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Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research reported $49.1 million in revenue and $46.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $86.10 went to program services, $11.28 to management and general costs and $2.62 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.8% of the total. Government grants made up 70.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $517,683 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 3% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $46MFor context, the median across 349 covered food, agriculture & nutrition charities: $94.56 programs, $3.12 management, $2.32 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $49MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.1% | 94.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.3% | 3.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 70.8% | 96.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 70.2% | 10.5% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $517,683 | $213,323 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.11% | 0.61% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.9 | 6.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCultivating 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
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
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
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $480,962 | $0 | $36,721 | $517,683 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $272,981 | $0 | $42,327 | $315,308 |
| CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $283,563 | $0 | $31,735 | $315,298 |
| OPERATIONS & IMPACT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,133 | $0 | $21,043 | $252,176 |
| SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $227,337 | $0 | $21,129 | $248,466 |
| SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $220,917 | $0 | $19,271 | $240,188 |
| DIRECTOR OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,194 | $0 | $31,340 | $236,534 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,793 | $0 | $11,727 | $217,520 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 561
- Volunteers Part I, line 621
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HIP CHECK LLC Consulting | $463,000 |
| ROBERT HALF MANAGEMENT RESOURCES Consulting | $308,807 |
| CRYSTAL STRATEGIES LLC Consulting | $168,000 |
| NONPROFIT HR SOLUTIONS LLC Consulting | $116,408 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research totaling $1.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research spent in 2024, $86.10 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Farmland TrustWashington, DC · revenue $48M · programs 87.1% · FY2025
- International Water Management InstituteAlexandria, VA · revenue $50M · programs 87.1% · 2024
- Meals on Wheels AmericaArlington, VA · revenue $48M · programs 67.5% · 2025
- Ohio Association of FoodbanksColumbus, OH · revenue $50M · programs 97.2% · FY2025
- Food Bank of Central New YorkSyracuse, NY · revenue $47M · programs 96.1% · FY2025
All food, agriculture & nutrition charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research reported that 86.1% of its $46.5 million in expenses went to program services, 11.3% to management and general and 2.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $517,683, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research get its money?
Of $49.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 70.8% came from contributions and grants (including 70.2% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-1559027 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513219349312816 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443199349314319 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313199349313076 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203189349312285 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113169349311906 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013189349305891 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-1559027: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.