Farmers Union Industries
Farmers Union Industries is a private foundation based in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. It supports programs related to agricultural research and education, cooperative ventures, and charitable assistance in rural communities.
Farmers Union Industries at a glance
In short: Farmers Union Industries gave $64K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $64,000
- +50.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,370
- +61.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $232,093
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Farmers Union Industries
- How to Apply
-
Forms are sent on request; the filing lists Velde Moore Ltd as the contact. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its stated program purposes and five-state region are described above.
- Contact
Application contact: Velde Moore Ltd
Mailing address: 1118 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 763-6561
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Farmers Union Industries funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Redwood Area Food Shelf ($7K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($4,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 94 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated program region is Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wisconsin. In 2025, 67% of grant dollars went to Minnesota, 16% to South Dakota, 13% to Iowa, and 2% to North Dakota; the filing reports 0% for Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
How Farmers Union Industries gives
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 450% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2024) to $230K (2021). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $64K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Area Food Shelf Redwood Falls, MN | General Purpose | $6,500 |
| Long Prairie Emer Food Shelf Long Prairie, MN | General Purpose | $6,500 |
| Mitchell Food Pantry Mitchell, SD | General Purpose | $6,500 |
| Udmo - Emmet County Outreach Estherville, IA | General Purpose | $6,500 |
| Browerville Area Food Shelf Browerville, MN | General Purpose | $3,500 |
| Manna Food Pantry Worthington, MN | General Purpose | $3,500 |
| Worthington Christian Church Food S Worthington, MN | General Purpose | $3,500 |
| Renville County Food Shelf Olivia, MN | General Purpose | $3,500 |
| We Care Project Morgan, MN | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| Morrison County Food Shelf Little Falls, MN | General Purpose | $2,500 |
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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 | $232,093 | $74,410 | $71,624 | $64,000 | 27 | $64,000 | $1,786 | $14,213 |
| 2024 | $229,307 | $33,557 | $51,509 | $42,500 | 29 | $42,500 | — | $11,825 |
| 2023 | $247,259 | $57,500 | $54,032 | $46,000 | 21 | $46,000 | $3,758 | $10,969 |
| 2022 | $243,791 | $77,100 | $85,219 | $78,000 | 7 | $78,000 | $19,881 | $11,264 |
| 2021 | $251,910 | $27,050 | $238,647 | $230,000 | 10 | — | $19,153 | $15,329 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Farmers Union Industries reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its purposes include supporting and operating research and education programs to strengthen agricultural production and management, protect producer income, promote cooperative organization, sustain family farming, add value to agricultural products, develop experimental cooperative ventures, and support agricultural economics, research, and citizen leadership. It also identifies charitable assistance for people affected by natural disasters in rural communities.
Its stated program region is Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wisconsin. Its 2025 grants also show support for food shelves and pantries, including organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity. For example, Renville County Food Shelf says its mission is to distribute donated food to people in need in the county; Manna Food Pantry describes providing food, hygiene, and household supplies to financially needy people in Nobles County; and Morrison County Food Shelf says it provides emergency and supplemental food and referrals to other resources.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $64,000 through 27 grants. Grants ranged from $300 to $6,500, with a median grant of $2,000. Its largest grants included $6,500 each to Redwood Area Food Shelf in Minnesota, Long Prairie Emergency Food Shelf in Minnesota, Mitchell Food Pantry in South Dakota, and UDMO – Emmet County Outreach in Iowa. Other grants included $3,500 to Browerville Area Food Shelf, Manna Food Pantry, Worthington Christian Church Food Shelf, and Renville County Food Shelf, and $2,500 to We Care Project and Morrison County Food Shelf.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Kuylen as chairman, Larry Birgen as vice chair, Steve Anderson as secretary, and Doug Sombke, Mark Watne, and Darin Von Ruden as directors.
Farmers Union Industries is led by Robert Kuylen, Chairman on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Kuylen
Chairman
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darin Von Ruden
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Sombke
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Watne
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Birgen
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Anderson
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Farmers Union Industries
How much does Farmers Union Industries give each year?
Farmers Union Industries gave $64K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $43K across 29 grants.
What is Farmers Union Industries's typical grant size?
Farmers Union Industries's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,370, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Farmers Union Industries give grants?
Farmers Union Industries gives mostly in Minnesota: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Dakota (16%) and Iowa (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Redwood Falls, MN (2 grants), Mitchell, SD (2 grants), Long Prairie, MN (2 grants) and Estherville, IA (2 grants).
Does Farmers Union Industries give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Farmers Union Industries's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Stanley Moore Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are Farmers Union Industries's largest grantees?
Farmers Union Industries's largest 2025 grantees include Redwood Area Food Shelf ($6,500), Long Prairie Emer Food Shelf ($6,500) and Mitchell Food Pantry ($6,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($4,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Farmers Union Industries?
Farmers Union Industries reported $232K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Farmers Union Industries fund?
The foundation states that its purposes include supporting and operating research and education programs to strengthen agricultural production and management, protect producer income, promote cooperative organization, sustain family farming, add value to agricultural products, develop experimental cooperative ventures, and support agricultural economics, research, and citizen leadership. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Farmers Union Industries?
Forms are sent on request; the filing lists Velde Moore Ltd as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Farmers Union Industries's EIN?
Farmers Union Industries's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1634460. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Farmers Union Industries funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Farmers Union Industries funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/farmers-union-industries-morg_973a99d601114f46a3ad6ab490a3f2ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311634460_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Farmers Union Industries funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/farmers-union-industries-morg_973a99d601114f46a3ad6ab490a3f2ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Farmers Union Industries'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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