Unlock the potential of corn in a sustainable manner to meet global needs for food and energy and create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability.
A defining feature of Iowa Corn Grower's Association grantmaking is its use of producer checkoff funds to build demand for corn, DDGS, ethanol, and cornfed meat products through trade and market development partners. The largest recent grants in the record went to National Corn Growers Association and US Grains Council, both used for general support or outreach and education programs, alongside similar support for US Meat Export Federation. That pattern shows a funder that works through industry organizations rather than individual applicants, with grantmaking tied closely to market access, export promotion, and education. The association also supports agricultural research and new uses for corn, including investments connected to higher blends of renewable fuels, improved livestock feed, and production efficiency. Related grants to Iowa State University and the University of Illinois Chicago show that its giving extends into institutional research as well as the trade and advocacy side of the corn sector. Leadership development appears in its scholarship and training programs for students, farmers, and ag industry professionals, creating a mix of market, research, and capacity-building support around corn growers’ long-term interests.
Market development is a central theme. In 2024, Iowa Corn Grower's Association gave $3,441,285 to US Grains Council for support foreign trade and corn market development, and in 2024 it gave $2,254,000 to US Meat Export Federation for the same purpose. Those grants point to a strong emphasis on domestic and international demand for corn-related products. Research and new uses are another clear lane. The association granted $101,625 to Iowa State University in 2025 for a research grant, general support, and outreach and education programs, and $75,000 to University of Illinois Chicago in 2025 for a Hormel Institute research grant. Water quality and nutrient support also appears in the record through grants to Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council. Its giving also reaches agricultural education and stewardship, including support for Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation and the Stewardship Advocate Program.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes large checkoff-funded awards in the millions to national trade and commodity organizations. The grant list shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including National Corn Growers Association, US Grains Council, US Meat Export Federation, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, and Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation. That indicates recurring institutional support rather than one-off gifts. The organization makes program-related investments and uses producer checkoff funds in addition to grants. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including scholarships and the Stewardship Advocate Program, while market development and leadership programs are selection-based or partner-driven.
$8.9M
$27.1M
$24.6M
$23.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $60K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$60K
About 63% of grants go to recipients in IA.
CRAIG FLOSS
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Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Iowa: 63% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Iowa is also the top state by grant count. Des Moines appears frequently through grants to World Food Prize, Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council, and others. Other Iowa cities in the record include Johnston, Ankeny, Ames, and Slater. Outside Iowa, the association funds organizations in Washington, DC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Denver, CO; and Manhattan, KS. All recent grants in the provided data go to US recipients.
It most often funds industry and research organizations tied to corn demand, agriculture education, and research. Recent recipients include National Corn Growers Association, US Grains Council, US Meat Export Federation, Iowa State University, and Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes much larger checkoff-funded awards in the millions to national trade organizations.
Yes. Active programs include the NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship and Iowa Corn Future of Agriculture Scholarships, both set at $1,000 awards. The Collegiate Advisory Team also provides up to $200 for attendees who complete sessions.
The record centers on agriculture, biofuels and ethanol, market development, agricultural research, sustainability and carbon markets, leadership development, scholarships and student programs, and policy and advocacy. Recent grants also show water quality and nutrient support, food access and family nutrition, and pollinator conservation.
