Foundation for Food and Agriculture
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Established in 2014 through the Farm Bill, FFAR builds public-private partnerships to fund research addressing major food and agriculture challenges. The organization connects funders, researchers, and farmers to support audacious science that benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment. FFAR operates with a unique model that matches federal funding from Congress with private funding to maximize return on taxpayer investment.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$295.2M
-21.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$25.7M
-74.4% YoY
Grant Count
28
-45.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$918K
-53.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: FFAR builds unique partnerships to support innovative science addressing today's food and agriculture challenges.
Primary Program Areas:
Cultivating Thriving Production Systems — Funds research to develop scientific solutions addressing global demand for affordable, nutritious food and challenges faced by farmers and ranchers in producing it.
Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems — Invests in research to understand and improve connectivity between soil, water, and the environment to sustain vibrant agroecosystems.
Bolstering Healthy Food Systems — Supports research with significant impact on human health, the environment, and the economy, providing food processors, producers, distributors, and retailers with information and technologies needed to produce nutritious food.
Scientific Workforce Development — Advances food and agriculture science through tools, technologies, and information that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Grantmaking
FFAR actively manages multiple funding opportunities and grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FFAR operates internationally with presence in Bangladesh, India, and Canada, in addition to its United States operations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $295,166,746
- Total Revenues: $49,062,378
- Total Expenses: $46,485,429
- Number of Employees: 61
Historical Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $376,000,000
- Total Revenues: $132,000,000
- Total Expenses: $161,000,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $295,166,746 | $375,647,579 | $348,883,479 |
| Revenue | $49,062,378 | $132,259,089 | $103,276,406 |
| Expenses | $46,485,429 | $161,268,338 | $56,841,081 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $14,313,759 | $5,506,197 | $7,821,406 |
| 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
213 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
15 open opportunities from Foundation for Food and Agriculture
Crop-Animal Systems Research Grant
FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Amount
US $300,000 - US $1,000,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Dairy Health, Efficiency & Resource Dynamics Initiative Grant
FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Efficient Fertilizer Consortium RFA Grant
FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Amount
US $250,000 - US $500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include North Carolina State University ($3,746,812), University of Wisconsin Madison ($2,500,000), Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($2,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH, NC | RESEARCH | $3,746,812 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON MADISON, WI | RESEARCH | $2,500,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | RESEARCH | $2,500,000 |
| KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MANHATTAN, KS | RESEARCH | $2,223,474 |
| SWINE HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER AMES, IA | RESEARCH | $2,000,000 |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH COLLEGE STATION, TX | RESEARCH | $1,709,281 |
| AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (USDA) BELTSVILLE, MD | RESEARCH | $1,500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES DAVIS, CA | RESEARCH | $1,344,764 |
| TWO BLADES FOUNDATION EVANSTON, IL | RESEARCH | $1,000,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE, KS | RESEARCH | $881,526 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Saharah Moon Chapotin
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MARK KEENUM | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| DR DOUGLAS BUHLER | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| DR CHRIS MALLETT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DANITA RODIBAUGH | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DR ALTON THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BEN NOBLE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR CAROLYN LAWRENCE-DILL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HON DAN GLICKMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID DONNAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOE DEL BOSQUE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR DENISE HEARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR DONALD NKRUMAH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR DOUGLAS CAMERON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KYSTA HARDEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KYLE BRIDGEFORTH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR MICHAEL LADISCH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR PAM MARRONE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| POLLY RUHLAND | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR STANLEY PRUSINER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR VENKATA KISHORE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DR NANCY CREAMER | BOARD MEMBER (TERM ENDED) | 1 | — |
| DR SAHARAH MOON CHAPOTIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $480,962 |
| DR ANGELA RECORDS | CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER | 40 | $283,563 |
| KATHERINE AYERS | CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $272,981 |
| SERGIO FURMAN | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 40 | $150,964 |
| JONNA DAVIS | OPERATIONS & IMPACT DIRECTOR | 40 | $231,133 |
| LAKISHA ODOM | SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $227,337 |
| JOHN REICH | SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $220,917 |
| SARAH GOLDBERG | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS | 40 | $205,793 |
| MAGDA GALINDO | DIRECTOR OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT | 40 | $205,194 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
FFAR has announced multiple funding opportunities in recent periods:
**Seeding Solutions Funding Opportunity** — $7 million available for bold science addressing food and agriculture challenges
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Opens Seeding Solutions Funding**Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer** — Funding opportunity to accelerate development of efficient fertilizer technologies
Funding Opportunity to Accelerate Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer - Foundation**Crop & Animal Systems Grant** — Opportunity to advance integrated crop and animal production systems
FFAR Announces Grant Opportunity to Advance Crop & Animal Systems - Foundation**Regenerative Agriculture Partnership** — Joint funding opportunity with Danone North America to support regenerative agriculture research
Funding Opportunity to Accelerate Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer - Foundation**Sorghum Improvement Grants** — Funding to improve sorghum crops and strengthen nutritional security
FFAR Grant to Improve Sorghum & Strengthen Nutritional Security - FoundationContact Information
Address: 401 9th Street NW, Suite 620/730, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-624-0700
Website: foundationfar.org
EIN: 47-1559027
Tax-Exempt Status: July 2015
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Foundation for Food and Agriculture fund?
**Mission:** FFAR builds unique partnerships to support innovative science addressing today's food and agriculture challenges. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Cultivating Thriving Production Systems** — Funds research to develop scientific solutions addressing global demand for affordable, nutritious food and challenges faced by farmers and ranchers in producing it. • **Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems** — Invests in research to understand and improve connectivity between soil, water, and the e…
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Food and Agriculture?
FFAR actively manages multiple funding opportunities and grant programs: **Active Grant Programs:** • Efficient Fertilizer Consortium • FFAR Fellows: Professional Development Category • FFAR Fellows: Stipend + Professional Development Category • FFAR-OCP Disruptive Fertilizer Technology Fellowship Program • Seeding Solutions (recent announcement with $7 million available) • Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer funding opportunity • Crop & Animal Systems grant opportunity • Regenerative Agriculture gr…
Where does Foundation for Food and Agriculture make grants?
FFAR operates internationally with presence in Bangladesh, India, and Canada, in addition to its United States operations.
What size grants does Foundation for Food and Agriculture award?
In 2024, Foundation for Food and Agriculture awarded 28 grants totaling $25.7M — an average of about $918K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Foundation for Food and Agriculture's EIN?
Foundation for Food and Agriculture's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1559027. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Food and Agriculture's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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