Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE IOWANS WITH A FOCUS ON YOUTH REGARDING THE BREADTH & GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AGRICULTURE. TO SERVE AS A CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO TEACH IOWA'S STUDENTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE.
- Income
- $700,685
- Spending
- $653,648
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 157
- Highest pay
- $130,581, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 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 (1)
- $337,028 spent. AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM - THE IOWA AGRICULTURE LITERACY FOUNDATION (IALF) DELIVERS STATEWIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AMONG STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, VOLUNTEER TRAINING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA AND STUDENT PUBLICATIONS. IALF PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE GRADUATE LEVEL COURSES THAT EQUIP K12 EDUCATORS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO INTEGRATE AGRICULTURE AND STEM CONCEPTS INTO INSTRUCTION ALIGNED WITH THE IOWA ACADEMIC STANDARDS. STAFF ALSO PRESENT AGRICULTURAL LITERACY RESOURCES AT STATEWIDE EDUCATION CONFERENCES, INCLUDING SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE, TALENTED AND GIFTED, AND READING CONFERENCES. IALF ENGAGES STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH HANDS ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS COUNTY FAIRS, THE IOWA STATE FAIR, AND STEM FESTIVALS ACROSS IOWA. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO DEVELOPS ON DEMAND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS SUCH AS JOURNEY 2050, AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT TEACHES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. THE FARMCHAT PROGRAM FURTHER ENHANCES OUTREACH BY PROVIDING VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH AGRICULTURE EXPERTS INCLUDING FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESS PROFESSIONALS. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, IOWA AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING REACHES OVER 304,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR, AND MORE THAN 4,100 TEACHERS ANNUALLY RECEIVE RESOURCES AND TRAINING TO INCORPORATE AGRICULTURE INTO THEIR CURRICULUM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 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 November 6, 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 October 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 October 2014.
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 November 4, 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.