Harlem Grown
Harlem Grown is a Harlem-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 14 urban farms that provide free youth programming, school partnerships, and weekly produce distribution to ~20,000 community members annually on a $7.4M donation- and grant-funded budget.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Harlem Grown does
Harlem Grown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban agriculture organization founded in 2011 by Tony Hillery in Harlem, New York. It operates 14 urban farms and growing facilities across Harlem, producing and distributing approximately 188,210 pounds of fresh produce annually to food-insecure families while serving nearly 20,000 community members and over 6,800 youth through free programming. Core programs include Farm Stands (free weekly produce distribution at three locations), School Partnerships (weekly in-school farm and nutrition education at six Harlem schools), After-School Programs (capped at 70 youth/day at 127th St, 18 youth/day at Riverton Square), Summer Camp (free six-week program), Cooking Lessons, Educational Farm Tours, and a Mobile Teaching Kitchen. Additional programming spans a composting initiative that diverts 20,000+ lbs of food waste annually, Libraries on Farms (3,000+ culturally relevant children's books from Penguin Random House), and seasonal community events (Earth Day, Juneteenth, Halloween, Thanksgiving Food Drive).
The underlying technology stack is primarily physical-agricultural rather than digital: soil-based farming, two hydroponic greenhouses, a Freight Farm shipping container for controlled-environment agriculture, a mushroom chamber, a pollinator lot, and a Mobile Teaching Kitchen. Digital infrastructure is limited to standard SaaS tools — Classy for donations, JotForm for applications, VolunteerHub for volunteer management, GreenHouse for hiring, Stripe/PayPal for payments, and Google Analytics/Ads plus Facebook remarketing for marketing. There is no proprietary software product; the organization is a service delivery nonprofit whose 'product' is the programming itself, not a technology platform.
The business model is donation- and grant-funded: all programming is provided free to participants, with revenue derived from foundation grants (largest disclosed: $1.3M Mellon Foundation in 2023), corporate partnerships (Aetna, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, FM Global, Northwell Health, Wells Fargo Foundation, JPMorgan Chase-affiliated board members, Starbucks Foundation, Newman's Own Foundation), individual donations, planned giving, stock donations, employee matching gifts, and modest earned income from corporate volunteer days, cooking lessons, farm tours, and the 'Learn From Us' external services module. Annual operating budget grew from $1.6M (2021) to $7.4M (2024), a 4.6x expansion in three years. Governance is provided by a 16-member Board of Directors spanning finance, law, healthcare, sustainability, and education.
Harlem Grown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harlem Grown
- Legal name
- Harlem Grown Inc.
- Website
- https://harlemgrown.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Harlem Grown is a Harlem-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 14 urban farms that provide free youth programming, school partnerships, and weekly produce distribution to ~20,000 community members annually on a $7.4M donation- and grant-funded budget.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harlem Grown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Urban Agriculture and Youth Education
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where Harlem Grown is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Harlem Grown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major grants from foundations including $1.3M Mellon Foundation grant for Culture, Creativity & Care Initiative in Marcus Garvey Park, $50,000 Newman’s Own Foundation grant, $10,000 Starbucks Foundation grant, and other foundation funding
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals via online portal (Classy.org), check donations to P.O. Box, stock donations, planned giving through estate plans, and employee matching gifts
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Revenue through corporate volunteer programs, team-building events, and CSR partnerships with companies like Aetna, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, BUILD, FM Global, and others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | Summer Camp - Free 6-week program for children entering grades 1-6 |
| Other | One time | After-School Program - Free registration-based program |
| Other | One time | Farm Stands - Free produce distribution |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cooking Lessons - Pricing upon request |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Farm Tours - Pricing upon request |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Harlem Grown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harlem Grown operates a network of 14 urban farms across Harlem that function as free community learning hubs providing fresh produce distribution, hands-on urban agriculture education, cooking and nutrition programming, and youth development to children ages 5-18 and their families. All programs are offered at no cost to participants and funded through foundation grants, individual donations, and corporate partnerships. The organization's flagship offerings include free weekly farm stands, school partnerships, after-school programs, a six-week summer camp, cooking lessons, and educational farm tours.
Product overview
Harlem Grown operates a network of urban farms in Harlem as a unified community wellness platform offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include Farm Stands (free weekly produce distribution), School Partnerships (in-school farm and nutrition education), After-School Programs, Summer Camp (NYC Eco-Detectives), Cooking Lessons, and Educational Farm Tours. The 'Learn From Us' module extends programming to external organizations through education sessions, professional development, and farm support services. Community engagement is supported through seasonal events (Earth Day Festival, Juneteenth Celebration, Halloween Festival, Thanksgiving Food Drive), a Mobile Teaching Kitchen for cooking demonstrations, Composting Program for sustainability, and Libraries on Farms for literacy. All programs are free to the community and operate across 14 urban agriculture facilities throughout Harlem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Farm Stands Free weekly farm stands distributing fresh produce to the Harlem community at multiple neighborhood locations, paired with nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to address food insecurity.
- Saturdays on the Farm Weekly Saturday programming at 134th St Farm featuring family activities including NYPL Storytime, farm activities, cooking classes, STEAM activities, arts & crafts, and community workshops.
- School Partnerships Weekly in-school urban farming and nutrition education program serving partner schools including PS 125, CS 154, PS 185, PS 197, and Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, teaching food history, cultural significance, healthy eating, and sustainable food systems.
- Summer Camp (NYC Eco-Detectives) Free six-week summer camp for Harlem youth in rising Grades 1-6 themed NYC Eco-Detectives, featuring gardening, cooking, science activities, creative electives, and field trips that explore urban ecosystems.
- After-School Program Free after-school program at 127 West 127th Street for elementary-aged youth in grades K-5 (6+ years), operating Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm with hands-on urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition activities for up to 70 youth per day.
- Riverton After-School Free after-school program at Riverton Square for resident youth in grades 1-8, serving up to 18 youth per day in hands-on farming, cooking, and healthy eating activities Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm.
- Cooking Lessons Hands-on cooking workshops delivered in Cultural/Historical, Daily Healthy Recipes, and Cooking Skills formats covering 5-senses interactive cooking, diverse cultural foods, and foundational techniques like knife skills and sauce creation.
- Educational Farm Tours Guided farm tours at 134th St Farm with themed options including General Farm Tour, Soil Science, Plant Life Cycle, Food for Thought (food justice), and Exploring Ecosystems, available for organizations and groups by request.
- Learn From Us Education services offered to external organizations including a-la-carte Education Sessions, Professional Development on agriculture/sustainability/nutrition, Farm & Garden Support, and Service Projects hosted on Harlem Grown farms.
- Mobile Teaching Kitchen Mobile cooking workshop facility featuring recipes reflecting Harlem's diverse cultural backgrounds and produce grown in the neighborhood, deployed for cooking demonstrations and workshops at schools and community events.
- Composting Program Composting program diverting tens of thousands of pounds of food waste from landfills to produce nutrient-rich fertilizer for farms, with the 134th Street farm operating as a 24/7 community drop-off site.
- Libraries on Farms Free outdoor libraries located on Harlem Grown farms stocked with 3,000+ culturally relevant children's books for ages 5-14 (with monthly replenishment of 250 titles), launched April 2022 in partnership with Penguin Random House and the New York Public Library.
- Sankofa Art Installation The 'Sankofa' 32-foot circular structure in Marcus Garvey Park functions as a public art gallery and gathering space as the first outdoor hub of the Mellon Foundation-funded Culture, Creativity, & Care Initiative.
- Freight Farm Shipping Container Grow House Shipping container grow house utilizing Freight Farm controlled environment agriculture technology and hydroponic systems for year-round urban food production at the 139th Street Freight Farm location.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of children grow healthy habits
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Harlem Grown
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Harlem Grown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature4 records
Harlem Grown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Shanon Morris (Chief Program Officer)coreShanon Morris, a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience in food and nutrition, joined as Chief Program Officer to lead programmatic growth. Former Executive Director of Edible Schoolyard NYC and former role at American Heart Association.
- Jerome Haferd / BRANDT : HAFERDflagshipDesign collaboration for 'Sankofa' art installation in Marcus Garvey Park - a 32-foot circular structure serving as art gallery and public gathering space. Part of Mellon Foundation-funded Culture, Creativity, & Care Initiative.
- Nicole Engel (Executive Director)coreNicole Engel joined as Executive Director in 2021, responsible for leading development of Harlem Grown's vision and strategic goals. Former Chief of Staff at Harlem Village Academies with extensive education data and operations experience.
- Latonya Assanah (Agriculture Director)coreLifetime community member appointed Agriculture Director, promoted from parent volunteer to full-time staff member and then to director role.
- Aetna (CVS Health)coreCorporate volunteer days and team-building experiences at Harlem Grown farms. Aetna Better Health also listed as community partner supporting youth programming.
- Morgan StanleycoreCorporate volunteer days at Harlem Grown farms with employee engagement activities supporting youth development and farm operations.
- PepsiCocoreCorporate service days with employee volunteers supporting farm activities and community programs.
- FM GlobalcoreFM Global received Pioneering Partnership Award at Harlem Grown's 12th Annual Gala. Employees engaged in volunteer days and professional development opportunities for staff and youth.
- BUILDminorCorporate volunteer service days at Harlem Grown farms supporting farm activities.
