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Farmers Union Foundation

EIN 41-6041830 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE HISTORY OF FARMING AND THE ROLE OF FARM COOPERATIVES IN HELPING SOLVE PAST AND CURRENT ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$966,824
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
62.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$307,125, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 62.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 64% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 107% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $915,327 spent. THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION (MFU) FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED IN 1958, ADVANCES THE MISSION OF MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION BY PROMOTING EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE-RESILIENT FARMING, AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM STRENGTH. THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT SPANS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, AND CLIMATE INNOVATION, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FARMERS, CONSUMERS, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA. THE FOUNDATION HAS EXPANDED AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES LIKE MINNESOTA COOKS, WHICH CONNECTS LOCAL FARMERS AND CHEFS WHILE SHOWCASING MINNESOTA-GROWN FOOD IN ITS ANNUAL CALENDAR. TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, MFU CREATED THE MINNESOTA FOODSHED PLATFORM TO CONNECT PRODUCERS AND BUYERS AND PARTNERED WITH RIDGEWATER AND CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH MEAT CUTTING & BUTCHERY PROGRAMS. ONGOING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A USDA-INSPECTED REGIONAL MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY IN STAPLES, MN AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND KEEP MORE VALUE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. MFU'S CLIMATE & WORKING LANDS PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS ADAPT TO AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION. INITIATIVES INCLUDE A GREEN AMMONIA PILOT CONVERTING WIND ENERGY INTO LOW-CARBON FERTILIZER, THE CO-OPS FOR CLIMATE GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTING FARMER-LED CLIMATE INITIATIVES, AND THE MINNESOTA WORKING GROUP FOR CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS THE FARMERS' GUIDES TO CARBON MARKETS AND SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY, AND PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. FOR OVER EIGHT DECADES, MFU'S LEADERSHIP CAMP PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED YOUTH AGES 8-18 WITH COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS, PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. ACROSS ALL ITS INITIATIVES-FROM EDUCATION AND PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE ACTION-THE MFU FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO BUILD A FAIRER, MORE RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY THAT EMPOWERS FARMERS, ENGAGES YOUTH, AND SUSTAINS MINNESOTA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION (MFU) FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED IN 1958, ADVANCES THE MISSION OF MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION BY PROMOTING EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE-RESILIENT FARMING, AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM STRENGTH. THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT SPANS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, AND CLIMATE INNOVATION, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FARMERS, CONSUMERS, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA. THE FOUNDATION HAS EXPANDED AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES LIKE MINNESOTA COOKS, WHICH CONNECTS LOCAL FARMERS AND CHEFS WHILE SHOWCASING MINNESOTA-GROWN FOOD IN ITS ANNUAL CALENDAR. TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, MFU CREATED THE MINNESOTA FOODSHED PLATFORM TO CONNECT PRODUCERS AND BUYERS AND PARTNERED WITH RIDGEWATER AND CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH MEAT CUTTING & BUTCHERY PROGRAMS. ONGOING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A USDA-INSPECTED REGIONAL MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY IN STAPLES, MN AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND KEEP MORE VALUE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. MFU'S CLIMATE & WORKING LANDS PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS ADAPT TO AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION. INITIATIVES INCLUDE A GREEN AMMONIA PILOT CONVERTING WIND ENERGY INTO LOW-CARBON FERTILIZER, THE CO-OPS FOR CLIMATE GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTING FARMER-LED CLIMATE INITIATIVES, AND THE MINNESOTA WORKING GROUP FOR CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS THE FARMERS' GUIDES TO CARBON MARKETS AND SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY, AND PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. FOR OVER EIGHT DECADES, MFU'S LEADERSHIP CAMP PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED YOUTH AGES 8-18 WITH COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS, PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. ACROSS ALL ITS INITIATIVES-FROM EDUCATION AND PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE ACTION-THE MFU FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO BUILD A FAIRER, MORE RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY THAT EMPOWERS FARMERS, ENGAGES YOUTH, AND SUSTAINS MINNESOTA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1995.

    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 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.