CHS Foundation
CHS Foundation is a private foundation based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It supports education and leadership programs intended to invest in the future of agriculture, cooperative business, and rural America. Its filing says that most of its funding and focus is placed on scholarships and grants.
CHS Foundation at a glance
In short: CHS Foundation gave $5.7M across 92 grants in 2025 (avg $62K), top state Indiana. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,738,995
- +45.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 92
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $62,380
- +67.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,000
- Total assets
- $65,737,401
- +12.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (12 of 73, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (25% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to CHS Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a request online; written requests are accepted but not encouraged. Review the application for any applicable deadline and program-specific requirements.
- Next open deadline
- November 30, 2026 (Backyard Giving Grants)
- Contact
Application contact: Chs Foundation
Mailing address: 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Phone: (651) 355-6000
Website: https://www.chsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from CHS Foundation
Ag Health and Safety Grants
CHS Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ag Leadership Grant
CHS Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Backyard Giving Grants
CHS Foundation
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
November 30, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Who CHS Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National FFA Foundation ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
476 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 398 grants of 476 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were Indiana (25%), Illinois (19%), Missouri (6%), South Dakota (6%), and Idaho (5%). General inquiries grant information specifies national- and state-level requests within Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is CHS Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 73 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $102K; repeat grants $74K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 207% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2019) to $5.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 92 grants totaling $5.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National FFA Foundation Indianapolis, IN | National FFA Partnership for the Future | $1,430,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | Hunger Relief | $1,000,000 |
| Discovery Education Inc Charlotte, NC | Cooperative Minds: CHS Foundation + Discovery Education | $275,000 |
| Agriculture Future of America Liberty, MO | 2024-26 AFA Program Support and Growth Partnership | $272,500 |
| University of Idaho Foundation Inc Moscow, ID | Unearthing Potential: Cultivating Tomorrows Agricultural Soil Scientists | $262,136 |
| Lake Area Technical College Foundation Watertown, SD | Latc Commodity Risk Management Lab | $229,361 |
| Progressive Agriculture Foundation Birmingham, AL | Progressive Agriculture Safety Day | $160,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Cultivate Access | $154,307 |
| Agrisafe Network Inc Covington, LA | Building Capacity for a Healthier Agricultural Workforce | $150,000 |
| National Agriculture in the Classroom Cabot, AR | 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Support | $105,000 |
Ready to take the next step with CHS Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,737,401 | $7,600,653 | $4,915,948 | $5,738,995 | 92 | $6,022,241 | $4,051,910 | $2,911,817 |
| 2024 | $58,372,751 | $11,883,976 | $3,947,268 | $3,957,067 | 106 | $4,330,909 | $3,589,294 | $2,579,051 |
| 2023 | $50,227,938 | $10,119,491 | $8,837,190 | $4,649,794 | 87 | $5,034,429 | $2,451,835 | $2,091,307 |
| 2022 | $41,184,388 | $14,888,103 | $4,159,486 | $5,185,789 | 100 | $5,921,279 | $2,185,846 | $1,784,498 |
| 2021 | $40,013,370 | $7,074,214 | $4,241,706 | $3,121,373 | 91 | $4,102,543 | $3,442,626 | $1,950,204 |
| 2020 | $37,550,832 | $6,500,935 | $8,006,366 | $4,294,487 | 108 | — | $2,657,488 | $1,848,178 |
| 2019 | $35,847,425 | $6,168,021 | $2,548,662 | $1,828,781 | 87 | — | $1,461,658 | $1,559,699 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, CHS Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it supports education and leadership programs that invest in agriculture, cooperative business, and rural America. Its 2025 grants included support for agricultural education and leadership, food assistance, agricultural safety, and college programs.
