Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance
The Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) is a public charity based in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1988, it supports Iowa youth involved in 4-H and FFA agricultural projects through scholarships, awards, and the Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions.
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance at a glance
- Total assets
- $626,369
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $359,608
- -14.8% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $20,606
- -27.2% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $394,383
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance
- Review Cycle
- February 1, 2026, for the 2026 Winner’s Circle scholarships. The foundation states that those applications are closed.
- Deadline
- February 1, 2026, for the 2026 Winner’s Circle scholarships.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10550 New York Ave 100, Des Moines, IA 50322
Phone: (515) 987-2116
Website: https://ifaa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
254 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 254 grants of 254 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
IFAA describes its work as supporting Iowa youth, including 4-H and FFA participants. Its scholarship materials describe eligibility for students enrolled in agricultural curricula at two-year or four-year colleges or universities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2019 to 2022 (+0%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $198K (2020) to $231K (2022). In 2022 it made 133 grants totaling $231K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 48 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $151,500 |
| Bridget Fisher Wellman, IA | Scholarshp | $5,000 |
| Ellie Neil Fairbank, IA | Scholarhsip | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The reported grant count is zero for each year shown. Separately, IFAA’s 2024 filing reports scholarships and awards to youth and one award to a domestic university.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $626,369 | $359,608 | $394,383 | — | — | $20,606 |
| 2024 | $630,594 | $422,307 | $384,846 | — | — | $28,302 |
| 2023 | $589,776 | $370,136 | $354,221 | — | — | $11,745 |
| 2022 | — | — | — | $231,350 | 133 | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | $208,100 | 121 | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | $198,450 | 114 | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | $231,050 | 152 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
IFAA’s stated mission is to provide funds to support the sale of grand and reserve champion projects for major species at a premium, and to provide scholarships and awards to reach more youth.
Its work includes scholarships for students pursuing agricultural studies, performance and other awards for youth, and support for champion-project sales. On its 2024 filing, IFAA reported awarding 97 scholarships and 57 awards to youth, as well as one award to a domestic university.
Grantmaking
IFAA’s published Winner’s Circle programs offer scholarships to incoming freshmen and current undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in agricultural curricula. Applicants must be majoring in an agricultural program with a focus on a career in the agricultural industry. A strong 4-H and/or FFA background and leadership involvement are preferred for many scholarships; some undergraduate scholarships require at least 45 completed college credit hours. The listed award ranges are $1,000–$5,000 for incoming freshmen and $1,000–$8,000 for undergraduates. These programs provide scholarships to students rather than grants to outside applicants.
Selections are made by a committee of IFAA members and faculty or staff from colleges with agricultural programs, with final approval by IFAA’s board. Applicants are notified after results are confirmed, and recipients are invited to a presentation ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. The foundation’s scholarship pages identify online applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Matt Heiller as president and Robin Sampson as vice president. Directors listed are Jack Bair, Rob Bohnsack, Macy Marek, Doug Pullin, Gary Meldrem, Mike Doran, Mark Kahler, and Rachel Zumbach.
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance is led by Matt Heiller, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Matt Heiller
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Pullin
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack Bair
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kahler
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Doran
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Bohnsack
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Meldrem
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Macy Marek
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Zumbach
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Williams
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Sampson
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lexi Beeler
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Gary Vanaernam (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Katie Stutsman (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Andrew Lauver (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Matt Romoser (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Morgan Romoser (2022–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Tim Messenger (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Brooke Beelner (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Morgan Shrader (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Breanna Wagner (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Mike Petzenhauser (2019) — Director
- Former: Paul Flint (2019) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance
How large is Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance?
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance reported $626K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $360K.
What does Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance fund?
IFAA’s stated mission is to provide funds to support the sale of grand and reserve champion projects for major species at a premium, and to provide scholarships and awards to reach more youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance?
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ifaa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance make grants?
IFAA describes its work as supporting Iowa youth, including 4-H and FFA participants. Its scholarship materials describe eligibility for students enrolled in agricultural curricula at two-year or four-year colleges or universities.
What is Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance's EIN?
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1183067. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 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 2019–2025
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance'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.
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advance down — hundreds of funders to go?