Illinois Stewardship Alliance

What Illinois Stewardship Alliance does

Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA) is a 501(c)(4) member-led nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. Originally established as the Illinois South Project by three University of Michigan students to address coal and energy issues in southern Illinois, ISA has evolved over five decades into a statewide food and farm policy advocacy organization. It organizes an alliance of more than 400 farmers, eaters, and food system leaders to develop and advance policy solutions targeting corporate consolidation of the food system, lack of local food infrastructure, farmer viability, and equitable access to nutritious food. Operating exclusively within Illinois, the organization conducts grassroots member organizing, coalition-building, and direct legislative advocacy.

ISA's core offerings are programmatic rather than commercial: policy advocacy and legislative campaigns anchored by a 10-year Policy Platform; farmer and community organizing through member Caucuses (Soil Health Caucus, Local Food Farmers Caucus) and leadership development pathways; the annual Soil Health Week event series; the Illinois Cottage Food Guide publication (available in English and Spanish); advocacy for and administration support of state programs including the $2M Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program, $5M Farm-to-Food Bank Program (administered through Feeding Illinois), $1.5M capacity-building grants, and $26M Healthy School Meals funding; a dues-based membership program with quarterly newsletters and policy-voting rights; educational webinar series (e.g., Cultivating Competition); and the Illinois Food Justice Alliance sub-brand pursuing a state-level Good Food Purchasing Program. Technology consists of a policy and advocacy infrastructure — a website, email newsletter system, social media presence across seven platforms, and a CRM-style member database — with no proprietary technology products or AI/ML components.

ISA's revenue model is nonprofit and diversified across three streams: recurring membership contributions from farmers, eaters, and food system supporters; grants from foundations and government sources for policy advocacy and organizing programs; and one-time or recurring donations. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Liz Moran Stelk, with a staff of approximately 10 including a Deputy Director, Policy Director, Development Director, Communications Coordinator, multiple Policy Organizers, an Operations Manager, and an IFJA Director.

Name

Illinois Stewardship Alliance

Legal name

Illinois Stewardship Alliance

Website

https://ilstewards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, that organizes a statewide alliance of 400+ farmers, eaters, and food system leaders to advocate for local-food and regenerative-agriculture policies through grassroots organizing and legislative campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition Governance, Policy & Coordination (SUN, National Plans) (BPADAJAL), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Local food advocacy
• Farm policy advocacy
• Food system organizing
• Agricultural coalition building
• Sustainable agriculture nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Annual membership fees and donations from individuals (farmers, eaters, food system supporters) who share the organization's vision for a just and regenerative food system
2. Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and government grants to support policy advocacy, organizing programs, and food system initiatives
3. Donations: One-time and recurring donations from supporters; mailed contributions directed to Springfield office

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a member-led nonprofit organization that organizes farmers, eaters, and food system leaders to advocate for policies that build a localized, regenerative food system in Illinois. Its core offerings include policy advocacy and legislative campaigns, grassroots farmer and community organizing through caucuses, educational programs such as Soil Health Week and webinar series, the Illinois Cottage Food Guide publication, and advocacy support for local food infrastructure grants.

Product overview

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a member-led nonprofit organization that does not offer commercial products but rather delivers advocacy programs and educational services focused on transforming Illinois' food and farm system. Their core offerings include policy advocacy and legislative campaigns, farmer and community organizing programs, the annual Soil Health Week event series, the Illinois Cottage Food Guide publication, advocacy for local food infrastructure grants, a membership program with leadership development, and educational webinars on food system issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Illinois Food Justice Alliance: A coalition focused on passing the Good Food Purchasing Program at the state level and improving Illinois' food and farm systems. Kiara Jackson serves as the Good Food Purchasing Campaign Director.