- Phipps NeighborhoodscoreSYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) partner offering summer opportunities for youth ages 16+ who age out of Harlem Grown's summer camp program.
- Northwell HealthminorPartnership to install Victory Greens edible garden on top of Lenox Hill Hospital; herbs and fresh fruit used in patient meals, employees take home produce on designated cutting days.
- Penguin Random HousecoreDonated 3,000 books to launch Libraries on Farms program in April 2022, with commitment to restock 250 titles per month.
- New York Public Library (NYPL)coreWeekly storytimes hosted on Harlem Grown farms as part of Libraries on Farms programming launch.
- NYC ParkscoreArt in the Parks program partnership for Sankofa installation in Marcus Garvey Park. NYC Parks oversees Marcus Garvey Park and supports urban agriculture through GreenThumb program.
- GreenThumbminorNYC Parks community garden program supporting urban agriculture in New York City.
- Grow NYCminorPartnership supporting farmers markets and food access programs.
- Columbia UniversityminorListed as partner supporting Harlem Grown's mission and programs.
- Pratt InstituteminorUndergraduate students worked with Harlem Grown to enhance access to nutritious food for families near two urban farms in food-scarce neighborhoods.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Harlem Grown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Added Value: Brooklyn-based nonprofit operating urban farms and youth-focused food education programs. Direct peer with a similar urban-agriculture-plus-youth-development model serving NYC communities.
- Green Bronx Machine: Bronx-based nonprofit building urban agricultural programs in schools, focused on healthy food access and STEM/green-collar education. Directly comparable in mission, urban-farming-in-schools model, and NYC food-desert focus.
- GrowNYC: NYC nonprofit operating farmers markets, community gardens, and food access programs. Comparable to Harlem Grown's farm-stand and food-distribution model across NYC neighborhoods and a named Harlem Grown partner.
- Brooklyn Grange: NYC-based commercial urban rooftop farm operating large-scale farms and educational programs. Comparable urban-agriculture operator in NYC with a community-education and CSA-style distribution model similar in spirit to Harlem Grown's farm stands.
- Edible Schoolyard NYC: NYC-based nonprofit that uses edible education gardens in schools to teach youth about food, nutrition, and cooking. Direct peer to Harlem Grown's school partnerships model; Harlem Grown's CPO Shanon Morris previously served as Edible Schoolyard NYC's Executive Director.
Broad incumbents
- The Food Trust: National nonprofit focused on nutrition education, food access, and farmers markets. Comparable mission space around food education and community food access, with broader geographic scope.
- City Harvest: NYC's largest food rescue organization distributing tens of millions of pounds of food annually. Comparable on the fresh-food-distribution and food-access mission in NYC, though operating at much greater scale and with a food-rescue model rather than a production model.
Emerging players
- Soul Fire Farm: Upstate New York farm and BIPOC-led organization focused on food sovereignty, youth programming, and farmer training. Comparable in the intersection of urban-adjacent agriculture, youth education, and food-justice mission, though operating outside NYC.
Others
- Bowery Farming: Commercial indoor vertical farming company using controlled-environment agriculture similar to Harlem Grown's hydroponic greenhouses and Freight Farm. Comparable technology, though operating as a commercial operator rather than a community nonprofit.
Regional players
- Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit addressing food access through produce-prescription and nutrition-incentive programs. Comparable mission on food affordability and nutrition access for underserved communities; relevant as a complementary funder/partnership counterpart rather than direct operating peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harlem Grown social profiles
Digital presenceHarlem Grown compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Harlem Grown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harlem Grown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Harlem Grown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harlem Grown M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Harlem Grown
What does Harlem Grown do?
Harlem Grown operates a network of 14 urban farms across Harlem that function as free community learning hubs providing fresh produce distribution, hands-on urban agriculture education, cooking and nutrition programming, and youth development to children ages 5-18 and their families. All programs are offered at no cost to participants and funded through foundation grants, individual donations, and corporate partnerships. The organization's flagship offerings include free weekly farm stands, school partnerships, after-school programs, a six-week summer camp, cooking lessons, and educational farm tours.
Is Harlem Grown a public or private company?
Harlem Grown is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harlem Grown founded?
Harlem Grown was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Harlem Grown based?
Harlem Grown is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Harlem Grown make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Corporate Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships.
Who are Harlem Grown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Added Value, Green Bronx Machine, GrowNYC, Brooklyn Grange and Edible Schoolyard NYC. Broad incumbents are The Food Trust and City Harvest. Soul Fire Farm is listed as an emerging player. Bowery Farming is listed as an others. Wholesome Wave is listed as a regional player.
Does Harlem Grown have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harlem Grown.
What industry is Harlem Grown in?
Harlem Grown's product category is Community Urban Agriculture and Youth Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 100.