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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: December 2025 Expires: December 2026

Seed St. Louis

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(314) 588-9600
5501 Delmar Blvd Ste B270
Saint Louis, MO, 63112
https://seedstl.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Seed St. Louis meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Due to circumstances beyond the organization's control, BBB has provisionally passed this organization on Standard 8.  

Stated Purpose:

Seed St. Louis mission is to empower people and communities to grow food. Our vision is equitable access to fresh, healthy food throughout the St. Louis region. We work to provide the community with the education, resources, and a network to grow their own food. Through this, we cultivate Food Freedom for All. Our organization was established in 1984, the founding mission was to increase sources of affordable fresh food for St. Louis residents and to support the use of vacant lots for urban agriculture. These projects deliver healthy renewable resources for community members, increase physical activity, reduce crime, increase property values, and create strong community efficacy. 

Year, State Incorporated:
1984, MO

Also Known As:
Gateway Greening

Seed St. Louis supports a network of 250 gardens and orchards located at community sites and schools. In 2025, we completed 64 installation projects at gardens and orchards, constructing 66 raised beds and supplying 92 fruit trees and shrubs. So far this year, we have deployed over 273 cubic yards of compost and soil. We also conducted 39 educational classes with 1,147 attendees and engaged over 387 students in practical learning on food growing skills. Our annual Community Agriculture Conference drew over 100 participants. With 2,717 volunteer hours and 1,000 active volunteers, we continued to promote healthier lifestyles and improve food access.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Seed St. Louis's program expenses were:

Programs $724,328
Total Program Expenses $724,328

Chief Executive
Cheryl Adelstein, Interim CEO

Chair of the Board
Melanie Bernds

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Rabobank

Board Size
20

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Other

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Seed St. Louis's audited financial statements - combined for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Foundation and Corporate Support $445,518
Government Grants $171,519
Contributions of Nonfinancial Assets $127,252
Individual Support $65,822
Planter Sales $39,569
Special Events $39,500
Other $24,494
Total Income $913,674

Programs: 61% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 23%

Total Income $913,674
Total expenses: $1,180,469
  Program expenses $724,328
  Fundraising expenses $188,730
  Administrative expenses $267,411
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-266,795
Beginning Net Assets $1,028,234
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $761,439
Total Liabilities $631,535
Total Assets $1,392,974

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB of Eastern & Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois