Dairy’s Foundation

What Dairy’s Foundation does

Dairy's Foundation (legally Professional Dairy Producers Foundation, also doing business as PDPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 as the charitable arm of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP). Headquartered at 820 N Main St., Juneau, Wisconsin, it operates with a 1-10 person staff and positions itself as the only public-held national foundation supporting dairy education and initiatives across the entire U.S. dairy industry food chain. The foundation's core function is fundraising and grant redistribution: it raises capital through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, the 'Two Cents for Tomorrow' automated farmer pledge program (two cents per hundredweight of milk sold), the annual 'Plant a Seed' campaign with industry-hero matching sponsors, and silent/live auctions at the PDP Business Conference.

Funds are deployed via a competitive bi-annual grant program (June 1 and December 1 deadlines) awarding up to $10,000 per grant to qualifying 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) organizations. Since 2010, the foundation has awarded over $370,000 in grants, invested $373,000 in community programs, and directed approximately $680,000 toward environmental stewardship initiatives. Beyond grant-making, it operates direct programming including a Mentor Program that has paired 1,110 students with experienced dairy producers, PDPW Financial Literacy for Dairy, the PDPW STRIDE Youth Leadership Conference (ages 15-18), the PDPW Dairy Insights Summit, PDPW Dairy's Visible Voice communication training, and bilingual Dairy Worker Training Videos.

The foundation maintains a multi-channel presence including a content website (dairyfoundation.org), LinkedIn, Facebook, X (@dairyfound), and Instagram, alongside earned media in dairy industry outlets. Its board is composed of active dairy producers and industry professionals, reinforcing its producer-led identity. Operationally, the foundation is deeply intertwined with PDP, which serves as both its founding parent and primary fundraising event host, while remaining legally independent as a 501(c)(3) with its own board governance.

Name

Dairy’s Foundation

Legal name

Professional Dairy Producers Foundation

Website

https://dairyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dairy's Foundation (Professional Dairy Producers Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Juneau, Wisconsin, that raises funds and awards grants of up to $10,000 to support dairy industry education, youth leadership, producer professional development, and public trust programs nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Grant-Making Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Farm Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Programs (AFAEACAM)

Keywords

• Dairy education grants
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Youth agricultural leadership
• Producer professional development
• Dairy community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Juneau

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The foundation receives contributions from individuals and organizations who believe in the future of dairy. Donation types include one-time gifts, ongoing pledges (Two Cents for Tomorrow — farmers pledge two cents per hundredweight of milk sold), and planned giving/bequests.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual fundraising campaigns (Plant a Seed campaign) and silent/live auctions held during the PDP Business Conference generate additional donations. Matching contributions from industry partners amplify fundraising impact.
3. Grant Disbursements: Dairy's Foundation awards grants of up to $10,000 to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) nonprofit organizations for dairy-focused educational programs. Since 2010, over $370,000 in grants has been awarded.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Dairy's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds and awards grants to support educational initiatives across the U.S. dairy industry. As the charitable arm of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), it funds programs serving dairy producers, youth, and the broader dairy community, awarding grants of up to $10,000 to qualifying 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) organizations.

Product overview

Dairy's Foundation is a non-profit foundation (501(c)(3)) that raises funds and awards grants to support educational initiatives for the dairy industry. Founded in 2002 as the charitable arm of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), the Foundation operates grant programs providing up to $10,000 to eligible organizations, a Mentor Program pairing students with experienced dairy producers, and the Two Cents for Tomorrow automated giving program. The Foundation also supports various educational programs including PDPW Financial Literacy for Dairy®, PDPW STRIDE™ Youth Leadership Conference, PDPW Dairy Insights Summit, PDPW Dairy's Visible Voice®, and Dairy Worker Training Videos.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Competitive Grant Program A competitive grant-making program that awards up to $10,000 per grant to qualifying 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) organizations to fund dairy industry educational initiatives. Intended for nonprofit organizations serving the dairy community.
• Mentor Program Program that connects experienced dairy producers with newer dairy farmers to share knowledge, leadership insights, and best practices across the dairy industry. Targeted at dairy producers and farmers.
• Two Cents for Tomorrow A grassroots donation program that engages individual dairy producers and community members to make small contributions that collectively support dairy education and leadership programs. Targeted at individual dairy producers and community supporters.
• PDPW Financial Literacy for Dairy Educational program delivering financial literacy training tailored to dairy producers and their families, covering farm financial management topics. Targeted at dairy farmers and producers.
• PDPW STRIDE Youth Leadership Conference Youth leadership development conference designed to engage young people involved in or interested in the dairy industry and cultivate the next generation of dairy leaders. Targeted at youth and young dairy producers.
• PDPW Dairy Insights Summit Summit program that delivers insights to dairy producers on current and emerging issues affecting the dairy industry, including market, policy, and operational topics. Targeted at dairy producers and industry stakeholders.
• PDPW Dairy's Visible Voice Program that supports dairy producers and advocates in developing communication skills to effectively share the dairy industry's story with consumers and the public. Targeted at dairy producers and advocates.
• Dairy Worker Training Videos Educational video resource library developed to train dairy workers on best practices and proper procedures on dairy farms. Targeted at dairy farm workers and managers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,110 mentor students paired with experienced dairy producers since the program's inception
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Professional Dairy Producers (PDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy's Foundation was founded in 2002 as the charitable arm of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP). The two organizations share a deep operational and strategic relationship; the foundation funds educational programs developed by PDP, and the PDP Business Conference serves as the foundation's primary annual fundraising event. PDP's Cornerstone Dairy Academy and other programs receive foundation support.
• AgropurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDairy co-operative listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation. Supports the foundation's mission through financial contributions.
• Compeer FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services cooperative listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation. Supports dairy education and community programs.
• CP FeedsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeed company listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation, supporting educational initiatives for dairy producers.
• HilemanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation, supporting the foundation's mission.
• State FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance company listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation, supporting dairy education and community programs.
• SartoriminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialty cheese company listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation.
• Alliant EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility company listed as a donor sponsor of Dairy's Foundation. Also serves as venue sponsor for the PDP Business Conference.
• Grassland Dairy ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as an 'industry hero' for the ninth annual 'Plant a Seed' campaign, matching donations from individuals and organizations. Represents commitment to education, leadership development, and stewardship.
• Mullins CheeseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as an 'industry hero' for the 'Plant a Seed' campaign, matching donations to support the foundation's educational programs and networking opportunities for dairy producers.
• Pipping Concrete, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as an 'industry hero' for the 'Plant a Seed' campaign, matching donations and expressing commitment to investing in knowledge for the future of the dairy industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midwest Dairy: Regional dairy promotion organization covering 10 Midwestern states, including Wisconsin where Dairy's Foundation is headquartered. Runs youth, farm, and consumer education programs parallel to PDPF's focus areas.
• National Dairy Council: Long-standing U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to dairy nutrition research, education, and promotion. Directly comparable in serving dairy education as a core mission funded by industry checkoff and partner contributions.
• American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture: 501(c)(3) foundation that funds agriculture literacy, education, and leadership programs through grants and scholarships. Closely analogous operating model: nonprofit foundation awarding grants for ag education with corporate sponsors.
• Agriculture in the Classroom: National nonprofit network that promotes agricultural literacy in K-12 classrooms. Comparable nonprofit model funding teacher resources and student programs, parallel to PDPF's youth education focus.
• Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy: Pre-competitive forum of dairy companies, farmers, and partners advancing sustainability, public trust, and education initiatives for the dairy value chain. Directly comparable environmental stewardship and producer education programming.
• Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation: Pennsylvania-based dairy education foundation that operates the Calving Corner at PA Farm Show in coordination with Dairy's Foundation. Most direct peer: similar mission, dairy education focus, and grantmaking to dairy nonprofits.

Broad incumbents

• Dairy Management Inc. National checkoff organization that manages dairy promotion, research, and education programs. Operates at a much larger scale but shares the dairy industry education and stewardship mandate.
• American Dairy Association: National dairy checkoff-funded promotion organization operating consumer education and trust campaigns. Broader incumbent with overlapping dairy education and public trust mission though much larger scale and scope.
• United Dairy Industry Association: National federation of dairy promotion organizations that funds and coordinates dairy education, nutrition, and image programs. Provides an umbrella structure that partially overlaps with PDPF's national dairy education mission.

Others

• Professional Dairy Producers (PDP): Sister 501(c)(6) organization that founded Dairy's Foundation in 2002 and continues to deliver the programs (Financial Literacy, STRIDE, Dairy Insights Summit) the Foundation funds. Strategic ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dairyfound
• Facebookfacebook.com/dairyfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dairy-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dairyfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Dairy’s Foundation