McCarthyNancy and Mark McClellandCliff McConvilleKristan McNamesTodd and Cari Melby

Hanh MeyersMichelle and Daniel MinickMalini Ram MoraghanLois Morrison and Justin DaabDavid MoweryTom and Jeanne MurtaghRobert J. Neustadt Charitable FundMary T. Radostits Charitable FundTrang NguyenZeke and Jennifer NickelsNielsen-Massey FoundationJohn and Merilee NovinsonSam OliverAva and Dan OlsonBob PalmerDouglas PaulEva Huerta Pavia - Cyrus Inc.Matt and Amanda PeluseTom Perry and Gina MazzaferriPatrick Pfohl and Barbara BeyersTed PhillipsLauren and David PilgrimCatherine PlonkaJill PlotkeCarolyn PoplettChris and Marcy PrchalMary PruddenNancy QuintanaMary Beth RampollaRegina RauchEllen Ray and Ty MulroyHelene RhodesBoyd Rice and Karin WagnerCandie RinkCarrie and Tim RollinsS. Neil Peck and Barbara Rose Gift FundBarbara Rose and Neil PeckLinda Rosencranz and Floyd BednarzAndy and Christina RostadMary and John RudzinskiPatrick Sands, Charles Schwab & Co. XiaoHong SangKerry Schaible CLU, CLTCMeg SchaulMeagan SchipanskiEva SchuchardtEric SchumannYang ShengStephanie and Jerry SimonPaul ShortThe Simons FamilyAnne and John Sloan

William and Julianne SnivelyChristine SolomonTom Spaulding and Neddy AstudilloLaura SpellSharon Grimm and Stacey HornDenise StennisKim Stone and Ken WexlerLisa StrongErich and Cobey StruckmeyerCarol and Tema Summerfield

Lauren SykoraJoan TaylorCaroline TescheFleur and Ronald TestaJohn and Loralie ThomasSteve Tiwald and Karen HuttMichael UramJulia and Ben Van VlietMindy and Michael ViamontesJohn and Gail WallDan and Kathy WassmannJanet WassonDon Wedd and Lisa RademacherLenae Weichel and Kevin HoldmannShawn ans AJ WeisMark WeitekamperRichard Assmus and Leah Welty AssmusKates WenzelJoanne Wiedemann-Wolf and David WolfHannah WillageAnn and David WilliamsLynn Wolff

Elizabeth WolterJoan ZahorikJohn and Linda ZanieskiEdward and Megan ZastawnyLillian ZhouBrianna Zielke

Donations with Tributes Ethlyn Berner in honor of the Gentleman FarmerRichard and Judi Duchossois in honor or Dominic and Jessica GreenJanet and Craig Duchossois in honor of Jessica and Dominic GreenKim Duchossois in honor of the missionEd Fortino and Dalye Duchossois in honor of Henry and Oliver GreenEF Harris Family Foundation in memory of Ed HarrisLisa Hish and Elizabeth Wenscott in honor of Dion HishJoel Koplos in honor of Jeanne Stang KoplosJoel Koplos in memory of Jeanne Stang KoplosSusan and Warren Lammert in honor of Mary Lammert KhourySamantha Leidner in honor of Marlene & Dave Vanderplow and Cathy WilliamsMary Jane Lewis in honor of the Peterson FamilyThe Morrison Family Foundation in honor of Mary KhouryJohn and Merilee Novinson in memory of Elizabeth NovinsonCarolyn Poplett in honor of Denise StennisHillary Reinglass in honor of Mermel and Crow family + Happiness for the highest great of all beings! Denise Stennis in honor of Kyrin JamesKurrie Stennis in celebration of Kyrin James StennisByong Uk and Myon Soon Chung in honor of Young ChungMicki Whitacre in memory of Lloyd Medansky

Your support helped build sustainable local food & farm systems in 2015!

Community Organizations, Foundations & Businesses AgribankAlpine BankAmerican Endowment FoundationAnonymous (5)Bank of America Charitable FoundationBlue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoisCedar Tree FoundationChapman and Cutler LLPClif Bar Family FoundationComcast FoundationCommunity Foundation of Northern IllinoisDill Pickle Food CoopDr. Scholl Family FoundationDuchossois Family FoundationFidelity Charitable Gift FundGaylord & Dorothy Donnelley FoundationGeneral Mills FoundationGood-Natured LandscapesIrv and Shelly’s Fresh PicksKailo Fund Liberty Prairie FoundationNeighborSpace New Visions FoundationOrganic ValleyParroquia Luterana San JosePEO SisterhoodPresbyterian Church USAPresbytery of ChicagoPublic GoodRobert & Sara Schlenker FoundationRockford Bank and TrustRockford Housing AuthorityRyan Jury Development Learning CenterSchwab Charitable FundSearle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust through Food:Land:OpportunityStill MachineThe Brico FundThe Ceres FoundationThe Daniel & Genevieve Ratner FoundationThe J. R. Albert FoundationThe Nielsen-Massey FoundationThe Oertel AgencyThe Organic Mechanics Soil CompanyThomas P. & Patricia A. O’Donnell FoundationUNFI FoundationUnited Way of Rock River ValleyWalter S. Mander FoundationWhole Trees

Government Grantsllinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, WIA State Workforce Initiatives USDA, Community Food Projects GrantUSDA, Local Foods Promotion Program Planning GrantUSDA, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program-Standard GrantUSDA, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program-Educational Enhancement Grant

In-Kind DonationsAidan HerbalsAmerican Blues TheaterAngelic Organics farmBang Bang Pie & BiscuitsChristina Noël photographyComcast CorporationCornerstone Restaurant Group/bellyQCrown RestroomsKim DuchossoisDominic GreenHazzard Free FarmsHoney Butter Fried ChickenHot Chocolate/Mindy SegalJava Mania CoffeeJen MayerBeth NielsenJohnny Selected Seeds Lula Main FraimCliff McConvilleMike Seroni PhotographyMon Ami Gabi Oak BrookNew Holland BreweryOctaneReno Slow Food ChicagoTable, Donkey & StickThe Kitchen - ChicagoUniversity of Chicago MedicineVie/Paul VirantYogaview

Board of Directors, 2015 Mary Khoury, PresidentConstance McCarthy, SecretaryJohn Peterson, President EmeritusJoseph ArdenMelissa FlynnAdam GarciaDominic GreenCliff McConvilleKristan McNamesAva George Stewart Tom Spaulding, Executive Director

Staff, 2015Marco AlfaroNeddy AstudilloRobert BenzelShelbie BlankKathleen BolinMartha BoydWilliam BurdettJoshua CapodarcoRebecca CheltonEleanor Conover-CrockettDebra CrockettJessica Crow MermelSheri DoyelSpencer EllsworthAmanda GrecoTracey HallJoseph HaverlyDanica HoehnKatherine KelleyDavid KitschWilliam Ladd-CawthorneTara LambAdrian LanderosKellie LaursonNathan LiddellRandy MermelJennifer Meyer-DotyDesmond MooreKenyatte MooreApril MorrisCindy PalombiKaileigh PowellMary RudzinskiJennifer SheltonTedd SnowdenThomas SpauldingFrancisco Spaulding-AstudilloDenise StennisBritney StubbsJessica SurmaKathleen TownsendDiamond VernerZoe WedelLaura WetterElizabeth WhitehurstGretchen Witowich Volunteers, 2015Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who help us do more work, affect more people, and build more sustainable local food and farm systems. We appreciate all you do!

We apologize for any errors or omissions. For inquiries, email Denise Stennis at donate@learngrowconnect.org.

www.Lea rnG rowConnec t . o r g1547 Rockton Rd. Caledonia, IL 61011 - 815.389.8455

Chicago Office - 1647 W. Fulton St. Chicago, IL 60612

Rockford Office - 330 15th Ave. Rockford, IL 61104 Cove r Pho t o b y Ch r i s t i na Noe l Pho t og r aphy

1st Farm Credit ServicesAdvocates for Urban AgricultureAngelic Organics CSA FarmAnn Williams EvaluationBadgerland FinancialBand of FarmersBecome, Inc. Beloit College Duffy Internship ProgramBiodynamic Association Blackhawk Buddy House of Zion OutreachBlue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoisCity of Chicago Dept. of Planning & DevelopmentCity of RockfordComcast CaresUpper Midwest CRAFT North American CRAFTChicago Botanic Gardens - Windy City HarvestFarm Beginnings Collaborative Chicagoland Chicken EnthusiastsFamilyFarmedFarm Business Development Center at Prairie CrossingFour Rivers Environmental CoalitionFood Works

Greencorps Chicago Youth Program GreenFaith Harvard School of ExcellenceHazzard Free FarmInstitute of Women TodayKiva.orgGirl Scouts of Northern IllinoisGrow Greater EnglewoodIllinois Stewardship AllianceThe Land ConnectionThe Land Stewardship ProjectLiberty Prairie FoundationMichael Fields Agricultural InstituteNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition NeighborSpaceReal Men Charities, Inc.Rockford Housing AuthorityRockford Park DistrictRockford Summer Food Service ProgramRock Valley CollegeSan Jose ChurchSlow Food ChicagoTen Hens Farm

Our Partners

On behalf of all our staff, we are grateful to the many collaborators in our work, including farms, schools, restaurants, media outlets, individuals and community organizations. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!