The mission of the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation is to support our members and their communities through grant opportunities for events and projects that enhance life in rural Wisconsin.
Focus Areas
Family farmingRural community developmentPublic educationCooperative economic developmentYouth programs and leadershipLocal food and food securityConservation and stewardshipLeadership development
A defining feature of the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its repeated support for Farmers Educational & Coop Union Of, including grants of $549,012 in 2023, $486,446 in 2024, and $433,200 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs long-running educational and cooperative work rather than one-off awards. Across the latest grants, the foundation also funded public education and rural engagement through organizations such as Friends of PBS Wisconsin and the International Institute of Wisconsin, alongside smaller project grants connected to farm and community learning. The mission statement centers on members and their communities, with grant opportunities that enhance life in rural Wisconsin. Recent awards show that the foundation funds both large institutional support and smaller local projects tied to family farming, cooperative development, leadership, and public education. The grant list also includes support for Grassworks, Ter-rae Farms Inc, Wi Academy of Science Arts & Letters, Doorwin Farms, and Carlson Farm Partnership, which suggests a mix of educational, agricultural, and community-oriented recipients within Wisconsin.
What Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Funds
Family farming and cooperative education are central themes. The foundation awarded $549,012 in 2023, $486,446 in 2024, and $433,200 in 2025 to Farmers Educational & Coop Union Of for educational support, showing sustained backing for a core institutional partner. Public education is another visible area: Friends of PBS Wisconsin received $15,000 in 2023 and $7,000 in 2024 for educational support, while the International Institute of Wisconsin received $8,240 in 2023. Smaller grants also went to Wisconsin-based farm and learning organizations. Grassworks received $11,000 in 2025 for educational purposes, and the Wi Academy of Science Arts & Letters received $7,500 in 2025 for educational purposes. These grants align with the foundation’s stated interest in rural life, public education, and cooperative economic development.
How Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Gives
Typical awards range from $7,250 at the 25th percentile to $10,425 at the median, with a 75th percentile of $224,100, reflecting a pattern of many modest grants alongside a few much larger institutional awards. The recent grants show recurrence: Farmers Educational & Coop Union Of appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin appears in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation operates through a Wisconsin-focused grantmaking program and accepts unsolicited applications for its Foundation Grants, which cover conference or organizational sponsorship, general support, and programs or projects. The active FUEL and fly-in scholarship programs also accept nominations or applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$658K
Total Assets
$2.8M
Total Revenue
$882K
Total Expenses
$819K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $7K and $224K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$224K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JULIE KEOWN-BOMAR
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general education supporteducational programs and servicesschool/institutional supporteducational resource provision
Where Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Makes Grants
All recent grants in the data went to recipients in Wisconsin, and 100% of grants were awarded in the foundation’s HQ state. Chippewa Falls appears in the largest awards through Farmers Educational & Coop Union Of. Other recipient cities include Madison, Milwaukee, Hillsboro, New Richmond, Woodville, and Eau Claire-area communities through local farm and education groups. The pattern is statewide within Wisconsin rather than concentrated in one city, though several awards cluster around Chippewa Falls and Madison.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation
What kinds of projects does Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation fund?
Its stated grant priorities include family farming, rural quality of life, public education and dialogue on rural issues, and cooperative economic development. Recent awards also show support for leadership development, advocacy, and educational purposes through named Wisconsin organizations.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. The Foundation Grants program accepts unsolicited applications for conference or organizational sponsorship, general support, and programs or projects. The FUEL program also accepts nominations or applications, and the fly-in scholarship program is open through an application process.
What is the typical grant size?
The typical grant size sits at $7,250 at the 25th percentile, $10,425 at the median, and $224,100 at the 75th percentile. That spread indicates a mix of smaller project support and much larger institutional grants.
Are grants limited to Wisconsin?
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 100% of the grants in the provided data went to recipients in Wisconsin. Recipient cities in the recent list include Chippewa Falls, Madison, Milwaukee, Hillsboro, New Richmond, and Woodville.
Do any recipients receive support in multiple years?
Yes. Farmers Educational & Coop Union Of appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin appears in both 2023 and 2024. That suggests some ongoing relationships rather than entirely one-time giving.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Nov 15, 2026Award: Up to $1K
WFU Foundation Programs or Projects Grants
Fostering family farmingEnhancing quality of lifePublic education and dialogue on rural issues+4 more
Who can apply: Applicants must provide organization and contact information, indicate WFU membership status, identify their applicant type and legal name, and confirm alignment with at least two WFU Foundation pillars. Applicants must submit a project narrative, requested amount, detailed budget, two goals or objectives, and recognition details.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. The next listed future deadline is November 15, 2026.
Fostering family farmingEnhancing quality of lifePublic education and dialogue on rural issues+2 more
Who can apply: Applicants must provide organization and contact information, indicate WFU membership status, identify their applicant type and legal name, and confirm alignment with at least two WFU Foundation pillars. Applicants must submit a narrative, requested grant amount, detailed budget, two goals or objectives, and recognition details.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. The next listed future deadline is November 15, 2026.
WFU Foundation Grants (Conference/Organizational Sponsorship; General Support; Programs or Projects)
Fostering family farmingEnhancing quality of lifePublic education and dialogue on rural issues+3 more
Who can apply: Applicants may apply as individuals, nonprofits, organizations, or WFU chapters/partners. Proposals must align with at least two Foundation pillars: fostering family farming, enhancing quality of life, providing opportunities for public education and dialogue on rural issues, or encouraging cooperative economic development. Applicants must provide organizational information, indicate WFU membership status, and submit a project narrative and budget as applicable.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. The page also provides application links for the February 15, 2027 and May 15, 2027 cycles.
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Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
