
The Iowa Beef Industry Council is dedicated to expanding consumer demand for beef, strengthening beef’s position in the global marketplace and improving producer profitability.
BEEF promotion and market development sit at the center of Iowa Beef Cattle Producers Association Dba Iowa Beef Industry Council’s recent grantmaking. The foundation’s largest listed grant is $551,000 to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for promotion of beef, and it has also made repeated six-figure awards to the US Meat Export Federation for beef retail promotions conducted internationally. That mix shows a funder working at both the consumer-demand and export-promotion levels, while also supporting research, education, and producer-oriented programming. The council is a public charity with annual grants of $4.8 million and total assets of $3.6 million. Its grantmaking includes support for Iowa State University and Iowa State Foundation, as well as state beef councils and commodity groups outside Iowa, including New York, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, and South Dakota. In Iowa, it also backs classroom and agriculture-literacy efforts through educator and curriculum support, linking beef promotion to education and producer communication. The organization’s own summary says it is dedicated to expanding consumer demand for beef, strengthening beef’s position in the global marketplace, and improving producer profitability.
Beef promotion appears in multiple forms. The council awarded $551,000 to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for promotion of beef, and it also funded the US Meat Export Federation with several large payments for beef retail promotions conducted internationally. Research is another clear thread. Iowa State University received $163,240 in 2024 and $162,341 in 2023 for support for programs, while South Dakota State University received $86,431 for promotion of beef. Those grants point to a mix of academic and applied industry work. Education and literacy show up in Iowa-focused programming. The Iowa Agricultural Literacy Foundation received $40,000 for support, and the council’s active programs include FCS educator grants for classroom instruction, along with partnerships that provide curriculum kits, books, lessons, and teacher resources for elementary classrooms across Iowa.
$2.2M
$3.1M
$3.4M
$3.8M
Most grants fall between $20K and $71K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$71K
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Typical awards fall in a mid-sized project range: the 25th percentile is $20,000, median grant size is $32,900, and the 75th percentile is $71,225. The recent-grants list shows repeated support to several recipients across more than one year, including state beef councils, universities, and industry groups, which suggests ongoing program support rather than isolated one-off awards. The organization is a public charity and a regular DAF funder. Its active programs show a mix of project-based marketing grants, restricted funding, and unsolicited educator grants in Iowa; the Family and Consumer Science educator grants accept unsolicited requests and can reach up to $750.
Iowa is the main destination for grants, accounting for 55% of recipient locations and the top state by grant count. Ames appears several times through Iowa State University, Iowa State Foundation, and Zestful Kitchen. Outside Iowa, grants reach Centennial and Denver in Colorado, Hermitage, Westmoreland, and Rome in New York and Pennsylvania, plus Phoenix, Kissimmee, Brookings, and Lincoln. All listed recipient grants are in the United States.
Its listed focus areas include beef promotion, production research, nutrition and health promotions, education for K-12 and FCS, beef quality assurance, international marketing, and producer communications. Recent grants also include support for university programs, beef councils, and agriculture-literacy resources.
Typical awards are moderate in size: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $32,900, and the 75th percentile is $71,225. The active educator grant program is much smaller, with awards up to $750 for Iowa classroom use.
Yes. The recent-grants list includes repeated awards to several recipients across 2023 and 2024, including the US Meat Export Federation, Iowa State University, Iowa State Foundation, New York Beef Council, Pennsylvania Beef Council, and Arizona Beef Council.
Yes. Active programs include Family and Consumer Science Educator Grants for Iowa educators to purchase beef for classroom instruction, plus support for the Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation to provide curriculum kits, books, lessons, and teacher resources in Iowa classrooms.
Iowa is the main state for recipient locations, with 55% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Iowa recipients include Ames-based institutions and West Des Moines-based agricultural education and farmer-support organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION | DENVER, CO | $420,024 | 2025 | BEEF RETAIL PROMOTIONS CONDUCTED INTERNATIONALLY |
| NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION | CENTENNIAL, CO | $348,874 | 2025 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY | AMES, IA | $213,146 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| LEARFIELD COMMUNICATIONS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $138,275 | 2025 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $133,995 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| LAMAR | ATLANTA, GA | $114,375 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| PENNSYLVANIA BEEF COUNCIL | HERMITAGE, PA | $110,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA STATE FOUNDATION | AMES, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| PAULSEN | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $69,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| NEW YORK BEEF COUNCIL | ROME, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| ARIZONA BEEF COUNCIL | PHOENIX, AZ | $59,205 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| FLORIDA BEEF COUNCIL | KISSIMMEE, FL | $55,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| ZESTFUL KITCKEN | AMES, IA | $45,850 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA AGRICULTURAL LITERACY FOUNDATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $45,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON | MILWAUKEE, WI | $44,275 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| COALITION TO SUPPORT IOWA FARMERS | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $40,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION | ANKENY, IA | $38,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $33,150 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| ILLINOIS BEEF ASSOCIATION | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY | CANYON, TX | $23,251 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| IOWA FARM ANIMAL CARE | DALLAS CENTER, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| WILDFLOWER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP | PARKER, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| HUMMINGBIRDS | DES MOINES, IA | $18,900 | 2025 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | DES MOINES, IA | $17,500 | 2025 | PROMOTION OF BEEF INTERNATIONALLY |
| IP BROADCASTING | EMERSON, IA | $12,500 | 2025 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,700 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION | AMES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS | WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA | $6,770 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS/PROMOTE BEEF |
| IOWA ACADEMY OF NUTRITION & DIETICS | ST JOHNS, MI | $5,600 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA STATE FAIR | DES MOINES, IA | $5,300 | 2025 | PROMOTE BEEF |
| US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION | DENVER, CO | $397,200 | 2024 | BEEF RETAIL PROMOTIONS CONDUCTED INTERNATIONALLY |
| NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION | CENTENNIAL, CO | $332,800 | 2024 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY | AMES, IA | $163,240 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| PENNSYLVANIA BEEF COUNCIL | HERMITAGE, PA | $110,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA STATE FOUNDATION | AMES, IA | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $86,431 | 2024 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| ARIZONA BEEF COUNCIL | PHOENIX, AZ | $55,811 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| NEW YORK BEEF COUNCIL | ROME, NY | $55,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| FLORIDA BEEF COUNCIL | KISSIMMEE, FL | $54,600 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| ZESTFUL KITCKEN | AMES, IA | $45,600 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| COALITION TO SUPPORT IOWA FARMERS | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $40,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA AGRICULTURAL LITERACY FOUNDATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $40,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $38,274 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION | ANKENY, IA | $38,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| WORLD FOOD PRIZE | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| IOWA FARM ANIMAL CARE | DALLAS CENTER, IA | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
| HUMMINGBIRDS | DES MOINES, IA | $16,377 | 2024 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IP BROADCASTING | EMERSON, IA | $11,000 | 2024 | PROMOTION OF BEEF |
| IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | PROMOTION OF BEEF INTERNATIONALLY |
| IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $9,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS |
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION
$348,874PROMOTION OF BEEF
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
$213,146RESEARCH
LEARFIELD COMMUNICATIONS
$138,275PROMOTION OF BEEF
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$133,995RESEARCH
LAMAR
$114,375SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
PENNSYLVANIA BEEF COUNCIL
$110,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
PAULSEN
$69,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
NEW YORK BEEF COUNCIL
$60,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
ARIZONA BEEF COUNCIL
$59,205SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
FLORIDA BEEF COUNCIL
$55,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
ZESTFUL KITCKEN
$45,850SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
$44,275RESEARCH
COALITION TO SUPPORT IOWA FARMERS
$40,500SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION
$38,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
$33,150RESEARCH
ILLINOIS BEEF ASSOCIATION
$30,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
$23,251RESEARCH
IOWA FARM ANIMAL CARE
$20,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
WILDFLOWER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
$20,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
HUMMINGBIRDS
$18,900PROMOTION OF BEEF
IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$17,500PROMOTION OF BEEF INTERNATIONALLY
IP BROADCASTING
$12,500PROMOTION OF BEEF
IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
$10,700SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
$10,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
$6,770SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS/PROMOTE BEEF
IOWA ACADEMY OF NUTRITION & DIETICS
$5,600SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA STATE FAIR
$5,300PROMOTE BEEF
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION
$332,800PROMOTION OF BEEF
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
$163,240SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
PENNSYLVANIA BEEF COUNCIL
$110,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$86,431PROMOTION OF BEEF
ARIZONA BEEF COUNCIL
$55,811SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
NEW YORK BEEF COUNCIL
$55,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
FLORIDA BEEF COUNCIL
$54,600SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
ZESTFUL KITCKEN
$45,600SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
COALITION TO SUPPORT IOWA FARMERS
$40,500SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
$38,274SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION
$38,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
$25,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
IOWA FARM ANIMAL CARE
$20,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS
HUMMINGBIRDS
$16,377PROMOTION OF BEEF
IP BROADCASTING
$11,000PROMOTION OF BEEF
IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$10,000PROMOTION OF BEEF INTERNATIONALLY
IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
$9,000SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS