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American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

EIN 36-6169577 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE STRIVES TO BUILD AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, AND A POSITIVE PERCEPTION OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A VARIETY OF FUN AND ENGAGING STANDARDS-BASED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS AT ALL GRADE LEVELS, AND FOR EDUCATORS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHERE FOOD COMES FROM.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
39.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
0
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$717,700, chairman

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 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)
  1. $1.4 million spent. AG LITERACY - THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE IS ANSWERING THE CALL TO HELP AMERICANS UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR FOOD IS GROWN. THE FOUNDATION INCREASES AWARENESS OF AGRICULTURE BY: CREATING FACT-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12; OFFERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SCIENCE-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS; AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS ARE USED IN CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
  2. $27,474 spent. WHITE-REINHARDT FUND FOR EDUCATION - THIS FUND PROVIDES GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AMONG KIDS, TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS FOCUSED ON AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. THE WHITE-REINHARDT PROJECT GRANT PROGRAM INVITES COUNTY AND STATE FARM BUREAUS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS TO INITIATE NEW AG LITERACY PROGRAMS OR EXPAND EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR GRADES K-12. THE WHITE-REINHARDT FUND FOR EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENABLES ELIGIBLE FULL-TIME EDUCATORS AND/OR VOLUNTEERS WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM AG LITERACY PROGRAMS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM CONFERENCE. THEY AGREE TO USE KNOWLEDGE GAINED TO EXPAND THEIR OUTREACH TO STUDENTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO FOOD, FIBER, AND FUEL. THE CHRISTINA SUE LILJA TEACHER RESOURCE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATORS WITH GRANTS TO PURCHASE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE FACT-BASED RESOURCES TO USE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.
  3. $20,968 spent. FEEDING MINDS PRESS - WE ENGAGE YOUNG LEARNERS BY PUBLISHING ACCURATE BOOKS ABOUT AGRICULTURE THAT ADDRESS THEIR CURIOSITY ABOUT WHERE FOOD COMES FROM. THESE BOOKS BRING AGRICULTURE TO LIFE BY CONNECTING READERS WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE CONTENT SHOWCASING THE PEOPLE AND MODERN PRACTICES PRODUCING FOOD TODAY, INCLUDING HOW FARMERS AND RANCHERS CARE FOR LIVESTOCK AND THE LAND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending November 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1968.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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