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American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust reported $48.4 million in revenue and $47.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.07 went to program services, $3.00 to management and general costs and $9.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.0% of the total. Government grants made up 42.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $718,838 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 51 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 56% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $47MFor 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
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $48MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.1% | 94.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 2.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.0% | 96.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 42.4% | 10.5% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $718,838 | $213,323 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.53% | 0.61% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 51 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.9 | 6.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseState, local and federal programs -we have programs in the following regions: california, midwest, new york, new england, mid-atlantic, pacific northwest, southeast, and texas; and our national initiatives are: agriculture conservation innovations, soil health and climate initiative, farmland information center, farm legacy, farm viability, farms for a new generation, federal policy, land protection, national agricultural land network, water initiative, and women for the land. In 2025, American Farmland Trust:- advanced 88 policy actions on aft proposals to protect farmland, support farmers…
Communications and media outreach -aft continuously engages the public through our direct communications with our members, donors, various publications and media outreach.in 2025, American Farmland Trust:- released a biochar in agriculture toolkit and hosted a national biochar webinar series that drew more than 12,000 views.- released two major smart solar reports focused on texas and washington state and published the solar soil health guide to help protect soil during solar construction and operation
Public education -advocate - aft fights for programs and policies that save farmland, support farmers and enhance our environment.educate - aft educates the public about our nation's farms, farmland and farmers.innovate - aft pioneers cutting-edge techniques that protect farmland and protect natural resources.investigate - aft conducts respected research as the foundation of our programs.collaborate - aft builds coalitions to achieve large-scale solutions and lasting change.in 2025, American Farmland Trust:- trained or offered direct support to 14,342 farmers and ranchers nationwide.- trained…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $645,025 | $0 | $73,813 | $718,838 |
| FINANCE & ADMIN. Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $327,365 | $0 | $40,577 | $367,942 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $255,927 | $0 | $34,128 | $290,055 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $241,149 | $0 | $33,094 | $274,243 |
| SECRETARY Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $244,582 | $0 | $24,712 | $269,294 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $203,413 | $0 | $41,418 | $244,831 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $185,749 | $0 | $50,664 | $236,413 |
| FINANCE CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $193,600 | $0 | $30,786 | $224,386 |
51 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Farmland Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (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
FY2025 · 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–1b19 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5281
- Volunteers Part I, line 617
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS INC Direct mail production | $892,318 |
| VORTEX LLC Computer services | $865,044 |
| EIDOLON COMMUNICATIONS Direct mail | $289,920 |
| UNIVERSAL MAILING INC Mailing & distribution | $257,090 |
| METRO GRAPHICS LLC Print & design services | $227,671 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
80 private foundations reported grants to American Farmland Trust totaling $4.2M 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 American Farmland Trust's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Farmland Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Farmland Trust spent in FY2025, $87.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Meals on Wheels AmericaArlington, VA · revenue $48M · programs 67.5% · 2025
- Foundation for Food and Agriculture ResearchWashington, DC · revenue $49M · programs 86.1% · 2024
- Food Bank of Central New YorkSyracuse, NY · revenue $47M · programs 96.1% · FY2025
- International Water Management InstituteAlexandria, VA · revenue $50M · programs 87.1% · 2024
- Golden Harvest Food BankAugusta, GA · revenue $46M · programs 95.1% · FY2025
All food, agriculture & nutrition charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of American Farmland Trust's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, American Farmland Trust reported that 87.1% of its $47.0 million in expenses went to program services, 3.0% to management and general and 9.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Farmland Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Farmland Trust reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $718,838, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Farmland Trust get its money?
Of $48.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 96.0% came from contributions and grants (including 42.4% from government grants) and 0.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Farmland Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1190211 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202631969349300838 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531969349301708 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402059349300605 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202342029349300244 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202221579349300232 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202131349349304308 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1190211: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.