SOLA GRATIA FARM

What SOLA GRATIA FARM does

Sola Gratia Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban farm founded in 2012 and based in Urbana, Illinois. The organization operates an expanded agricultural footprint of approximately 33 acres, consisting of an original 4-acre site plus a newly added 29-acre property, and grows produce for sale, distribution, and donation. Since inception, the farm has produced more than 771,000 pounds of food and donated over 174,000 pounds to food-insecure populations, positioning itself as a hybrid commercial-charitable operator rather than a pure production farm.

The farm generates revenue through a diversified multi-channel model spanning Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions (more than 250 families), farmers market sales, and wholesale channels. A material share of output is donated to community partners, and operations are supported by a 12-person staff under board governance. Cumulative outside capital of approximately $900,000 has been raised across a 2022 USDA grant, a 2023 ARPA grant of $150,000, and a $750,000 loan facility closed in December 2024 — indicating reliance on public-sector and concessionary funding rather than equity capital.

Distribution and impact channels are anchored by partnerships with schools, food banks, churches, and universities in the Champaign-Urbana region. These institutional relationships embed the farm in the local food-security infrastructure and create the donation pipeline that has produced the 174,000+ lb lifetime donation figure. The combination of acreage expansion, multi-channel revenue, and grant-funded capacity buildout defines the current operating profile; commercial technology adoption and revenue scale are not disclosed in the available material.

Name

SOLA GRATIA FARM

Legal name

Sola Gratia Farm

Website

https://solagratiacsa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sola Gratia Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban farm in Urbana, Illinois, operating ~33 acres to produce and donate vegetables through CSA subscriptions (250+ families), farmers markets, and wholesale channels, in partnership with local schools, food banks, and universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Supported Agriculture

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

Keywords

• Community supported agriculture
• Organic vegetable farming
• Urban farm operations
• Food assistance programs
• Agricultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscriptions: Community Supported Agriculture membership with weekly vegetable box deliveries/pickups during growing season. Summer CSA runs 16 weeks (June-September) and Fall CSA runs 8 weeks (October-November). Payment typically at signup with installment plans available.
2. Farmers Market Sales: Direct produce sales at Urbana Market at the Square (May-October) and Champaign-Urbana Winter Farmers Market (November-April). Year-round market presence.
3. Wholesale to Retail: Regular produce availability at Common Ground Food Co-op. Sales to area restaurants and caterers.
4. Spring and Fall Plant Sales: Annual plant sale events offering vegetable and herb starts (nearly 150 varieties), plus ornamental flowers through Country Arbors partnership.
5. Donations and Grants: Monetary donations from individuals and companies to support farm operations, expansion, and food assistance programming. Received $150,000 ARPA funding and $750,000 loan for expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sola Gratia Farm is a non-profit urban farm in Urbana, Illinois that grows organic vegetables distributed through CSA subscriptions, farmers market sales, and wholesale to local restaurants, caterers, and Common Ground Food Co-op. The farm donates 20-30% of its annual harvest to hunger relief organizations and runs educational programs including Farm to School and Solidarity Gardens.

Product overview

Sola Gratia Farm operates as a non-profit urban community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm offering a portfolio of produce subscription programs and community food access initiatives. The core offerings include Summer CSA (16-week vegetable box subscription, June-September) and Fall CSA (8-week subscription, October-Novober), both available in multiple share sizes with optional bread and mushroom add-ons from partner farms. The farm also sells directly at two farmers markets year-round and conducts seasonal plant sales. Beyond commercial operations, the farm runs extensive community programs including the Community Classroom outdoor education space, Grow More Good Workshop Series, Farm to School initiatives, Solidarity Gardens network, and produce donation programs that distribute 20-30% of annual harvest to regional hunger relief partners including food banks, soup kitchens, and free neighborhood markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer CSA
• Fall CSA
• Bread Add-on
• Mushroom Add-on
• Farmers Market Sales
• Wholesale Produce
• Plant Sale
• Farm to School Program
• Solidarity Gardens
• Community Hunger Assistance Donations
• Grow More Good Workshop Series
• Community Classroom
• Free Markets

Quantifiable outcome

• 771,000+ pounds of produce grown since 2012
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core, secondary and minor.

• St. Matthew Lutheran ChurchfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Founded Sola Gratia Farm along with Faith in Place in 2012 to ensure healthy, locally grown food is available to everyone. Farm's Community Classroom is located on their campus at 2200 Philo Road. Church continues to support farm operations and governance.
• Faith in PlacefoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Statewide nonprofit supporting people of faith in developing connection and care for the earth. Assisted St. Matthew Lutheran Church in founding the farm in 2012 and has been instrumental in ongoing support.
• Eastern Illinois FoodbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThousands of pounds of produce donated annually for distribution through participant agencies across East Central Illinois (west to Fayette County, east to Indiana border).
• Daily Bread Soup KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampaign-Urbana's primary soup kitchen, feeding over 200 guests daily with hot meals. Produce donations support their meal preparation.
• Jubilee CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly Monday evening hot homemade meal and gathering space. Fresh veggie donations help create meals for nearly 100 people each week.
• Wesley Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Wesley United Methodist Church operating weekly food pantries at two locations, feeding hundreds weekly. Weekly produce donations.
• Champaign-Urbana Public Health DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner7-year collaboration on Free Friday and Wednesday Markets offering thousands of pounds of produce and hundreds of seed packets to 100+ families. Also collaborated on Farm to School project, WIC distribution, and Share Thanksgiving Program.
• Urbana School District #116coreStrategic or Co-development Partner10 schools including 6 elementary, middle, high school, and Early Childhood Education. Farm provides field trips, educational opportunities, cafeteria produce, and supports comprehensive Farm to School program development.
• Solidarity Gardens CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition with Cunningham Township, Urbana Park District, Champaign Park District, and others. Supports community gardens, donation sites for home gardeners, and provides free garden plots to low-income and immigrant gardeners. Facilitated 12,000+ lbs of produce shared.
• Common Ground Food Co-opcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal sustainable food cooperative. Sells farm produce and bakery goods. Farm produces educational programs about healthy eating, donates plants for Food for All program, and has received Round Up For Good Grant.
• Flyway Family FarmsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmall family farm growing year-round gourmet mushrooms. Provides mushroom add-on subscription to Sola Gratia CSA (shiitakes, lion's mane, chestnut, oyster varieties).
• Rick's BakerysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily-operated bakery since 2012 providing bread add-on for CSA (whole wheat, sourdough, French, rye, seven-grain options).
• Savanna InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidwest agroforestry organization. Collaborated on designing and planning expanded alley-cropping operation at new production site and edible windbreak for improved sustainability and climate resilience.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Extension (Food and Nutrition Education Program, Feeding Champaign County Food Summit), College of ACES Crop Sciences (research), Food Science department (student experiences), School of Social Work (community research), Humanities Research Institute (Farm to School research assistantship), and various student/faculty research projects.
• The Land ConnectionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois nonprofit preserving farmland and local food access. Farm participates in Winter Farmers Market they manage, presents at Farm Beginnings training, and partners on food access/equity projects.
• Cunningham Township Supervisor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides safety net for housing-insecure and low-income households. Collaborated on events, supported Come and Eat Garden, and collaborates on Solidarity Gardens initiative.
• Urbana Park DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates parks and community events. Collaborated on plant provision for activities, educational field trips for summer camps, and Solidarity Gardens Steering Committee.
• Country ArborssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal nursery and landscape supplier providing annual and perennial flowers, hanging baskets, and patio planters for Spring Plant Sale.
• Riggs Beer Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer farm and brewery. Frequently partners to host events including 10 Year Farmiversary in 2022. Supports farming around their property.
• CU EarlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education center. Regular produce donations during growing season to support infants, children, and families.
• Faith United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRuns food pantry in Champaign supported by Sola Gratia vegetables during growing season.
• Family Services of Champaign CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduce donations for Food for Seniors Thanksgiving distribution helping nearly 200 senior community members.
• Head Start (CCRPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly free markets for families at Head Start location near farm and periodic produce donations across Head Start locations in Champaign County.
• New American Welcome CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Illinois YMCA program supporting immigrants and refugees. Produce donations for client distribution and partnership on translated materials and Welcoming Week events.
• Four Osprey/CU City FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduce donations to Veggie Van for pop-up distribution at community events.
• Delight Flower FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoman-owned flower farm providing local sustainable flowers, herbal teas. Farming in community with Sola Gratia.
• Cloud Mountain KombuchaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKombucha brewer providing drinks at farm events. Farm has sold produce for use in award-winning kombucha flavors.
• Berries and FlourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoman-led business creating value-added goods from uncommon Midwest plants. Partnership supporting their work.
• Student Sustainable FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Illinois peer farm. Frequently work together to access farming resources and support each other's work.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Driftless Organics: Certified-organic vegetable farm in southwestern Wisconsin offering CSA shares, wholesale, and farmers market sales. Highly comparable diversified organic vegetable CSA model in the Upper Midwest.
• Angelic Organics: Long-established Biodynamic CSA farm in northern Illinois serving the Chicago region with home-delivered vegetable shares. Closely comparable subscription model and Midwest organic vegetable positioning.
• Blue Moon Farm: Small diversified organic vegetable farm based in the Champaign-Urbana area offering CSA shares, farmers market sales, and wholesale. Most geographically comparable peer, sharing customer base and distribution channels.
• Featherstone Farm: Certified-organic vegetable farm in southeastern Minnesota operating a CSA program, wholesale distribution, and farmers market presence. Comparable scale and CSA-centric business model.
• Harmony Valley Farm: Certified-organic family farm in western Wisconsin operating a long-running CSA with home delivery and wholesale distribution. Comparable diversified vegetable production, CSA model, and regional wholesale accounts.
• PrairiErth Farm: Certified-organic family farm in central Illinois running a CSA program, farmstand, and wholesale to Chicago-area restaurants. Comparable scale, geography, and CSA-led business model.
• EarthDance Organic Farm School: Nonprofit organic farm in Ferguson, Missouri combining CSA production with farm education and food access programming. Closest structural analog as a nonprofit farm with dual production and education missions.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Large nonprofit agricultural center in Tarrytown, NY combining diversified organic farming with education, research, and food access. Comparable nonprofit mission but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• The Land Connection: Illinois nonprofit preserving farmland and training beginning farmers; partners with Sola Gratia on the Winter Farmers Market and food access projects. Adjacent nonprofit ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.
• Common Ground Food Co-op: Local sustainable food cooperative in Urbana that is both a wholesale customer and promotional partner for Sola Gratia. Comparable local-food and food-access mission; complementary rather than competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/solagratiafarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/solagratiafarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sola-gratia-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOLA GRATIA FARM