EIN 06-1642769

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
22
Year formed
2002
Most recent tax filings
2023-12-01
Description
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's (ASAP) mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
Total revenues
$2,109,109
2023
Total expenses
$1,870,697
2023
Total assets
$2,149,766
2023
Num. employees
22
2023

Program areas at ASAP

ASAPs three programmatic areas are the Local Food Campaign, Growing Minds program and Local Food Research Center. The Local Food Campaigns capacity building work gives farmers and buyers skills, tools, resources, and connections they need to succeed. The Appalachian Grown regional branding and certification program certified over 850 farms, including access to promotional and packaging materials to identify farm products as certified local. More than 450 partner businesses including grocers, restaurants, distributors, hospitals, colleges, and public schools also participated in the program. Local Food Campaign organizers help make connections between farmers and buyers, share stories about food and farms in our communities, and promote local food where consumers shop and dine. ASAP operated a weekly farmers market in downtown Asheville and assisted more than 100 farmers markets to understand best practices for management, promote
community, including children, their parents, teachers and school staff. The program provides workshops and other training to educators, so that they can integrate local food, healthy eating, and farm-based activities into their work. Implementation was supported through tools, resources, materials, and funds distributed to teachers and community health professionals across the region to facilitate the creation/maintenance of school gardens, provide cooking demonstrations, support local procurement for classrooms and cafeterias, or take farm field trips. The program facilitated positive local food and farm experiences for thousands of children throughout our service region. Dietetic Interns from partner colleges and universities were trained to implement farm to school activities in their future professions. ASAP continued the Growing Minds @ Community Colleges, a statewide initiative to embed farm to preschool into NC Community College early childhood education programs. ASAPs Growing Minds co-facilitates the NC Farm to Preschool Network and serves on the advisory committee for the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina. The Local Food Research Center (LFRC) examines the social, economic, and environmental impacts of localizing food systems. The center researches and tests ASAPs theory of food system change. ASAPs theory is that creating democratic and responsive food systems will increase community well-being, build resilient economies, and support environmental sustainability. Closer connections and knowledge developed through food system experiences empowers citizens to consciously create a just and sustainable food system. LFRC provided research and support for ASAPs ongoing programming for farmers and the community, content and context for the Local Food Guide, ASAPs annual report, and more. Research findings also supported ASAPs fundraising efforts; research staff provided content, framing, and writing support for several multiple proposals. LFRC also provided ongoing evaluation assistance to other ASAP programs and administered ASAPs annual survey to farmers, which informs the work of the Local Food Campaign.
themselves, and navigate the regulatory environment. The program held its annual ASAP Business of Farming Conference, delivering over a dozen workshops to hundreds of participants. ASAP published 70,000 copies of the Local Food Guide. To expand participation in the local food movement, ASAP operated two incentive programs, including Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and a Farm Fresh Produce Prescription program to provide eligible participants with weekly incentives for local fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. ASAPs Growing Minds program connects education, health, and wellness programming with local agriculture. This program provides support and resources in order to create healthy food environments and experiences to better the health of all members of our

Grants made by ASAP

GranteeGrant descriptionAmount
Hub City RootsSub-Award$26,927
Nourish KnoxvilleSub-Award$21,646
Blue Ridge Women in AgricultureSub-Award$19,970
...and 1 more grant made

Who funds Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Dogwood Health TrustLeveraging Connections Across the Local Food Economy.$137,666
Dogwood Health TrustMatch Dollars for the Gusnip Nutrition Incentive Program Grant Application.$100,000
Community Foundation of Western North CarolinaAssisting People in Need$83,100
...and 9 more grants received

Personnel at ASAP

NameTitleCompensation
Molly NicholieExecutive Director$93,600
Melinda LequinFinance Director
Sarah HartCommunications and Engagement Director
Nora ScheffDevelopment Director
Danielle RaucheisenGrowing Minds Program Director
...and 7 more key personnel

Financials for ASAP

RevenuesFYE 12/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$1,957,508
Program services$128,333
Investment income and dividends$12,114
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$0
Net income from fundraising events$-88
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$7,330
Miscellaneous revenues$3,912
Total revenues$2,109,109

Form 990s for ASAP

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-122024-11-14990View PDF
2022-122023-11-14990View PDF
2021-122022-11-01990View PDF
2020-122021-11-05990View PDF
2019-122020-10-08990View PDF
...and 10 more Form 990s
Data update history
March 25, 2025
Received grants
Identified 5 new grant, including a grant for $137,666 from Dogwood Health Trust
February 22, 2025
Updated personnel
Identified 1 new personnel
January 20, 2025
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
January 3, 2025
Received grants
Identified 3 new grant, including a grant for $40,000 from Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors
November 18, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 7 new personnel
Nonprofit Types
Grantmaking organizationsSocial advocacy organizationsEnvironmental organizationsCharities
Issues
Land and water conservationEnvironment
Characteristics
Receives government fundingTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
306 W Haywood St
Asheville, NC 28801
Metro area
Asheville, NC
County
Buncombe County, NC
Website URL
asapconnections.org/ 
Phone
(828) 236-1282
Facebook page
asapconnections 
Twitter profile
@asapconnections 
IRS details
EIN
06-1642769
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
2002
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
C34: Land Resources Conservation
NAICS code, primary
813312: Environment, Conservation, and Wildlife Organizations
Parent/child status
Independent
Free account sign-up

Want updates when ASAP has new information, or want to find more organizations like Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)?

Create free Cause IQ account