The grantees describe their own work in ways that illustrate the range of supported organizations. The National FFA Foundation says it furthers the education and development of FFA members across the agricultural industry. Feeding America says it works to advance equitable access to nutritious food. Agriculture Future of America says it builds bridges for young leaders in food and agriculture. Other 2025 recipients included organizations that describe their work as advancing university excellence, agricultural safety, and K–12 agricultural literacy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 92 grants totaling $5,738,995. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $1,430,000, with a median grant of $14,000. Its largest awards included $1,430,000 to the National FFA Foundation for “National FFA Partnership for the Future,” $1,000,000 to Feeding America for hunger relief, and $275,000 to Discovery Education for “Cooperative Minds: CHS Foundation + Discovery Education.” Other large grants included $272,500 to Agriculture Future of America for program support and growth, $262,136 to the University of Idaho Foundation for agricultural soil science, and $229,361 to Lake Area Technical College Foundation for a commodity risk management lab.
The foundation’s filing says applicants may submit a request online; written requests are accepted but not encouraged. Deadlines, if applicable, are disclosed in the application. The filing describes most awards as year-round, with two exceptions: the Cooperative Education Grants program accepts applications annually from January to late February, with announcements in April; the University Partner Competitive Grant program accepts applications annually from April to June, with announcements in the fall. Those 2026 application windows have passed. The cooperative program supports education, professional development, and practical experience related to cooperative business; the university program supports agriculture-focused projects at colleges and universities.
Program information also lists Ag Health and Safety Grants and a general inquiries grant as active. The Ag Health and Safety Grants support initiatives such as agricultural safety education, training, and equipment. General inquiries funding is described as available to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations or related charities for national- and state-level requests within a specified 18-state trade area. Local projects are directed to the CHS Seeds for Stewardship cooperative matching grants program. The general inquiries program excludes individuals, sports teams, and religious groups.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kevin Throener as chair; Mark Farrell as vice chair and secretary; Trent Sherven and Tony Rossman as board trustees; and Megan Wolle as executive director.
CHS Foundation is led by Megan Wolle, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan Wolle
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$26K (2022) → $146K (2025)
Kevin Throener
Chair
Vice Chair → Board Trustee, 2023
Board Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Rossman
Board Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trent Sherven
Board Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Farrell
Vice Chair & Secretary
Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jerrad Stroh (2023–2024) — Board Trustee
- Former: Dave Kayser (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Jon Hopkins (2022–2023) — Business Manager
- Former: Nanci Lilja (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Courtney Wagner (2021–2022) — Board Trustee
- Former: David Beckman (2021–2022) — Board Trustee
- Former: Jim Heine (2022) — Business Manager
- Former: James Heine (2020–2021) — Business Manager
- Former: Steve Riegel (2019–2020) — Board Trustee
- Former: Tracy Jones (2019–2020) — Board Trustee
- Former: Theresa Egan (2019) — Business Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $146K, to Megan Wolle (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about CHS Foundation
How much does CHS Foundation give each year?
CHS Foundation gave $5.7M across 92 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.0M across 106 grants.
What is CHS Foundation's typical grant size?
CHS Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,000, and its average grant was $62,380, across 92 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from CHS Foundation that year got $102K on average.
Where does CHS Foundation give grants?
CHS Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (19%) and Missouri (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), Lincoln, NE (3 grants) and Bozeman, MT (3 grants).
Does CHS Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of CHS Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 92) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2025/26 University Partner Program" (26 grants) and "CHS Foundation Teacher Grant" (8 grants).
Who are CHS Foundation's largest grantees?
CHS Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National FFA Foundation ($1,430,000), Feeding America ($1,000,000) and University of Idaho Foundation Inc ($294,136 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is CHS Foundation?
CHS Foundation reported $65.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does CHS Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it supports education and leadership programs that invest in agriculture, cooperative business, and rural America. Its 2025 grants included support for agricultural education and leadership, food assistance, agricultural safety, and college programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from CHS Foundation?
Submit a request online; written requests are accepted but not encouraged. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is CHS Foundation's EIN?
CHS Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6025858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in CHS Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). CHS Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chs-foundation-morg_6ce1a7eb94824790aa8112930f500ccb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416025858_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{CHS Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chs-foundation-morg_6ce1a7eb94824790aa8112930f500ccb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from CHS Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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