About Rodale Institute
Promote organic and regenerative agriculture through research, education, training, and outreach to improve soil health, human health, and environmental sustainability.
Focus Areas
organic agriculturesoil healthclimate and carbon sequestrationwater qualityfarmworker fairnessregenerative healthfarmer training and technical assistance
Who They Fund
organic and regenerative farmerssmall- and mid-scale growersagricultural researchers and extension agentsrural farming communities
Funding Style
About Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute’s recent giving is dominated by research, with a single seven-figure award to Emory University in Atlanta standing out in the grant record. That pattern fits the organization’s stated mission: promoting organic and regenerative agriculture through research, education, training, and outreach to improve soil health, human health, and environmental sustainability. The grant list shows the foundation using research support to connect universities, farm organizations, and technical partners around those goals. Several of the largest awards go to university-based projects, including the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the UGA Research Foundation in Athens. The mix suggests an emphasis on applied agricultural research rather than direct service or individual aid, and the recipient list includes both academic institutions and practitioner organizations. Rodale Institute’s funders’ profile also aligns with beneficiary groups such as organic and regenerative farmers, small- and mid-scale growers, agricultural researchers, extension agents, and rural farming communities. The active Good Farmer Award U.S. program further points to an interest in recognizing farmers within organic and regenerative agriculture, alongside the research grants that anchor the portfolio.
What Rodale Institute Funds
Rodale Institute gives across several connected agricultural research areas. In organic agriculture and regenerative agriculture, it awarded $515,620 to Madison Garden Club in Madison, Alabama for research, and $134,974 to the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association in Pittsboro, North Carolina for research. Soil health is another clear theme. The foundation gave $122,770 to Soil Health Institute in Morrisville, North Carolina for research, showing support for organizations focused on soil systems and field-level outcomes. Its climate and carbon sequestration interest appears in research support to Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina for $32,619, while farmworker fairness and rural farming community issues are reflected in grants to Virginia Association of Biology in Woolwine, Virginia for research. Across these awards, the pattern is consistent: research-first support tied to agricultural practice and environmental outcomes.
How Rodale Institute Gives
Rodale Institute’s typical grant size sits at $15,748 at the 25th percentile, $21,769 at the median, and $124,242 at the 75th percentile, with one much larger outlier at $1,177,793. The portfolio is research-heavy and appears to favor institutional recipients over individuals, consistent with its funding structure and mission. The recent record also shows repeat funding to the same organizations across years, including Uga Research Foundation, The Connect Group Inc, Clemson University, and Virginia Association of Biology, indicating ongoing rather than purely one-off support. No program-related investments are listed, and the active U.S. award program is The Good Farmer Award U.S.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$985K
Total Assets
$54.7M
Total Revenue
$15.8M
Total Expenses
$15.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $16K and $124K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$16K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$124K
Geographic Reach
National8 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in GA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JEFF TKACH
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