New York State 4-H Foundation

What New York State 4-H Foundation does

The New York State 4-H Foundation (legal name: NYS 4-H Foundation, Inc.) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2015 and headquartered in Caldwell Hall at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It serves as the designated private fundraising arm for the NY 4-H Youth Development program, a Cornell University Extension initiative, raising funds from private sources to support youth programs across four core areas: STEM, Civic Management, Healthy Lifestyles, and Agriculture and Food Systems. In 2015, the foundation's support contributed to reaching 190,000 New York youth participants through the broader Cornell 4-H program.

The foundation operates a diversified fundraising model with no proprietary technology, relying on the DonorPerfect third-party platform for online donation processing, direct mail checks, corporate matching gift programs, planned giving vehicles (bequests, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance, retirement beneficiary designations), IRA distributions for donors aged 70½ and older, and event-based sponsorships. Its flagship in-person fundraiser is an annual Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, featuring tiered sponsorship packages and attracting 20+ corporate sponsors in 2025. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging the national 4-H brand, alumni networks, and volunteer support across digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email newsletter) and direct outreach.

Strategically, the foundation is structurally embedded within a dual-partnership ecosystem with Cornell University (program operator and institutional host) and the National 4-H Council (national parent body), positioning it within the national 4-H campaign to expand from 6 million to 10 million participants annually. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees with seven voting members and two non-voting ex-officio members affiliated with Cornell, and operates with no disclosed paid headcount.

Name

New York State 4-H Foundation

Legal name

NYS 4-H Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://nys4hfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New York State 4-H Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2015 that raises private funds to support the NY 4-H Youth Development program operated by Cornell University Extension, serving youth across STEM, civic, healthy lifestyles, and agriculture areas via individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and an annual golf tournament.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Fundraising

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Nonprofit fundraising
• STEM education
• Corporate giving programs
• Alumni community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

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: The foundation raises funds from private individual donors through online donation platform (DonorPerfect), checks, credit card gifts, and in-kind contributions.
2. Corporate and Foundation Giving: Corporate sponsorships, grants from foundations, and marketing collaborations with businesses to support 4-H Youth Programs.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests in wills, beneficiary designations from charitable remainder trusts, life insurance policies, or retirement funds to provide long-term support.
4. IRA Distributions: Tax-free donations from IRAs for donors age 70½ years and older, up to $100,000 annually per IRS guidelines.
5. Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee donations to the foundation.
6. Event Sponsorships: Golf tournament sponsorships including trophy sponsor, media sponsor, signature sponsor, cart sponsor, luncheon sponsor, hole-in-one sponsor, and patron sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The New York State 4-H Foundation raises funds from private sources to support New York State 4-H Youth Development programs operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension. It channels donations into state program initiatives, grants for county 4-H programs, and opportunity scholarships for youth across four core project areas: STEM, Civic Management, Healthy Lifestyles, and Agriculture and Food Systems.

Product overview

The New York State 4-H Foundation operates as a non-profit fundraising organization that supports NY 4-H Youth Development programs. The foundation's offerings include the core Youth Development Programs covering STEM, Civic Management, Healthy Lifestyles, and Agriculture and Food Systems; the annual Golf Tournament Event as a major fundraiser; an Alumni Community network; Corporate and Foundation Giving programs for major donors; and Opportunity Scholarships for youth participants. The foundation also processes donations through multiple channels including check, credit card, IRA distributions, and planned giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-H participants are nearly 2x more likely than other youth to plan to pursue a career in science
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VizellaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Trophy Sponsor
• Ithaca Journal/GannettminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Media Sponsor
• BalchemminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor and Signature Sponsor
• Northeast Agribusiness & Feed Alliance INCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• TSB FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Tioga State BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• CargillminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Rockbridge Investment ManagementminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Insero CPAsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Cornell AdministrationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Dryden Mutual InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Andrews Agency, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Holtz Nelson Dairy Consultants, LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• MarketiniminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Marsyt, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Moscato & Associates, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Pella Windows & Doors of CNYminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Philbro and Mercer MillingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• Barbara SchirmerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 Golf Tournament Patron Sponsor
• National 4-H CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partners with the National 4-H Council and NY 4-H Youth Development program to develop and support programming to help youth become responsible citizens.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NY 4-H Youth Development program is part of Cornell University Extension. The foundation is headquartered at Cornell's Caldwell Hall.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring girls through youth development programming. Comparable in delivering youth programming with similar outcomes focus and corporate partnership fundraising model.
• National FFA Organization: Youth organization focused on agricultural education and leadership development. Comparable as a youth-serving nonprofit with overlapping Agriculture and Food Systems programming, corporate agribusiness sponsors, and a state-chapter structure.
• California 4-H Foundation: State-level 4-H fundraising foundation serving California's 4-H Youth Development Program. Closely comparable as a peer state foundation raising private funds for a university extension-based 4-H program.
• Junior Achievement: Youth education nonprofit focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students. Comparable in delivering youth-focused educational programming with strong corporate sponsorship and alumni engagement.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Youth mentoring nonprofit with affiliated local chapters. Comparable as a youth development organization with similar volunteer-based model, donor stewardship practices, and corporate partnership approach.
• Iowa 4-H Foundation: State-level fundraising arm for Iowa's 4-H Youth Development program. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model as another state 4-H foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization serving K-12 youth through local clubs. Comparable as a major nonprofit providing youth development programming with similar STEM, civic engagement, and healthy lifestyle focus areas.
• National 4-H Council: National umbrella organization for the 4-H youth development movement. Directly comparable as the parent brand and program infrastructure partner that NYS 4-H Foundation supports locally.
• Scouting America: National youth development organization with similar STEM, civic engagement, and outdoor programming. Comparable as a legacy youth-serving nonprofit with strong alumni network and corporate sponsorship model.

Others

• Cornell Cooperative Extension: Direct parent organization of the NY 4-H Youth Development program that the foundation supports. Comparable as the program infrastructure partner housed at Cornell University, providing the operational backbone for 4-H activities in New York.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NYS4HFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-state-4-h-foundation-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/nys4hfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New York State 4-H Foundation