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Agricultural Research Foundation

EIN 93-0400250 · Corvallis, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ENCOURAGE FACILITATE SUPPORT AND ENGAGE IN SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH EXPERIMENTATION AND TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OREGON AND BEYOND.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
4
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$193,715, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 June 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 (1)
  1. $9.7 million spent. THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION ARF ESTABLISHED IN 1934 PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROMOTING RESEARCH IN VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED FIELDS TO BENEFIT OREGONS AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE INDUSTRIES. AS THE CUSTODIAN OF DONATED RESEARCH FUNDS INCLUDING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DONATIONS AS WELL AS CONTRACT FUNDS FROM COMMODITY COMMISSIONS AND PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS ARF FACILITATES RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY OSU FACILITIES IN CORVALLIS AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. ADDITIONALLY ARF COLLABORATES ON COOPERATIVE PROJECTS WITH UNIVERSITY SCIENTISTS IN OTHER STATES. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 ARF REPORTED A TOTAL INCOME OF 9.1 MILLION FROM GIFTS AND CONTRACTS ALONGSIDE APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILLION IN INVESTMENT EARNINGS. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUNDS APPROXIMATELY 9.7 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED TOWARDS RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SUPPORT THROUGH ARFS COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SMALL GRANTS TO BOTH NEW AND ESTABLISHED SCIENTISTS AIDING IN THE LAUNCH OF NEW RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. THE RESEARCH INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BY ARF IN 2024-25 ENCOMPASSED A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS FROM STUDYING PLASTIC INGESTION BY MARINE ANIMALS TO ADDRESSING WINTER SQUASH STORAGE ROTS AND ESTABLISHING FERTILIZER GUIDELINES FOR HAZELNUT TREES. THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDED STUDIES ON CROP PRODUCTION PLANT BREEDING LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS AND ENERGY PRODUCTION REFLECTING THE FOUNDATIONS COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE IN KEY AREAS IMPACTING THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. FOUNDED ON THE VISION OF FOSTERING A STRONG COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OSU AND OREGONS AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE SECTORS ARF CONTINUES TO UPHOLD THIS VISION BY ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS ENHANCING THESE PARTNERSHIPS EACH YEAR. THROUGH ITS DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND FOSTERING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY ARF REMAINS A CORNERSTONE IN ADVANCING AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OREGONS AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1935.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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