Iowa 4-H Foundation

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.

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

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

• Youth development programs
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Scholarship programs
• Youth education grants
• Community philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Bequests, estate gifts, and endowment donations that provide long-term sustainable funding. Schlapkohl Farm endowment generates rental income from farmland.
3. 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.
4. County Endowment Funds: Eighty-three counties hold endowment funds with the Foundation, providing ongoing local program support and generating annual distributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Iowa State University ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-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 CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024National partnership supporting the overall 4-H movement, sharing resources, research, and program standards across state 4-H programs.
• Iowa Farm Bureau FederationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing ongoing support for 4-H programming and youth development initiatives across Iowa.
• Corteva AgriscienceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural sciences company corporate partner supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural education programs.
• Farm Credit Services of AmericaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural lending cooperative supporting 4-H programs and rural youth development.
• Alliant EnergyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility company corporate partner supporting 4-H programming and community initiatives.
• CargillflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal food and agriculture company supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural programs.
• Hills BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIowa-based bank providing support for the Hills Bank Leadership Grant program and local 4-H initiatives.
• PioneerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSeed 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.
• DistynctcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFor every Distynct barn alarm purchased, the company directly funds 4-H membership dues for one 4-H member. Innovative cause marketing partnership.
• John DeereflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural equipment manufacturer supporting 4-H through corporate sponsorships and event partnerships.
• NationwideflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance company serving as presenting sponsor for Legacy Awards and supporting 4-H programming.
• KemincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNutritional sciences company supporting 4-H through corporate sponsorships and event partnerships.
• Prairie MeadowscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCasino and entertainment venue hosting Legacy Awards events and providing event sponsorship support.
• BayerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLife sciences company supporting 4-H youth development and agricultural education programs.
• GROWMARKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural cooperative supporting 4-H programs and rural youth development initiatives.
• Iowa Total CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedicaid 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 PBSflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 & AutocoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Legacy Awards Corporate Partner, dedicated to supporting 4-H youth on local and state levels.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ia4Hfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/iowa4hfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ia4hfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa 4-H Foundation