Communicating for Agriculture
Communicating for Agriculture is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Fergus Falls, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $280K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M.
Communicating for Agriculture at a glance
In short: Communicating for Agriculture gave $1.3M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $185K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,297,893
- +1896.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $185,413
- +1611.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $279,813
- -80.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Communicating for Agriculture funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Smedsrud Foundation Inc ($1.2M). Together the top 7 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 31 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Communicating for Agriculture gives
- Giving grew 2841% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2020) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Smedsrud Foundation Inc Fergus Falls, MN | Charitable | $1,211,893 |
| Sonoma County Grape Growers Sana Rosa, CA | David Ramey Years of Service | $20,000 |
| Texas Exes Austin, TX | Diedre Reagan Endowment | $20,000 |
| Giving Voice Initiative Edina, MN | Giving Voice MN Initiative | $20,000 |
| Undue Medical Debt Rye, NY | Medical Debt Relief MN Debt | $15,000 |
| Pioneer Care Foundation Fergus Falls, MN | Services Expansion | $10,000 |
| Dough 4 Joe Fergus Falls, MN | Charity Benefit Donation | $1,000 |
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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 | $279,813 | $55,645 | $1,347,161 | $1,297,893 | 7 | $1,310,743 | — | $58,746 |
| 2024 | $1,446,915 | $589,469 | $138,817 | $65,000 | 6 | $81,259 | $277,550 | $53,077 |
| 2023 | $1,187,180 | $46,499 | $82,532 | $50,900 | 5 | $62,400 | $16,363 | $61,314 |
| 2022 | $1,124,621 | $37,363 | $67,023 | $44,126 | 6 | $50,651 | $20,991 | $56,601 |
| 2021 | $1,329,520 | $57,749 | $75,626 | $51,163 | 7 | $57,469 | $27,107 | $62,497 |
| 2020 | $1,334,711 | $56,815 | $59,359 | $38,450 | 7 | — | $11,603 | $56,350 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Communicating for Agriculture reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Communicating for Agriculture is led by Patricia Strickland, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patricia Strickland
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Rufer
Chairman & General
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Ritchie
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Rumpza
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Smedsrud
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Smedsrud
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Nelson
CFO & Secretary
CEO & Secretary → CFO & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: David Ramey (2020–2023) — Vice President & Director
- Former: Maja Behrens (2022) — Director
- Former: Milton E. Smedsrud (2020–2021) — Chairman Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Communicating for Agriculture
How much does Communicating for Agriculture give each year?
Communicating for Agriculture gave $1.3M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 6 grants.
What is Communicating for Agriculture's typical grant size?
Communicating for Agriculture's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $185,413, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Communicating for Agriculture give grants?
Communicating for Agriculture gives mostly in Minnesota: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fergus Falls, MN (3 grants).
Does Communicating for Agriculture give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Communicating for Agriculture's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Communicating for Agriculture's largest grantees?
Communicating for Agriculture's largest 2025 grantees include Smedsrud Foundation Inc ($1,211,893), Sonoma County Grape Growers ($20,000) and Texas Exes ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communicating for Agriculture?
Communicating for Agriculture reported $280K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $59K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Communicating for Agriculture?
Communicating for Agriculture is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Fergus Falls, MN. It holds $280K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Communicating for Agriculture's EIN?
Communicating for Agriculture's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1388895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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