Products and services

• Policy Advocacy and Legislative Campaigns
• Farmer and Community Organizing Programs
• Soil Health Week
• Illinois Cottage Food Guide
• Membership Program
• Webinar Series on Food System Issues
• Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected $2 million in Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program funding
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Illinois ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Led the effort to redesign the 2026 Illinois Cottage Food Guide with a more user-friendly format and coordinated translation into Spanish, improving accessibility for cottage food operators
• FarmSTANDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Farmer and farmworker legal advocacy organization; ISA joined FarmSTAND and 15 other organizations in filing an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, arguing for farmer accountability protections against pesticide manufacturers
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026National coalition advocating for sustainable agriculture policy; ISA has been a member since the coalition's founding; collaborated on USDA FSA advocacy for specialty crop farmer support
• National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Coalition of farm organizations working for farmer and consumer rights; part of the 16-organization amicus brief coalition in Monsanto v. Durnell case
• HEAL Food AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Multiracial, multi-sector coalition of alliances working to transform our food system; part of amicus brief coalition on food system accountability
• Farm ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Farmer-led organization fighting corporate control of agriculture; part of amicus brief coalition on corporate accountability in food system
• Land Stewardship Project (LSP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Midwest-based sustainable agriculture organization; part of 16-organization coalition advocating for farmer accountability protections
• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Organization working on trade, farm, and food policy issues; part of amicus brief coalition advocating for transparency in consolidated food system
• Organic Farmers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Organization representing organic farmers; part of amicus brief coalition on food system accountability and corporate transparency
• Family Farm Defenders (FFD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Farmer advocacy organization; part of 16-organization amicus brief coalition fighting for farmer rights in consolidated food system
• Illinois Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Director Jerry Costello presented ISA awards at Ag Day Breakfast at the Illinois State Fair; ongoing partnership on agricultural policy initiatives
• Illinois Soybean AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Hosting Conservation Walk at ISA Agronomy Farm during Soil Health Week; joint work on soil health research and conservation practices
• Feeding IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of food banks; ISA advocates for and supports $5M Farm-to-Food Bank Program and $1.5M capacity-building grants administered through Feeding Illinois

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Farm Action: Farmer-led organization fighting corporate control of agriculture through policy advocacy and antitrust enforcement; overlaps directly with ISA's anti-consolidation platform and amicus coalition membership.
• Land Stewardship Project: Midwest-based sustainable agriculture organization working on family farming, soil health, and food systems. Comparable to ISA in mission, organizing model, and coalition work on the Monsanto amicus brief.
• Organic Farmers Association: Organization representing organic farmers in U.S. policy; aligned with ISA's sustainable agriculture platform and a coalition partner on corporate accountability advocacy.
• Family Farm Defenders: Wisconsin-based farmer advocacy organization focused on family farm viability and corporate accountability; aligned mission and direct coalition partner with ISA on the Monsanto amicus brief.
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Federal-level policy and advocacy coalition for sustainable agriculture; ISA is a founding member and most direct counterpart in terms of policy platform development, coalition organizing, and farm bill advocacy.
• National Family Farm Coalition: Coalition of farm groups advocating for family farmers and consumer rights; shares ISA's anti-consolidation stance and was a co-filer on the Monsanto amicus brief.
• HEAL Food Alliance: Multiracial, multi-sector coalition transforming the food system through policy and organizing; partner with ISA in the Monsanto amicus brief and aligned on food justice and procurement policy.
• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: Policy organization working on trade, farm, and food issues; co-coalition member with ISA on the Monsanto amicus brief and a peer in advocacy-driven food system research.

Broad incumbents

• Food & Water Watch: National advocacy organization working on food, water, and corporate accountability; broader portfolio than ISA but overlapping on anti-consolidation advocacy and food system policy campaigns.

Regional players

• Center for Rural Affairs: Nebraska-based organization advocating for rural communities, small agriculture, and food system reform; comparable mission and grassroots-policy model, but focused on a different Midwestern geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ilstewards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ILStewards1
• Facebookfacebook.com/ilstewards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-stewardship-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilstewards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Stewardship Alliance