The Land O'Lakes Foundation concentrates its grantmaking almost exclusively on higher education, directing large gifts to university foundations—primarily Midwest land‑grant institutions—to support education and university-led programs. Its giving is focused and strategic, funding a small number of institutional partners rather than many small or grassroots organizations. The pattern and grantee selection suggest priority for university research, education, and extension work aligned with agricultural and community development missions.
A $2.25 million grant to the University of Minnesota Foundation in 2024 shows how Land O'lakes Foundation centers its giving on university-led education work. The foundation’s recent grants are dominated by higher-education institutions and university foundations, with repeated support to the University of Minnesota Foundation and Iowa State University Foundation. That pattern points to a funder that prefers large, institutional partners over broad, open-ended philanthropy. Alongside those university grants, Land O'lakes Foundation also uses its giving to support employee and partner-directed programs. Greater Twin Cities United Way appears in multiple recent awards tied to pledge payments and employee giving campaign matches, while member co-op matches connect the foundation to community partners across the region. The recent record also includes grants for hunger relief and community grants, showing that its portfolio extends beyond campus-based work. The foundation’s grantmaking appears disciplined and programmatic rather than diffuse. Its awards include scholarship support, education grants, matching-gift structures, and restricted-purpose community funding. Recent recipients range from major university foundations to food banks and local community organizations, but the largest commitments remain concentrated in higher education and university-affiliated education programs.
Higher education is the clearest theme in Land O'lakes Foundation’s recent giving. The foundation awarded $1 million to Iowa State University Foundation for education grants, and it also made multiple six-figure and seven-figure awards to the University of Minnesota Foundation for education grants. These grants place universities at the center of its philanthropy. The foundation also backs employee giving and pledge-payment programs. Greater Twin Cities United Way received $200,000 for pledge payments in 2024 and $147,922 for employee giving campaign matches the same year, showing a structured workplace-giving element in the portfolio. Food security is another active area. The foundation gave $25,000 to Salt and Light Works for West Region Hunger and $25,000 to Protestant Episcopal Parish of the Church of the Saviour for West Region Hunger. It also supported organizations such as Second Harvest Heartland and Feeding America through matching-gift and campaign-related grants.
$3.4M
$2.3M
$4.1M
$3.8M
Most grants fall between $250 and $1K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$250
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$1K
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Highly concentrated: a few very large grants (two recipients receive 100% of dollars), repeat funding to the same primary grantee (multiple grants to University of Minnesota Foundation), and institutional partnerships rather than broad, diversified giving.
Notable grantees: University of Minnesota Foundation, Iowa State University Foundation, Midwest land‑grant university research and extension programs
Typical grants are small relative to the largest awards: the p25 is $250, the median is $500, and the p75 is $1,333. The spread suggests many modest grants alongside a smaller number of much larger institutional commitments. The recent record shows repeat support to several recipients across multiple years, including the University of Minnesota Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, American National Red Cross, Second Harvest Heartland, and United Way of Greater St Joseph Inc. That recurring pattern fits a foundation with ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Land O'lakes Foundation makes programmatic grants and also funds pledge payments, employee giving campaign matches, scholarship support, and member co-op matches. It funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is regional, with Minnesota the top state by grant count and 29% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards cluster in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Ames, and several other Midwest cities, reflecting a strong Upper Midwest footprint. Outside Minnesota, recent grantees include Ames, Madison, Saint Joseph, Washington, and Lincoln. The foundation also makes grants to recipients in other parts of the country, including Washington, DC, Chicago, and California cities such as Hanford and Visalia. All recorded grants in the dataset go to US recipients.
Its recent giving is centered on university foundations and other higher-education institutions, especially education grants to the University of Minnesota Foundation and Iowa State University Foundation. The foundation also funds United Way organizations, food-security groups, scholarship support, and member co-op matches.
Yes. Recent grants include $200,000 to Greater Twin Cities United Way for pledge payments and $147,922 to the same organization for employee giving campaign matches in 2024. The record also includes similar matching and pledge-payment grants in 2023.
The typical award is relatively small: p25 is $250, median grant size is $500, and p75 is $1,333. The recent portfolio also includes much larger institutional grants, including a $2.25 million education grant and a $1 million education grant.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 29% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Brooklyn Park, with additional awards across Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, California, and Washington, DC.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and the recent grant list includes scholarship support such as a $47,500 grant to University of Wisconsin-madison for the John Brandt Scholarship.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND | CHARLESTON, SC | $365,102 | 2026 | EMPLOYEE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERISM |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY GRANTS |
| FEEDING AMERICA - NATIONAL CHAPTER | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | LOL GIVING WEEK |
| GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | UNITED WAY/LOL GIVING WEEK |
| UPPER DES MOINES OPPORTUNITY INC | GRAETTINGER, IA | $65,500 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| OHIO FFA FOUNDATION INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| KANSAS RURAL COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION | WAMEGO, KS | $35,250 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| NEBRASKA FFA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $34,750 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| KANSAS 4-H FOUNDATION INC | MANHATTAN, KS | $30,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| LINDSAY AREA DEVELOPMENT | LINDSAY, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| INDIANA 4-H FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $24,500 | 2026 | JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP |
| CENTER FOR DAIRY EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| HULL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION | HULL, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| CITY OF HAY SPRINGS | HAY SPRINGS, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| ST BRIGID COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER | HANFORD, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| UNITED WAY OF ASHLAND COUNTY OHIO INC | ASHLAND, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| FEEDING PENNSYLVANIA | LEMOYNE, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| UNITED WAY OF TULARE COUNTY | TULARE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| SALT AND LIGHT WORKS | VISALIA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| ARTHUR G JAMES CANCER HOSPITAL & RICHARD J SOLOVE RSRCH INST FNDTN | CHICAGO, IL | $17,500 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| ST JAMES YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION | SAINT JAMES, MN | $17,500 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY | VISALIA, CA | $15,500 | 2026 | DIRECT MEMBER MATCH |
| CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FOOD BANK | HARRISBURG, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOOD BANK | FRESNO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| TULE BASIN LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION TRUST | TULARE, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| KANSAS FOOD BANK WAREHOUSE INC | WICHITA, KS | $15,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| CECIL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION | ELKTON, MD | $13,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| SOUTH HARDIN ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB INC | ELDORA, IA | $12,500 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY | VISALIA, CA | $12,500 | 2026 | WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| SDSU EXTENSION 4-H OFFICE | BROOKINGS, SD | $12,312 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| FRANKLIN COUNTY AREA UNITED WAY INC | WASHINGTON, MO | $12,275 | 2026 | UNITED WAY/LOL GIVING WEEK |
| CULTIVATE CULINARY SCHOOL AND CATERING INC | SOUTH BEND, IN | $11,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE | MADISON, WI | $10,500 | 2026 | JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP |
| MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY GRANTS |
| SALVATION ARMY ABERDEEN CHAPTER | ABERDEEN, SD | $10,050 | 2026 | UNITED WAY/LOL GIVING WEEK |
| VISALIA RESCUE MISSION | VISALIA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP |
| KANSAS FFA FOUNDATION INC | MANHATTAN, KS | $10,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| PROJECT SHARE OF CARLISLE | CARLISLE, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | EAST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| TULARE COUNTY FARM BUREAU EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND TRUST | VISALIA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY TULARE | TULARE, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT |
| CENTER FOR LAND-BASED LEARNING | WOODLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP |
| RIVER BEND FOOD BANK | DAVENPORT, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| NEBRASKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| EDGELEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #3 | EDGELEY, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
| TULARE DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION | TULARE, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT |
| FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES PARTNERS | NORTH MANKATO, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES |
UPPER DES MOINES OPPORTUNITY INC
$65,500MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
OHIO FFA FOUNDATION INC
$50,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
KANSAS RURAL COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
$35,250MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
NEBRASKA FFA FOUNDATION
$34,750MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
LINDSAY AREA DEVELOPMENT
$30,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
INDIANA 4-H FOUNDATION
$25,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$24,500JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP
CENTER FOR DAIRY EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION
$20,000EAST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT
HULL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
$20,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
CITY OF HAY SPRINGS
$20,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
ST BRIGID COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER
$20,000WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT
UNITED WAY OF ASHLAND COUNTY OHIO INC
$20,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
ST JAMES YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
$17,500MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY
$15,500DIRECT MEMBER MATCH
TULE BASIN LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION TRUST
$15,000WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT
CECIL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION
$13,000EAST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT
SOUTH HARDIN ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB INC
$12,500MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY
$12,500WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT
SDSU EXTENSION 4-H OFFICE
$12,312MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
FRANKLIN COUNTY AREA UNITED WAY INC
$12,275UNITED WAY/LOL GIVING WEEK
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE
$10,500JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP
MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS
$10,500COMMUNITY GRANTS
SALVATION ARMY ABERDEEN CHAPTER
$10,050UNITED WAY/LOL GIVING WEEK
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP
KANSAS FFA FOUNDATION INC
$10,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
TULARE COUNTY FARM BUREAU EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND TRUST
$10,000WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT
THE SALVATION ARMY TULARE
$10,000WEST REGION HUNGER RELIEF GRANT
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$10,000JOHN BRANDT SCHOLARSHIP
RIVER BEND FOOD BANK
$10,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
EDGELEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #3
$10,000MEMBER CO-OP MATCHES
TULARE DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION
$10,000WEST REGION COMMUNITY VITALITY GRANT