Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP, FOSTER, PROMOTE AND PROTECT PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE, INCLUDING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND POLITICAL WELL-BEING OF FARM PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE.
- Income
- $15.6 million
- Spending
- $11.6 million
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 4,538
- Highest pay
- $744,680, treasurer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (4)
- MEMBER SERVICES - TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU PROVIDES MONTHLY ACCOUNTING SERVICES INCLUDING BOOKKEEPING, FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION, FIXED ASSET TRACKING, AND INVESTMENT TRACKING FOR 95 COUNTY FARM BUREAUS AS WELL AS ANNUAL TAX RETURN PREPARATION. ADDITIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE MEMBER BENEFITS OFFERED TO ALL 680,000 MEMBERS. ANNUAL BILLING OF MEMBERSHIPS ARE SENT AND TRACKED BY THE MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT.
- COMMUNICATIONS - TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION (TFBF) LEADERS AND MEMBERS ARE INFORMED THROUGH MULTIFACETED COMMUNICATION EFFORTS. THE "TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU NEWS" IS SENT TO APPROXIMATELY 54,000 AGRICULTURE MEMBERS BI-MONTHLY AND SPEAKS TO CURRENT AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. OUR AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE, "TENESSEE HOME AND FARM, " IS DELIVERED TO 690,000 PLUS MEMBERS QUARTERLY, EDUCATING ALL MEMBERS ABOUT AGRICULTURE. IN ADDITION, DAILY RADIO PROGRAMS, NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, PODCASTS, AND TELEVISION STORIES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. HOUSE-DEVELOPED VIDEOS ARE USED AT TRAINING MEETINGS AS WELL AS COUNTY MEETINGS. TFBF'S WEBSITE, BLAST EMAILS, FACEBOOK, "X", AND MORE ARE USED TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT TENNESSEE AGRICULTURE.
- SPECIAL PROGRAMS - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO FULFILLING OUR MISSION. TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION HAS DEMONSTRATED STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TENNESSEE AG AND FORESTRY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AS AN ELITE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE FOR FARMERS, FORESTERS AND AGRICULTURALISTS IN OUR STATE. FARM BUREAU HAS TRAINED AND EQUIPPED FARMER LEADERS, STAFF, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO LEAD EFFECTIVELY WHILE ADVOCATING FOR AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED THROUGH STATE AND NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETINGS, FARM BUREAU WOMEN, AND YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AS WELL AS ISSUE-SPECIFIC AND POSITION-SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF CONDUCT LOCAL TRAINING FOR NEW COUNTY PRESIDENTS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHILE COLLABORATING WITH AGRICULTURAL PARTNERS TO DELIVER REGIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN INFORMED LEADERSHIP ACROSS TENNESSEE.
- PUBLIC POLICY - THE FOREMOST MISSION OF TFBF IS TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF FARMERS AT LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. GRASSROOTS PUBLIC POLICY IS DEVELOPED BY WORKING WITH FARMER LEADERS WITHIN OUR 95 COUNTY FARM BUREAUS. TFBF STAFF COORDINATES WITH FARMER LEADERS TO COMMUNICATE AND DEFEND OUR POLICY IN LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY BODIES AT LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. WE WORK WITH OTHER STATE FARM BUREAUS THROUGH OUR NATIONAL AFFILIATE, THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, TO REPRESENT OUR FARMER MEMBERS' INTERESTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. EVERY ACTIVITY PROMOTED BY TFBF HAS THE OBJECTIVE OF SUPPORTING AND ENHANCING TFBF'S PUBLIC POLICY EFFORTS. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ADVOCACY ARENA INCLUDE PASSAGE OF TENNESSEE FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT AND INCREASED FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE ECONOMIC PROGRAMS AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS IN 4-H AND FFA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(5) labor or agricultural 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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 1940.
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.