Mad Agriculture
Mad Agriculture is a public charity based in Boulder, Colorado, that supports farmers and ranchers working toward regenerative agriculture through technical and financial assistance, farm and ranch consulting, storytelling, and movement building. The organization’s stated mission is to create a regenerative revolution in agriculture.
Mad Agriculture at a glance
In short: Mad Agriculture gave $295K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $295,044
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $21,075
- Median grant
- $16,786
- Total assets
- $1,791,096
- +114.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Mad Agriculture
- Invitation Only
-
The published bison grant cycle required a letter of intent, with full applications by invitation; that FY2026 cycle is past.
- Review Cycle
- The published FY2026 bison grant full-application deadline was August 24, 2026 (past).
- Deadline
- The published FY2026 bison grant full-application deadline was August 24, 2026 (past).
- Contact
Mailing address: 728 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (805) 231-7462
Website: https://madagriculture.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mad Agriculture funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fitzgerald Family Farms ($78K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 20 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Mad Agriculture is based in Boulder, Colorado. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the reported shares of grant dollars were Minnesota 36%, Colorado 28%, Vermont 12%, California 10%, and New Mexico 7%. The organization describes its Regenerative Catalyst Fund as nationwide and its bison grant as serving producers across the nation.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Mad Agriculture gives
- 14% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2020) to $295K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $295K.
*2023: Covers 23 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald Family Farms Glencoe, MN | For the establishment of perennial ecological zones on farmland and the advancement of farm management tracking systems to enhance organic certification procedures and management efficiencies | $77,729 |
| Zafa Wines Isle La Motte, VT | Operational support and bridge financing to help business process inventory into marketable formats | $35,000 |
| Zero Foodprint San Francisco, CA | Contribution to a small portfolio of perennial plantings for carbon accrual and ecological benefit in the Pacific Northwest region | $30,000 |
| Wild Wellspring Farm Boulder, CO | Perennial plantings for pollination and wind protection and a contribution towards crop zone fencing to manage elk pressure | $29,000 |
| Lineage Seeds Santa Fe, NM | Contribution to the purchase of a buried cistern to enhance irrigation efficiencies and distribution systems | $20,000 |
| Grama Grass and Livestock Boulder, CO | To support the hiring of an employee that increases the number of grazing-as-a-service partnerships | $20,000 |
| A Frame Farm Dawson, MN | To establish perennial plantings and ecological corridors on farmland as part of a Wilding pilot | $18,000 |
| Kilt Farms Boulder, CO | Contribution to a soil amendment program involving compost and trace mineral balancing | $15,571 |
| Joia Food Farm Charles City, IA | Contribution towards the purchase of additional mobile fencing and other mobile grazing equipment for holistic managed grazing practices | $14,410 |
| Nettle Valley Farm Spring Grove, MN | Contribution towards the purchase of additional mobile fencing and other mobile grazing equipment for holistic managed grazing practices | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,791,096 | $2,534,101 | $2,389,685 | $295,044 | 14 | $19,727 |
| 2023* | $835,677 | $4,172,494 | $4,332,716 | $73,519 | 6 | $800 |
| 2022 | $946,598 | $2,209,481 | $1,739,803 | $44,408 | Total only | $705 |
| 2020 | $452,539 | $1,177,777 | $829,617 | $1,250 | Total only | $17 |
*2023: Covers 23 months (fiscal year-end changed).
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mad Agriculture describes regenerative agriculture as an approach that restores soil health, increases biodiversity, and renews the ecological, cultural, and economic vitality of working lands. Its services include farm planning, livestock management, crop and soil health support, business planning, and farmer education.
The 2024 filing describes the Regenerative Catalyst Fund as providing financial and technical assistance for farmers implementing regenerative and organic practices. It says that in 2024 the program provided $391,896 across 37 projects affecting 122,799 acres. This participant assistance is distinct from the organization’s itemized grants to other recipients. The filing also describes support through Mad Lands, including business strategy, financial assistance, network connections, and access to regenerative experts.
The 2024 grants included support for farms and other organizations undertaking activities such as perennial plantings, managed grazing, soil amendments, irrigation improvements, and ecological restoration. One grantee, Zero Foodprint, describes its own mission as mobilizing the food world around agricultural climate solutions and creating a circular economy that incentivizes practices that draw down carbon dioxide. That is Zero Foodprint’s stated mission, not Mad Agriculture’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Mad Agriculture reported 14 grants totaling $295,044. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $77,729, with a median of $16,786. The largest listed awards were $77,729 to Fitzgerald Family Farms for perennial ecological zones and farm-management tracking; $35,000 to ZAFA WINES for operational support and bridge financing; $30,000 to Zero Foodprint for perennial plantings; and $29,000 to Wild Wellspring Farm for perennial plantings and crop-zone fencing.
Other listed recipients included Lineage Seeds ($20,000), Grama Grass and Livestock ($20,000), A Frame Farm ($18,000), KILT FARMS ($15,571), JOIA FOOD FARM ($14,410), Nettle Valley Farm ($10,000), Holly Hock Livestock ($8,139), and DRYLANDS AGROECOLOGY RESEARCH ($7,161).
Mad Agriculture’s National Bison Production & Marketing Grant is funded through a USDA program and supports on-ranch bison production. The stated program allocation is $1,120,000, with awards of up to $80,000 each, paired with up to three one-hour technical-assistance sessions. The application materials describe a two-step process: a letter of intent, followed by an invitation to submit a full application. They also specify SAM.gov registration. The published FY2026 cycle had a June 29, 2026 letter-of-intent deadline and an August 24, 2026 full-application deadline; both dates have passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Philip Taylor as Executive Director; Tanner Starbard as Chief of Operations and Finance; Haley Baron as Chief of Staff Development; Jane Cavagnero as Chief Marketing Officer; Elizabeth Candelario as Chief Strategy Officer; and Jonnah Perkins as Director of Media. It lists Mark Retzloff as Board Treasurer, Christina Owens as Board Clerk, and Robbie Vitrano as Board Chair.
Mad Agriculture is led by Philip Taylor, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Philip Taylor
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $183K (2024)
Robbie Vitrano
Board of Directors - Chair
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonnah Perkins
Director of Media
New on the 2024 filing
45 hrs/week
$111K (2024)
Tanner Starbard
Chief of Operations & Finance
Vice President - Operations Land Business → Chief of Operations Finance, 2023
Chief of Operations Finance → Chief of Operations & Finance, 2024
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$125K (2022) → $147K (2024)
Elizabeth Candelario
Chief Strategy Officer
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$113K (2023) → $118K (2024)
Haley Baron
Chief of Staff Development
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$129K (2023) → $139K (2024)
Jane Cavagnero
Chief Marketing Officer
New on the 2024 filing
45 hrs/week
$124K (2024)
Christina Owens
Board of Directors - Clerk
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Retzloff
Board of Directors - Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Alexander Heilman (2023) — Director of Supply & Trading
- Former: Elizabeth Ekeburg (2023) — Senior Trader
- Former: Brandon Welch (2022) — Director of Capital
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $183K, to Philip Taylor (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mad Agriculture
How much does Mad Agriculture give each year?
Mad Agriculture gave $295K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $74K across 6 grants. The 2023 filing year covers 23 months because its fiscal year-end changed.
What is Mad Agriculture's typical grant size?
Mad Agriculture's median grant in 2024 was $16,786, and its average grant was $21,075, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Mad Agriculture give grants?
Mad Agriculture's top state is Minnesota, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Colorado (28%) and Vermont (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (4 grants).
Does Mad Agriculture give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Mad Agriculture's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Mad Agriculture's largest grantees?
Mad Agriculture's largest 2024 grantees include Fitzgerald Family Farms ($77,729), Zafa Wines ($35,000) and Zero Foodprint ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mad Agriculture?
Mad Agriculture reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What does Mad Agriculture fund?
Mad Agriculture describes regenerative agriculture as an approach that restores soil health, increases biodiversity, and renews the ecological, cultural, and economic vitality of working lands. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mad Agriculture?
The published bison grant cycle required a letter of intent, with full applications by invitation; that FY2026 cycle is past. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mad Agriculture's EIN?
Mad Agriculture's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2223405. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Mad Agriculture funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mad Agriculture's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mad Agriculture funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mad-agriculture-morg_54448a564fb84c79b5b35060a5ca7429
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842223405_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mad Agriculture funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mad-agriculture-morg_54448a564fb84c79b5b35060a5ca7429},
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 Mad Agriculture'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.
Mad Agriculture down — hundreds of funders to go?