North Dakota Farm Bureau Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To increase the quality of life for ranchers and farmers in ND. To provide education and assistance to increase the knowledge level of issues facing farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and elsewhere.
- Income
- $96,769
- Spending
- $57,134
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 119.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $270,365, executive vp/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 119.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $5,241 spent. Project Food, Land & People:Food, Land & People in partnership with the Agriculture in the Classroom program use different approaches to encourage the introduction of agriculture into the K-12 curriculum, through activity-based materials. During the year, approximately 164 programs were presented in North Dakota schools where agriculture information was shared through interactive participation of the students. The programs reached 3,330 students during the year. These programs are presented at no cost to the schools. Educational opportunities are also provided to teachers, to enable them to learn more about lessons and curriculum for their students, that teaches them about agriculture. The Project Food, Land & People is organized for the overall purpose of developing educational materials K-12, which can be used by teachers and students in all subject areas to teach the importance of agriculture, land and the relationship of both to peoples of the world.
- $14,793 spent. Young Farm & Ranch Committee:-The overall purpose for the formation of this Committee of the North Dakota Farm Bureau is that a focus on young farmer and rancher membership will ensure the future existence of the organization. Having new young people join and become stakeholders in NDFB will ensure that NDFB will continue to grow and thrive and be relevant in the future. Ultimately, NDFB will grow new leaders in these young people.-Creating a YF&R Committee of young farmer and rancher members will enable NDFB to learn about the needs of this important stakeholder group and provide member programs and other benefits that meet the needs of this key constituency, thereby fostering lifetime members from each generation. Involving young farmer and rancher members in NDFB will help the board and members build relationships with each new generation. The NDFB board can get advice from the YF&R Committee about how younger members weigh in on current issues and programs and ultimately consider that input in their planning.-The YF&R Committee meets four times a year to conduct their business. Their main objective is to host the annual Farm and Ranch Conference. They meet to plan this conference and to raise money for this conference through their annual raffle.-The committee is elected on by peers from their own area of the state. The term is three years and they can run twice.-One of the main activities that the committee hosts is the Farm and Ranch conference. They get 100 - 150 people to attend every January.-Long term goals would be to host an even larger group of young farmers and ranchers from around the state.-Short term goals are to host a district young farmer and rancher event in each district of North Dakota.-These estimates are estimated but we estimate 75% of the committee members go onto serve on our county and state boards in the future-Estimated retention rate is 93% of the committee members, stay and become lifelong members of the NDFB.
- $35,000 spent. Promotion & Education:-The purpose of the Promotion and Education committee is to facilitate and create programs that promote agricultural diversity and relay the importance of North Dakota Agriculture and its contribution to the state.-The committee provides hands on support to NDFB and its programs including member county farm bureaus and its affiliates.-They implement programs that are delegated to it by the Board of Directors.-The P&E committee advises the Board of Directors regarding program and direction.-The P&E Committee meets four times a year to conduct their business.-One other area of accomplishment is raising money for scholarships to help members' kids that want to advance their education.-The committee is elected by peers from their own area of the state. The term is three years, and they can run twice.-One of the main activities that the committee hosts is the scholarship auction that takes place at NDFB annual conference.-This is our main fundraising event for our scholarship program-Our other two main activities are the Special Assignment Pizza program where we move our education booths around the state and teach 4th graders about how their pizza is grown and brought to the table. The other main education outreach is the Living Ag in the Classroom where we are part of a committee that the Department of Ag spearheads, the Living Ag in the Classroom is where we participate with one commodity booth and teach 4th graders about that commodity.-Long term goals would be to host an even larger group of 4th graders from around the state to teach them about agriculture.-Short term goals are to host smaller, micro volunteering opportunities to educate kids about agriculture.-We reach an estimated 6,400 students per year.-We give out $20,000 dollars in scholarships per year.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.