Accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products.
Agricultural Utilization Research Inst channels its grantmaking toward expanding markets for agriculturally derived products, with a mission tied to value-added agriculture, renewable energy and biofuels, biobased products, coproduct utilization, and market development. The most recent grant on file is a $500,000 award in 2024 to Farmers Union Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota, listed for charitable purposes. That award fits a broader pattern of project support meant to move agricultural ideas from assessment to commercialization. The foundation’s program structure points to technical and business development rather than broad philanthropic operating support. Its active programs include the Agriculture Innovation Center for general commercialization services, Initial Project Assessment Grants, and Market Assessment Program support. Those programs are designed to help value-added agriculture producers with business development, process development, product development, value chain coordination, and market assessment. The foundation also makes program-related investments and is classified as a regular funder. Its giving is local and entirely in Minnesota, aligning with a focus on Minnesota agricultural products and rural economic diversification.
AURI’s funding centers on helping agricultural products reach the market in usable, higher-value forms. In value-added food and product development, the Agriculture Innovation Center provides technical and business development assistance, including business development, market development, process development, value chain coordination, and product development support. Market research is another core area. The Market Assessment Program supports market assessment and commercialization planning for value-added agricultural products, and recipients may provide cash, in-kind, or a combination as match. That structure shows the foundation funding planning work before full-scale launch. A third area is early-stage project feasibility. Initial Project Assessment Grants require a one-to-one cash match and are intended to support feasibility, scoping, and early technical work. The foundation also backs renewable energy and biobased product development through its stated focus areas, linking agricultural production to new uses and markets.
$200K
$8.8M
$6.5M
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $500K and $500K, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$500K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$500K
SHANNON M SCHLECHT
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Typical grant size is uniform: p25, median, and p75 are all $500,000, indicating a single grant scale in the available data. The recent record also shows one 2024 grant at that amount. AURI is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments, which suggests a structured capital approach alongside grants. Its active programs include both grant and matched-grant mechanisms, with some awards requiring a one-to-one cash match and others allowing cash, in-kind, or mixed match. The listed programs accept unsolicited requests.
Grantmaking is local and concentrated entirely in Minnesota: 100% of grants in the available data went to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient country distribution is also entirely U.S.-based. The only named recent grantee is in St. Paul, while the foundation itself is headquartered in Crookston, showing statewide but in-state support rather than multi-state giving.
It funds value-added agriculture projects tied to food products, renewable energy and biofuels, biobased products, coproduct utilization, market development, business planning, process development, and value chain coordination. The active programs focus on commercialization services, market assessment, and initial project assessment.
The available grant-size distribution is fixed at $500,000 for p25, median, and p75. The latest grant on file is also $500,000, so the data shows one consistent grant scale rather than a range.
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, the top state by grant count is Minnesota, and 100% of grants in the data went to recipients in Minnesota. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Yes. The active programs listed for the foundation all indicate that they accept unsolicited requests, including the Agriculture Innovation Center, Initial Project Assessment Grants, Market Assessment Program support, and related project-grant structures.
It makes program-related investments in addition to grants. The foundation is also classified as a regular funder, and its active programs emphasize technical assistance, business development, and market assessment alongside financial support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Agricultural Utilization Research Inst that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations or individuals with ideas for new uses or value additions to agricultural products may inquire; AURI’s services are not intended for crop or livestock production and projects must benefit Minnesota.
Who can apply: Project focus and fit with AURI’s mission; project must impact the use of existing agricultural commodities, alternative crops, or livestock and benefit the state of Minnesota. Initial Project Assessments require a one-to-one cash match; Market Assessment Program recipients may provide cash, in-kind, or a combination as match.
Deadline: Not specified; applicants are instructed to contact AURI to determine qualification and next steps.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG INNOVATION CAMPUS | CROOKSTON, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | INITIATIVE EXPENDITURES |
| FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
AG INNOVATION CAMPUS
$200,000INITIATIVE EXPENDITURES