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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2025 Expires: October 2027

The Cornucopia Institute

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 7 14 16
(608) 975-7998
Post Office Box 826
Viroqua, WI, 54665
http://www.cornucopia.org
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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

The Cornucopia Institute does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

CI does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

CI does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization did not produce a written report outlining the results of its October 2023 effectiveness assessment.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

CI does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the 2024 budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses broken down by major program category (education, research and analysis, and monitoring and reporting).
  • Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

CI does not meet this Standard because the 2024 annual report did not include:

  • Total revenue.
  • Total fundraising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • Total program expenses broken down by major program catergory (education, research and analysis, monitoring and reporting).
  • Ending net assets.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 13

The Cornucopia Institute meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to uncover the truth behind organic food and advocate for an organic label you can trust."

Year, State Incorporated:
2004, WI

Cornucopia Institute (CI) investigates the organic food marketplace, rating organic foods outcomes for human health, animal welfare, and the environment. The organization reports that it advocates for clear and strong USDA organic regulations. CI also educates its members, the public, and other stakeholders on issues surrounding organic agriculture and food, and sustainable and local food. The organization shares their findings through its website, newsletters, research reports, speaking engagements, and collaborations. The organization also reports that it conducts research and analysis on the organic industry, including the production and marketing for eggs, dairy, poultry, beef, grain, and products such as snack bars and plant-based beverages. Finally, the organization monitors and comments on regulatory processes concerning organic standards and tracks developments in genetically modified foods and other impacts on organic food producers.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, The Cornucopia Institute's program expenses were:

Education $563,341
Research and analysis $538,341
Monitoring and reporting $119,663
Total Program Expenses $1,221,344

Chief Executive
Melody Morrell, Executive Director

Compensation*
$89,842

Chair of the Board
Cameron Molberg

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Greener Pastures Chicken

Board Size
5

Paid Staff Size
10

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Telephone appeals

The Cornucopia Institute incurred joint costs of $165,423 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $142,693 was allocated to program expenses and $13,911 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $8,818 was allocated to administrative expenses.

Fundraising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $923,712, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

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 The Cornucopia Institute's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
Foundation and corporate contributions $517,746
Member and private contributions $405,966
Dividends and interest income $16,453
Other revenue $700
Unrealized gain on investments $325
Total Income $941,190

Programs: 89% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $941,190
Total expenses: $1,375,416
  Program expenses $1,221,344
  Fundraising expenses $52,285
  Administrative expenses $101,786
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-434,226
Beginning Net Assets $1,095,893
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $661,667
Total Liabilities $90,836
Total Assets $752,503

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.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance