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Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

EIN 47-1559027 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CONNECTS FUNDERS, RESEARCHERS AND FARMERS THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT AUDACIOUS RESEARCH ADDRESSING THE BIGGEST FOOD AND AGRICULTURE CHALLENGES.

Income
$49.1 million
Spending
$46.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
11.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
61
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$517,683, executive director

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $14.1 million spent. CULTIVATING THRIVING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS - THIS PROGRAM FUNDS RESEARCH TO DEVELOP SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO GLOBAL DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGED FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PRODUCE IT.
  2. $12.3 million spent. BOLSTERING HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEMS - THIS PROGRAM HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY. IN A HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEM, FOOD PROCESSORS, PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND RETAILERS HAVE THE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGIES NEEDED TO PRODUCE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR CONSUMERS
  3. $7.4 million spent. SUSTAINING VIBRANT AGROECOSYSTEMS - THIS PROGRAM INVESTS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN SOIL, WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT TO PRODUCE RESULTS THAT FULLY SUSTAIN VIBRANT AGROECOSYSTEMS.
  4. $5.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCE TO DEVELOP TOOLS, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INFORMATION THAT BENEFIT FARMERS, CONSUMERS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  5. $246,683 spent. SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE - IN ADDITION TO RESEARCH, FFAR SUPPORTS A DIVERSE, CREATIVE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE. FFAR'S SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE SCIENTIFIC LEADERS, PROVIDE UNIQUE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORT YOUNG FACULTY AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS.

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 July 2015.

    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.