American Farmland Trust’s mission is to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.
American Farmland Trust’s recent grantmaking is anchored by direct support for farmers, ranchers, and farmland protection groups working on conservation, soil health, and keeping farmers on the land. The largest recent awards in the file include $157,760 to The Dry Farming Institute in Corvallis, Oregon, and $155,000 to CCOF Foundation in Santa Cruz, California, both tied to promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. That same pattern continues across grantees that include land trusts, universities, conservation districts, and farm-support organizations. The foundation also uses grants to back place-based pilots and technical work. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Kingston, New York received funding for farmland resources, while Black Family Land Trust in Durham, North Carolina and Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs in Olympia, Washington appear in multiple years with grants tied to regional farming and land-access priorities. These awards sit alongside the organization’s broader mission to protect farmland, promote sound farming practices, and keep farmers on the land.
AFT’s cause areas are closely tied to agricultural land stewardship. In soil health and regenerative agriculture, it granted $157,760 to The Dry Farming Institute in Corvallis, Oregon for promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land, and $47,934 to Regrow Agriculture Inc in Durham, New Hampshire for promoting sound farming practices. Farmland protection also appears in the recent record. Cornell Cooperative Extension in East Aurora, New York received $52,663 for protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land, while East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District in Modesto, California received $51,823 for protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices. The foundation supports farmer transition and access work as well. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Kingston, New York received $119,475 for farmland new-generation resources, and Black Family Land Trust in Durham, North Carolina received $34,001 for North Carolina and Kentucky.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with a p25 of $7,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $25,000. The recent list also includes larger awards in the $100,000-plus range, which suggests a mix of modest awards and a smaller set of higher-dollar project grants. The file shows repeat support for several organizations across multiple years, including CCOF Foundation, Black Family Land Trust, Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs, Cornell Cooperative Extension, University of California Merced, and East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District. American Farmland Trust is a regular funder and makes no program-related investments.
$3M
$100.8M
$52.1M
$44.1M
Most grants fall between $7K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
The recipient map is entirely U.S.-based: 278 grants, or 100.0%, went to domestic organizations. California is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants list shows concentrations in Santa Cruz, Merced, and Modesto. Other recurring recipient locations include Durham, North Carolina; Corvallis and Portland, Oregon; and Olympia, Washington. The pattern also reaches New York, with grants to Kingston, East Aurora, and Chatham.
The recent grants go to a mix of land trusts, cooperative extensions, universities, conservation districts, and farmer-support groups. Examples in the record include land conservation organizations, agricultural research institutions, and state or regional groups working on farmland protection, technical assistance, and sound farming practices.
Its stated focus areas include farmland protection and agricultural conservation easements, soil health and regenerative agriculture, climate mitigation and resilience in agriculture, land transfer and access for next-generation farmers, technical assistance and training for farmers and land trusts, and smart solar or agrivoltaics siting.
The typical grant size is $7,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes awards above $100,000, showing that the foundation uses both smaller project grants and larger program awards.
No. The grantmaking is national, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The recent grants show awards across multiple states, with California appearing most often in the record.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including CCOF Foundation, Black Family Land Trust, Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs, Cornell Cooperative Extension, University of California Merced, and East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District.
