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Nonprofit · EIN 20-4131598

HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY

Tax-exempt · NASSAU, DE 19969

Financials

$708K$459K2023$627K$607K2024$538K$564K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$537,604$563,523-$25,919$491,965$8,824$483,141
December 31, 2024990$626,907$607,412$19,495$521,948$10,021$511,927
December 31, 2023990$707,806$459,398$248,408$496,485$7,925$488,560
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$341,191
of which government grants
$112,500
Program service revenue
$131,416
Investment income
$17,959
Net gain from sales of assets
$60
Net income from fundraising events
$46,568
Other revenue
$47,038

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$3,060
Other salaries and wages
$177,070
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$190,616
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$10,625
Occupancy
$12,253
Travel
$1,520
Depreciation
$2,144
Program services (functional)
$474,232
Management and general (functional)
$43,027
Fundraising (functional)
$46,264

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$521,948
Total assets, end of year
$491,965
Total liabilities, end of year
$8,824
Net assets, end of year
$483,141
Land, buildings and equipment
$5,062
Publicly traded securities
$381,759
Net assets without donor restrictions
$446,050
Net assets with donor restrictions
$37,091
Gross receipts
$563,002
Employees
8
Volunteers
165
Year formed
2007
State of legal domicile
DE

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LEWIS DAWLEYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
4$15,950
SHARON DARDINEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
20$15,000
JESSICA CHARTERSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
HELAINE HARRISPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
30$0
JOANNE MELOROVP
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
MARTY ROSENSWEIGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
5$0
CHRISTINA SAMSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SHARON DARDINESECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
20$15,000
LINDA DARLINGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
15$0
TRISH HARMERVICE PRESIDE
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
HELAINE HARRISPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
30$0
JOANNE MELOROBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
4$0
MARTY ROSENSWEIGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
5$0
CHRISTINA SAMSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SHARON DARDINESECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
20$15,000
LINDA DARLINGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
15$0
TRISH HARMERVICE PRESIDE
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
HELAINE HARRISPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
30$0
JOANNE MELOROBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
4$0
MARTY ROSENSWEIGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
5$0
CHRISTINA SAMSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
6$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 185, NASSAU, DE 19969-0185
In care of
% HELAINE HARRIS
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
HELAINE HARRIS, 2301 CONNECTICUT AVE NW APT 3B, WASHINGTON, DC 20008
Signed the 990
HELAINE HARRIS, PRESIDENT
Phone
(302) 644-1436
Return prepared by
ATLANTIC BLUE ADVISORS LLC

Mission

THE HLFM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO NURTURING A VIBRANT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN DELMARVA THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE BRING TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY AND FARMERS THAT GROW OUR FOOD. WE BUILD DELIVERY NETWORKS THAT CONNECT LOCAL GROWERS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR PRODUCER-ONLY FARMERS MARKETS AND OTHER FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS. WE FOCUS ON EMPOWERING EMERGING FARMERS AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING LOCAL FARMLAND. OUR GOAL IS AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT INCREASES HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS, REDUCES FOOD WASTE, AND BENEFITS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT: FARMERS MARKET: IN 2025, THE HLFM (HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET) CONTINUED TO OPERATE TWO FARMERS MARKETS IN LEWES, ONE EVERY SATURDAY FROM MAY TO DECEMBER AND ONE EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM JUNE-SEPTEMBER. THESE MARKETS PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WHERE CONSUMERS MAY PURCHASE THE FRESHEST LOCAL FOODS AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS. CONSUMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMER HOW THEIR FOOD IS GROWN/RAISED, AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN TERMS OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE. THE MARKET ALSO GIVES SMALL, LOCAL FARMERS/PRODUCERS AN OUTLET FOR THEIR PRODUCTS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE HLFM MARKET TEAM TO SHARE IDEAS AND LEARN BEST PRACTICES ON ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND DIRECT MARKETING. THE HLFM ORGANIZES WEEKLY DEMONSTRATIONS PROVIDED BY LOCAL CHEFS, FARMERS, MASTER GARDENERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, COOKING TECHNIQUES AND HEALTHY RECIPES. ALSO, AS PART OF THE MARKET, THE HLFM ORGANIZES A GLEANING PROGRAM WHERE THEY TAKE DONATIONS OF EXTRA PRODUCE FROM VENDORS AT THE END OF EACH MARKET, ORGANIZE THE PRODUCE, AND DONATE IT TO CASA SAN FRANCISCO IN MILTON, DE, A CHARITY WHICH RUNS A SOUP KITCHEN AS PART OF ITS MISSION. THE HLFM IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMING, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND FARMERS MARKET MANAGEMENT. IN 2018, HLFM PUBLISHED CREATING A FARMERS MARKET LIVING LAB: LESSONS LEARNED IN GROWING A FARMERS MARKET, WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A 2-YEAR STUDY CONDUCTED BY HLFM WITH FUNDING FROM THE USDA. HLFM SHARED THE FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY WITH FARMERS MARKET ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND EUROPE BY PRESENTING AT CONFERENCES AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THE FINAL PUBLICATION.
    Expenses $261,935 · revenue $127,444
  • SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT: FARMER SCHOLARSHIPS: THE HLFM AWARDED SEVEN SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING 3,060 TO SMALL DELMARVA FARMERS IN 2025, ENABLING THEM TO ATTEND SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE FUTURE HARVEST CASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND THE PASA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE. THESE CONFERENCES DRAW FARMERS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES FROM A BROAD SECTION OF THE EAST COAST, MID-ATLANTIC, AND THE SOUTH WITH SIMILAR GROWING CONDITIONS TO THE DELMARVA.
    Expenses $3,060 · grants $3,060
  • THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENTHLFM FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS SNAP/EBT: THE HLFM PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD FOR LOW-INCOME OR UNDERSERVED LOCAL RESIDENTS BY COORDINATING VENDOR PARTICIPATION IN ACCEPTING SNAP (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) EBT AT THE MARKET. THE HLFM ALSO PROVIDES MATCHING DOLLARS TO HELP SNAP RECIPIENTS STRETCH THEIR DOLLARS TO PURCHASE LOCAL, FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOODS. THE HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET MATCHES UP TO 20 IN TOKENS FOR SNAP/EBT USED AT THE MARKET. THIS 20 MATCH IS FOR EVERY SNAP CUSTOMER, EVERY MARKET. THE HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET ALSO DOES OUTREACH TO LET SNAP PARTICIPANTS KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTHY FOOD THAT CAN BE PURCHASED WITH THE MATCH AT THE HLFM MARKETS
    Expenses $8,803 · revenue $3,972
  • FOOD PANTRY PURCHASE PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS BOTH LOCAL SMALL FAMILY FARMS AND LOW-INCOME LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE MARKET PROVIDES FUNDS TO PAY THE SMALL FARMERS IN THE MARKET TO SUPPLY FRESH LOCAL FOOD WHICH IS DONATED TO A LARGE, LOCAL FOOD PANTRY RUN BY THE EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE. BOTH THE FARMERS AND THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE, DAIRY, AND MEAT, BENEFIT. IN 2025, THE HLFM PROCURED 23,992 WORTH OF FOOD FOR THE EPWORTH FOOD PANTRY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AT THE SATURDAY MARKET, INCLUDING DIRECTLY PURCHASING 14,150 OF FRESH LOCAL FOOD FROM FARMERS, AND THANKS TO A 10,000 GRANT FROM THE CARL M. FREEMAN FOUNDATION. FARM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM: IN 2023, THE HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET WAS CHOSEN AS THE SUSSEX COUNTY PARTNER BY THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM CALLED FARM TO COMMUNITY. AS THE SUSSEX COUNTY PROJECT PARTNER IN THIS TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, THE HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET RECEIVED A SUBAWARD OF 420,000 TO PROCURE, AGGREGATE, AND DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE, MEAT, EGGS, AND DAIRY FROM DELAWARE SMALL FARMERS AND OTHER LOCAL SOURCES TO FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS SUSSEX COUNTY. SMALL FARMERS IN DELAWARE TYPICALLY HAVE LIMITED CAPITAL AND RESOURCES, LIMITED ACREAGE, CAPACITY, AND PRODUCTION VOLUME TO COMPETE IN MAINSTREAM MARKET OUTLETS, LIMITED MARKETING, AND PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT CUSTOMER BASE. MEANWHILE, SMALL FARMERS PRODUCE A WIDE VARIETY OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS EACH HARVEST SEASON THAT THEY SELL AT LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS AND ROADSIDE FARM STANDS. THIS PILOT PROJECT EXPANDS THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS TO GAIN ENTRY INTO ADDITIONAL MARKET OUTLETS AND INSTITUTIONS, BY DEVELOPING A COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE FOCUSED ON MARKETING AND PROMOTION; AND INITIATES A PROCUREMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS AND DISTRIBUTION OUTLETS SERVING URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE. IN 2024, THE HLFM WAS AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL 300,000 TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM INTO KENT COUNTY, DE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS VERSION OF THE PROGRAM ENDED IN JULY 2025 WITH THE TERMINATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ALL PROJECTS LIKE THIS NATIONWIDE. HOWEVER, THE HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF THE FARM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF FRESH FOOD PURCHASES FROM SMALL FAMILY FARMS FOR COLLECTION FOR PANTRIES THROUGH AUGUST OF 2026. THE HLFM RECEIVED 112,500 IN 2025 FOR THE FIRST TRANCHE OF STATE FUNDS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE HLFM CONTINUES MANAGING THE PROCUREMENT, AGGREGATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH FOOD FROM 18 LOCAL FARMERS TO SUPPLY FRESH PRODUCE, EGGS, DAIRY, AND MEATS TO 18 SUSSEX AND KENT COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES, FEEDING OVER 6,000 PEOPLE IN NEED WEEKLY. IN 2025, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FOOD DELIVERED TO THOSE IN NEED WAS 185,670.
    Expenses $200,434

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
20-4131598
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2007
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B60)
Assets (IRS master file)
$491,965
Income (IRS master file)
$563,002

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$537,604$563,523$491,965XML
990December 2024$626,907$607,412$521,948XML
990December 2023$707,806$459,398$496,485XML
990December 2022$250,311$188,067$244,390IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2020–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2019–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 20-4131598).

Questions about HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY

What is the EIN of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY is 20-4131598.
Is HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2007.
Are donations to HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names HELAINE HARRIS.
Who are the officers and directors of HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $15,950 (LEWIS DAWLEY, BOARD MEMBER).
How much revenue does HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKETSOCIETY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $537,604, expenses of $563,523 and total assets of $491,965 at year end.

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