Iowa 4-H Foundation
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1949 that raises private funds to support Iowa's 4-H Youth Development Program, serving nearly 100,000 young people annually across all 99 Iowa counties through scholarships, grants, and county endowments, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersAmes, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Iowa 4-H Foundation does
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1949 and headquartered in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University's Extension 4-H Youth Building. It serves as the primary private fundraising arm for Iowa's 4-H Youth Development Program, which reaches nearly 100,000 young people annually across all 99 Iowa counties. The Foundation operates with a small staff of 6 (Executive Director, Director of Finance, Development Officer, Communications Manager, Accounting Assistant, and Scholarship Coordinator) and is governed by a Board of Trustees of approximately 23 members.
The Foundation's core offering is a portfolio of grant, scholarship, and financial assistance programs rather than a unified product. These include 90+ college scholarships totaling over $100,000 annually (ranging $500 to $10,000 each), the Financial Assistance Program covering the $30 annual 4-H enrollment fee, Pioneer Seed Grants ($50-$500 per club), Clover Kids K-3 community service mini-grants ($100 each), the 4-H Forward multi-year pilot grant ($35,000 over three years), and 83 county-held endowment funds. Recognition programs (Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, Legacy Awards Gala, Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Leader Award) round out the portfolio. The organization is operationally cash and relationship-driven, with no proprietary technology.
The Foundation's revenue model is multi-stream philanthropy: individual donations (online, monthly Treasurer's Club, grain, stock, IRA rollovers, donor-advised funds), planned giving and bequests (including the Schlapkohl Farm endowment generating rental income), corporate sponsorships (Iowa Farm Bureau, Corteva, Cargill, John Deere, Bayer, Pioneer, Nationwide, Alliant Energy, Farm Credit Services of America, Hills Bank, Kemin, Prairie Meadows, GROWMARK, Theisen's, Iowa Total Care), and grants from healthcare and corporate partners. Distribution occurs through a strategic partnership with Iowa State University Extension, which provides programmatic infrastructure across all 99 counties, supplemented by direct donor engagement through signature events (Northwest Iowa Golf Outing, Legacy Awards Gala, Iowa 4-H Giving Day), a biannual FourWord magazine, monthly e-newsletter, and active social media presence.
Iowa 4-H Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Iowa 4-H Foundation
- Legal name
- Iowa 4-H Foundation
- Website
- https://iowa4hfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1949 that raises private funds to support Iowa's 4-H Youth Development Program, serving nearly 100,000 young people annually across all 99 Iowa counties through scholarships, grants, and county endowments, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Iowa 4-H Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Non-Profit Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Iowa 4-H Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ames
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Iowa 4-H Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Cash gifts from individuals through online giving, monthly giving (Treasurer's Club), stock donations, IRA charitable rollovers, donor advised funds, and grain donations from farmers. Donations support scholarships, program grants, county endowments, and operational needs.
- Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Bequests, estate gifts, and endowment donations that provide long-term sustainable funding. Schlapkohl Farm endowment generates rental income from farmland.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners including Iowa Farm Bureau, Corteva, Farm Credit Services of America, Alliant Energy, Cargill, and others provide event sponsorships, program grants, and ongoing financial support.
- County Endowment Funds: Eighty-three counties hold endowment funds with the Foundation, providing ongoing local program support and generating annual distributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Variable donation amounts accepted |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 4-H enrollment fee coverage available |
| Other | Monthly | Online donation options |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Iowa 4-H Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that raises private funds and regrants them to support Iowa's 4-H youth development program. It administers scholarships (90+ totaling over $100,000), financial assistance for enrollment fees, Pioneer Seed Grants for community projects, Clover Kids K-3 Mini-Grants, the 4-H Forward multi-year pilot grant, and 83 county endowment funds. It also operates recognition programs (Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, Legacy Awards Gala, Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Leader Award) and youth programs such as 4-H Connect and the 4-H'ers for 4-H campaign.
Product overview
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides funding opportunities for Iowa's youth through 4-H. Rather than a unified software product, the Foundation offers a portfolio of financial and programmatic services including financial assistance for program enrollment, college scholarships (90+ scholarships worth over $100,000), Pioneer Seed Grants for community projects, Clover Kids Mini-Grants, and the 4-H Forward multi-year pilot grants. The Foundation also facilitates County Endowments for local giving and operates recognition programs including the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, Legacy Awards Gala, and the Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Leader Award. Key programs include 4-H Connect for reaching underserved youth and the 4-H'ers for 4-H youth philanthropy campaign. The organization partners with Iowa State University Extension and relies on donor support to fund these youth development opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Iowa 4-H Financial Assistance Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 78% of 4-H alumni say 4-H impacted their career success
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Iowa 4-H Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Iowa 4-H Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Iowa 4-H Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Iowa State University ExtensioncoreLong-standing partnership where ISU Extension houses and supports the Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program. The Foundation provides private fundraising while Extension provides programmatic infrastructure across all 99 Iowa counties.
- National 4-H CouncilcoreNational partnership supporting the overall 4-H movement, sharing resources, research, and program standards across state 4-H programs.
- Iowa Farm Bureau FederationflagshipCorporate partner providing ongoing support for 4-H programming and youth development initiatives across Iowa.
- Corteva AgriscienceflagshipAgricultural sciences company corporate partner supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural education programs.
- Farm Credit Services of AmericaflagshipAgricultural lending cooperative supporting 4-H programs and rural youth development.
- Alliant EnergyflagshipUtility company corporate partner supporting 4-H programming and community initiatives.