Yes. Iowa is the top state by grant count, and 63% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Beyond Iowa, the record includes grants to organizations in Washington, DC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Denver, CO; and Manhattan, KS.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NCGA) | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,197,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| US GRAINS COUNCIL (USGC) | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,721,848 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION (USMEF) | DALLAS, TX | $1,700,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| IOWA AGRICULTURE WATER ALLIANCE (IAWA) | ANKENY, IA | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CORN COMMISSION | MANHATTAN, KS | $250,000 | 2026 | E85 EXPANSION SUPPORT |
| GROWTH ENERGY | OMAHA, NE | $160,030 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU) | AMES, IA | $109,300 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT, GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $96,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION | ELLISVILLE, MO | $65,000 | 2026 | E15 MARKET EXPANSION |
| WORLD FOOD PRIZE | DES MOINES, IA | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA AGRICULTURE LITERACY FOUNDATION (IALF) | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE COMPETITION COUNCIL | DELAWARE, OH | $37,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL (INREC) | DES MOINES, IA | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT (IFAA) | SLATER, IA | $27,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP | DES MOINES, IA | $27,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL FARMER NETWORK | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| NATIONAL WATERWAYS CONFERENCE (NWC) | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| WATERWAYS COUNCIL INC (WCI) | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| IOWA RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION (IRFA) | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $12,550 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS CORN MARKETING BOARD | BLOOMINGTON, IL | $10,350 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI | COLUMBIA, MO | $10,220 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| SILOS & SMOKESTACKS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| IOWA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION | AMES, IA | $8,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $7,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $7,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| ADAIR COUNTY CORN | ORIENT, IA | $6,645 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADAMS-TAYLOR COUNTY CORN GROWERS | BEDFORD, IA | $6,290 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MILLSMONTGOMERY COUNTY CORN GROWERS | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $6,265 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION | BLOOMINGTON, IL | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA FFA FOUNDATION INC | ANKENY, IA | $5,815 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WARREN COUNTY CORN | INDIANOLA, IA | $5,649 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RINGGOLD COUNTY CORN GROWERS | MOUNT AYR, IA | $5,135 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN | URBANA, IL | $5,040 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NCGA) | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,708,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| US GRAINS COUNCIL (USGC) | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,839,738 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION (USMEF) | DALLAS, TX | $2,050,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| KANSAS CORN COMMISSION | MANHATTAN, KS | $250,000 | 2025 | E85 EXPANSION SUPPORT |
| IOWA AGRICULTURE WATER ALLIANCE (IAWA) | ANKENY, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU) | AMES, IA | $101,625 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT, GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT - HORMEL INSTITUTE |
| WORLD FOOD PRIZE | DES MOINES, IA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA AGRICULTURE LITERACY FOUNDATION (IALF) | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL (INREC) | DES MOINES, IA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT (IFAA) | SLATER, IA | $27,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP | DES MOINES, IA | $27,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WATERWAYS COUNCIL INC (WCI) | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| AGRICULTURE'S CLEAN WATER ALLIANCE | ANKENY, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL FARMER NETWORK | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION (ISA) | ANKENY, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| NATIONAL WATERWAYS CONFERENCE (NWC) | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NCGA)
$3,197,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
US GRAINS COUNCIL (USGC)
$2,721,848GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION (USMEF)
$1,700,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IOWA AGRICULTURE WATER ALLIANCE (IAWA)
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KANSAS CORN COMMISSION
$250,000E85 EXPANSION SUPPORT
GROWTH ENERGY
$160,030GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU)
$109,300RESEARCH GRANT, GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$96,000RESEARCH GRANT
RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION
$65,000E15 MARKET EXPANSION
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA AGRICULTURE LITERACY FOUNDATION (IALF)
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE COMPETITION COUNCIL
$37,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL (INREC)
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT (IFAA)
$27,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP
$27,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL FARMER NETWORK
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
NATIONAL WATERWAYS CONFERENCE (NWC)
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
WATERWAYS COUNCIL INC (WCI)
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IOWA RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION (IRFA)
$12,550GENERAL SUPPORT
ILLINOIS CORN MARKETING BOARD
$10,350GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
$10,220RESEARCH GRANT
SILOS & SMOKESTACKS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IOWA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
$8,500GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,000RESEARCH GRANT
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$7,000RESEARCH GRANT
ADAIR COUNTY CORN
$6,645GENERAL SUPPORT
ADAMS-TAYLOR COUNTY CORN GROWERS
$6,290GENERAL SUPPORT
MILLSMONTGOMERY COUNTY CORN GROWERS
$6,265GENERAL SUPPORT
ILLINOIS CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA FFA FOUNDATION INC
$5,815GENERAL SUPPORT
WARREN COUNTY CORN
$5,649GENERAL SUPPORT
RINGGOLD COUNTY CORN GROWERS
$5,135GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN
$5,040RESEARCH GRANT
NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NCGA)
$3,708,300GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
US GRAINS COUNCIL (USGC)
$2,839,738GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
US MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION (USMEF)
$2,050,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
KANSAS CORN COMMISSION
$250,000E85 EXPANSION SUPPORT
IOWA AGRICULTURE WATER ALLIANCE (IAWA)
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU)
$101,625RESEARCH GRANT, GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO
$75,000RESEARCH GRANT - HORMEL INSTITUTE
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA AGRICULTURE LITERACY FOUNDATION (IALF)
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL (INREC)
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IOWA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT (IFAA)
$27,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP
$27,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WATERWAYS COUNCIL INC (WCI)
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
AGRICULTURE'S CLEAN WATER ALLIANCE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL FARMER NETWORK
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION (ISA)
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
NATIONAL WATERWAYS CONFERENCE (NWC)
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT, OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS