Farm Aid Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to supporting American family farmers and ranchers. Established in 1985, Farm Aid works year-round to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. The organization operates through grant funding, public education, activism, and an annual music festival that brings together farmers, artists, and concerned citizens to support the cause.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.3M
-12.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+9.1% YoY
Grant Count
126
+29.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-16.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. The organization accomplishes this mission by:
- Promoting Food from Family Farms — Through annual concert events, television, radio, mail, and web campaigns to build a movement for good food from family farms
- Growing the Good Food Movement — Creating more markets for family farmers by fostering connections between farmers and eaters, and working to get family farm food into urban neighborhoods, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and other public institutions
- Helping Farmers in Crisis — Operating a hotline and extensive network of rural support organizations to provide immediate assistance to farmers facing challenges such as pandemic impacts, market consolidation, extreme weather, rising costs, and market changes
- Advocating for Policy Change — Taking action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promoting fair policies that benefit farmers and ranchers
Grantmaking
Farm Aid distributes grants to support family farmers and agricultural initiatives. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Farm Aid's grant-making and support activities focus primarily on North Carolina, Indiana, and Massachusetts. In 2022, the organization received over 800 requests for help, with the majority coming from the South and Midwest regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11.8 million
- Total Revenue: $4.01 million
- Total Expenses: $4.58 million
- Total Liabilities: $728,000
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,278,401
- Total Giving: $1,453,137
Farm Aid has raised more than $90 million since its founding in 1985 to support programs that help farmers thrive.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,278,401 | $11,753,712 | $12,312,057 |
| Revenue | $4,039,327 | $4,013,981 | $4,720,689 |
| Expenses | $5,210,917 | $4,581,453 | $3,568,656 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $391,175 | $313,787 | $-11,918 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Co-Executive Director: Jennifer Fahy (also Assistant Treasurer)
- Co-Executive Director: Shorlette Ammons
- Board Members: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, and Nathaniel Rateliff (joined in 2026)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIE NELSON | CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LANA NELSON | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID MATTHEWS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN MELLENCAMP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK ROTHBAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NEIL YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNIE NELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARGO PRICE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN MUGAR | EXE. DIRECTOR & VICE PRESIDENT | 20 | $75,505 |
| GLENDA YODER | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 35 | $130,831 |
| JENNIFER FAHY | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 35 | $126,627 |
| CAROLINE MCCORMICK | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | 35 | $123,984 |
| SHORLETTE AMMONS | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 35 | $111,985 |
| STEPHEN SNYDER | DEVELOPMENT & BRAND DIRECTOR | 35 | $102,292 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Farm Aid distributed more than $1.3 million in 2025 grants, marking 40 years of commitment to family farmers
Farm Aid gives $1.3 million in annual grants, marking 40 years of commitmentNathaniel Rateliff joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2026
The organization continues to receive hundreds of requests for assistance annually through its hotline and network of farm advocates
Farm Aid has increased resources in its Farmer Resource Network and improved accessibility to support farmers facing various challenges
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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