- CargillflagshipGlobal food and agriculture company supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural programs.
- Hills BankcoreIowa-based bank providing support for the Hills Bank Leadership Grant program and local 4-H initiatives.
- PioneerflagshipSeed company providing Pioneer Seed Grants to stimulate local 4-H club community improvement projects. Provides up to $5,000 in seed money with grants ranging from $50 to $500 per club.
- DistynctcoreFor every Distynct barn alarm purchased, the company directly funds 4-H membership dues for one 4-H member. Innovative cause marketing partnership.
- John DeereflagshipAgricultural equipment manufacturer supporting 4-H through corporate sponsorships and event partnerships.
- NationwideflagshipInsurance company serving as presenting sponsor for Legacy Awards and supporting 4-H programming.
- KemincoreNutritional sciences company supporting 4-H through corporate sponsorships and event partnerships.
- Prairie MeadowscoreCasino and entertainment venue hosting Legacy Awards events and providing event sponsorship support.
- BayerflagshipLife sciences company supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural education programs.
- GROWMARKcoreAgricultural cooperative supporting 4-H programs and rural youth development initiatives.
- Iowa Total CarecoreMedicaid healthcare provider granting $50,000 to support early literacy skill development in all Iowa counties, expanding Clover Kids K-3 programming with literacy resources connecting youth health and wellness.
- Iowa PBSflagshipPartnership for Iowa PBS documentary 'The Legacy of 4-H' exploring the origins of the nation's largest youth organization and celebrating Jessie Field Shambaugh, the 'Mother of 4-H'.
- Theisen's Home, Farm & Autocore2026 Legacy Awards Corporate Partner, dedicated to supporting 4-H youth on local and state levels.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Iowa 4-H Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National 4-H Council: National private-sector partner of the U.S. 4-H movement that raises private resources, sets brand standards, and supports state 4-H programs. Directly comparable as a youth-development grantmaking organization supporting the same network of state foundations and Extension programs.
- Iowa 4-H (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach): Public-sector programmatic counterpart that delivers the 4-H Youth Development program across all 99 Iowa counties. Closely intertwined with the Iowa 4-H Foundation, which provides private fundraising while ISU Extension delivers curriculum and county-level programming.
Broad incumbents
- Junior Achievement USA: National youth education nonprofit focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students. Comparable in delivering experiential learning outcomes, relying on corporate sponsors, and operating through local chapters with similar scholarship and recognition programs.
- Girl Scouts of the USA: National youth-development organization with local councils, cookie-driven fundraising, scholarship programs, and STEM/leadership curriculum. Highly comparable structure: national brand, local councils, donor-funded programs, scholarship offerings, and corporate partnerships.
- YMCA of the USA: National youth-and-family development nonprofit with local Y branches delivering after-school programs, camps, and youth programming. Comparable model of locally delivered youth services, scholarship/financial-aid programs, and donor- and corporate-supported funding.
- Scouting America (Boy Scouts of America): Historic U.S. youth-development organization delivering leadership, citizenship, and outdoor programming through volunteer-led local troops. Comparable volunteer-dependent model, youth-development mission, and donor-supported local council structure.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit operating through local affiliates with a comparable volunteer-led model, K-12 youth focus, corporate sponsor base, and validated youth-outcome research. Similar structure of national brand and locally delivered programs funded by philanthropy.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: The largest U.S. youth-development nonprofit, operating after-school and summer programs for K-12 youth nationwide. Comparable mission of positive youth development and similar reliance on corporate sponsors, local affiliates, and donor-supported programming.
Regional players
- Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines: Iowa-focused community foundation managing donor-advised funds, endowments, and competitive grants for nonprofit programming. Comparable as a regional grantmaking entity building permanent endowments, distributing scholarships, and partnering with corporate donors to fund community initiatives.
- Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation: Iowa-based community foundation managing endowments, scholarship funds, and competitive grant cycles. Comparable as a regional philanthropy organization administering scholarship programs, county-style endowment funds, and donor-supported community grants in Iowa.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Iowa 4-H Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceIowa 4-H Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Iowa 4-H Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Iowa 4-H Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Iowa 4-H Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Iowa 4-H Foundation
What does Iowa 4-H Foundation do?
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that raises private funds and regrants them to support Iowa's 4-H youth development program. It administers scholarships (90+ totaling over $100,000), financial assistance for enrollment fees, Pioneer Seed Grants for community projects, Clover Kids K-3 Mini-Grants, the 4-H Forward multi-year pilot grant, and 83 county endowment funds. It also operates recognition programs (Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, Legacy Awards Gala, Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Leader Award) and youth programs such as 4-H Connect and the 4-H'ers for 4-H campaign.
Is Iowa 4-H Foundation a public or private company?
Iowa 4-H Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Iowa 4-H Foundation founded?
Iowa 4-H Foundation was founded in 1949. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Iowa 4-H Foundation based?
Iowa 4-H Foundation is headquartered in Ames, United States, in the North America region.
How does Iowa 4-H Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving/Legacy Gifts, corporate Sponsorships and county Endowment Funds.
Who are Iowa 4-H Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National 4-H Council and Iowa 4-H (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach). Broad incumbents are Junior Achievement USA, Girl Scouts of the USA, YMCA of the USA, Scouting America (Boy Scouts of America), Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Regional players are Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.
Does Iowa 4-H Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Iowa 4-H Foundation.
What industry is Iowa 4-H Foundation in?
Iowa 4-H Foundation's product category is Youth Development Non-Profit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8200.