JOHN F PIOTTI
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDIGO AG INC | DALLAS, TX | $1,003,290 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | ORONO, ME | $200,000 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY - SMALL FARMS PROGRAM | ITHACA, NY | $160,470 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| BARANSKI HAMMER & ASSOCIATES2 | GALENA, IL | $110,650 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $101,993 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| GROWSMART MAINE | AUGUSTA, ME | $100,000 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| EARTHOPTICS INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $98,223 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| INTEGRITY BEEF ALLIANCE ASSOCIATION | ARDMORE, OK | $91,062 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| THE DRY FARMING INSTITUTE | CORVALLIS, OR | $67,791 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | CORVALLIS, OR | $52,590 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| BLACK FAMILY LAND TRUST INC | DURHAM, NC | $52,590 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| CALIFORNIA FARMLINK | APTOS, CA | $52,243 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE | WILLISTON, VT | $51,211 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| COLUMBIA LAND CONSERVANCY INC | CHATHAM, NY | $46,053 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| THIRD SECTOR NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $46,024 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $38,340 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY | VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERS, VA | $37,875 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| VIRGINIA NO-TILL ALLIANCE INC | HARRISONBURG, VA | $37,119 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| CONNECTICUT FARMLAND TRUST | HARTFORD, CT | $33,979 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT | RICHMOND, VT | $31,460 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| UPPER VALLEY LAND TRUST INC | HANOVER, NH | $30,117 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| STATE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE | TRENTON, NJ | $30,068 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY | NORMAL, AL | $29,999 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TRIANGLE LAND CONSERVANCY | DURHAM, NC | $29,900 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| ALASKA FARMLAND TRUST CORPORATION | PALMER, AK | $29,898 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| COLORADO OPEN LANDS | LAKEWOOD, CO | $29,819 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $29,762 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| MESA COUNTY LAND CONSERVANCY | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $29,742 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY INC | EASTON, MD | $29,734 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| ATHENS LAND TRUST | ATHENS, GA | $29,710 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| LINCOLN UNIVERSITY | JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $29,694 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST INC | HAMILTON, MT | $29,630 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST | DRIGGS, ID | $29,581 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| PINES AND PRAIRIES LAND TRUST | BASTROP, TX | $29,246 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TEXAS LAND CONSERVANCY | AUSTIN, TX | $29,000 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCE, RI | $29,000 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $29,000 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| ALLIED SOIL HEALTH SERVICES LLC | KITTERY POINT, ME | $26,687 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $26,563 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY INC | MADISON, WI | $25,969 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| SKAGIT COUNTY FARMLAND LEGACY | MOUNT VERNON, WA | $25,932 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| JACKSON HOLE LAND TRUST | JACKSON, WY | $25,926 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| SAGEBRUSH STEPPE LAND TRUST | POCATELLO, ID | $25,901 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| COLORADO CATTLEMEN'S AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST | ARVADA, CO | $25,705 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| TECUMSEH LAND PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION | YELLOW SPRINGS, OH | $25,704 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| UTAH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,702 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| SOUTHERN APPLACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY | ASHEVILLE, NC | $25,546 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | WARRENTON, VA | $25,539 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION & OPEN SPACE DISTRICT | SANTA ROSA, CA | $25,441 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
| YOLO LAND TRUST | WOODLAND, CA | $25,398 | 2026 | PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND |
INDIGO AG INC
$1,003,290PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
$200,000PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
BARANSKI HAMMER & ASSOCIATES2
$110,650PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
GROWSMART MAINE
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
EARTHOPTICS INC
$98,223PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
INTEGRITY BEEF ALLIANCE ASSOCIATION
$91,062PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
THE DRY FARMING INSTITUTE
$67,791PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
$52,590PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
BLACK FAMILY LAND TRUST INC
$52,590PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
$38,340PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$37,875PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
VIRGINIA NO-TILL ALLIANCE INC
$37,119PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
UPPER VALLEY LAND TRUST INC
$30,117PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
STATE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
$30,068PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
$29,999PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
ALASKA FARMLAND TRUST CORPORATION
$29,898PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
$29,694PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST INC
$29,630PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PINES AND PRAIRIES LAND TRUST
$29,246PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
$29,000PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
ALLIED SOIL HEALTH SERVICES LLC
$26,687PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
$26,563PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY INC
$25,969PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
SKAGIT COUNTY FARMLAND LEGACY
$25,932PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
SAGEBRUSH STEPPE LAND TRUST
$25,901PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
TECUMSEH LAND PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
$25,704PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
UTAH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD
$25,702PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION & OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
$25,441PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND
YOLO LAND TRUST
$25,398PROMOTING SOUND FARMING PRACTICES/KEEPING FARMERS ON THE LAND