Rural Advancement Foundation Internation
Rural Advancement Foundation International — USA (RAFI) is a public charity based in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1990, it works to challenge unjust food systems through practical services for farmers and policy advocacy, with grant programs supporting farm viability, sustainable practices, and resilience.
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation at a glance
In short: Rural Advancement Foundation Internation gave $820K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), top state Puerto Rico. 83% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $820,065
- +54.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- +53.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,071
- +0.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $7,152,240
- +76.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 83% first-time grantees (35 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Puerto Rico (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rural Advancement Foundation Internation
- How to Apply
-
For the described farmer-grant process, applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the application.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 640, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-1396
Website: https://rafiusa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Rural Advancement Foundation Internation
Who Rural Advancement Foundation Internation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alliance for Agriculture ($245K). Together the top 10 received $565K.
Grant Size Distribution
171 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 171 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RAFI’s website describes its grantmaking as serving the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean islands. Its Southeast infrastructure and beginning farmer programs list Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Its Caribbean infrastructure program serves Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Agricultural Reinvestment Fund is focused on North Carolina.
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state or territory went to Puerto Rico (38%), North Carolina (20%), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (13%), followed by Missouri (5%) and Louisiana (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rural Advancement Foundation Internation open to new grantees?
83%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 35 of 42 grantees (83%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $22K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $116K (2019) to $820K (2025). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $820K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Agriculture Orocovis, PR | Provide Land, Capital, and Market Support to Farmers | $245,085 |
| Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition Inc Kingshill, VI | Provide Land, Capital, and Market Support to Farmers | $106,639 |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Kansas City, MO | Collect stories from farmers and those working in the food system | $44,107 |
| La Cosecha CSA Albuquerque, NM | Collect stories from farmers and those working in the food system | $32,456 |
| Fiticas El Fideicomiso De Tierras Comunitarias Para La Agricultura Sostenib San Juan, PR | Provide Land, Capital, and Market Support to Farmers | $26,558 |
| Farmer Veteran Coalition Waco, TX | Building Community-Based Solutions to Farm Stress | $23,178 |
| Fundacion Bucarabon Inc Maricao, PR | Provide Land, Capital, and Market Support to Farmers | $22,500 |
| Fountain Heights Cooperative LLC Birmingham, AL | Expand Delivery of Conservation Resources to Underserved Farmers | $22,015 |
| Muse 3 Farm LLC Greensburg, LA | Expand Delivery of Conservation Resources to Underserved Farmers | $21,780 |
| Winrock Intl Inst for Ag Dev Little Rock, AR | Building Community-Based Solutions to Farm Stress | $16,352 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,152,240 | $7,952,661 | $4,698,209 | $820,065 | 43 | $919,101 |
| 2024 | $4,051,492 | $4,083,827 | $4,477,350 | $530,155 | 28 | $20,733 |
| 2023 | $4,304,276 | $3,757,229 | $3,436,169 | $309,685 | 28 | $20,099 |
| 2022 | $3,981,024 | $2,420,873 | $3,184,221 | $359,494 | 24 | $1,528 |
| 2021 | $4,598,497 | $3,762,737 | $2,639,423 | $448,577 | 48 | $163 |
| 2020 | $3,465,272 | $2,535,166 | $2,369,109 | $191,165 | 16 | $945 |
| 2019 | $3,273,442 | $2,336,612 | $2,166,249 | $116,168 | 12 | $1,026 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RAFI’s mission is to challenge the root causes of unjust food systems and support and advocate for economically, racially, and ecologically just farm communities. Its stated program work includes farm sustainability services, farm advocacy, support for the Farmers of Color Network, and policy development and advocacy.
In 2025, listed grant purposes included providing land, capital, and market support to farmers; expanding conservation resources for underserved farmers; collecting stories from farmers and people working in the food system; and building community-based responses to farm stress. Among the recipients, Alliance for Agriculture said its mission is to strengthen Puerto Rico’s agricultural sector in ways that support resilient communities and respect soil, air, and water. Florida Certified Organic Growers said it supports and promotes organic, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture. Other recipients included a community foundation, a farmer-veteran organization, and a Puerto Rican organization whose stated mission is to advance the economic and social empowerment of women and girls.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, RAFI reported 43 grants totaling $820,065. Grant amounts ranged from $4,250 to $245,085, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $245,085 to Alliance for Agriculture in Puerto Rico and $106,639 to Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, both for land, capital, and market support to farmers. Other notable awards were $44,107 to Greater Kansas City Community Foundation for collecting stories from farmers and food-system workers; $32,456 to La Cosecha CSA for the same purpose; and $23,178 to Farmer Veteran Coalition for community-based solutions to farm stress.
RAFI’s website describes a competitive process for its farmer grants: applicants first complete an eligibility quiz, then eligible applicants receive access to an application. The application process calls for a grant form, a quote, and a reference’s contact information; complete and eligible applications are reviewed by an external committee of farmers and farm experts. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for the listed Southeast and Caribbean infrastructure grants or the Southeast beginning farmer stipend. The website’s 2026 farmer-grant cycles are closed, and their listed 2026 deadlines have passed. The Agricultural Reinvestment Fund is described as currently open, but the provided program information does not specify its application steps or deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kavita Koppa and Edna Rodriguez as co-executive directors. It lists Claire Kelloway as chair and treasurer, Lacey Brown as board vice chair, Daramonifah Cooper as a board member, Jarred White as member-at-large and staff representative, and Kelly Marchand as non-voting secretary. The filing also lists Ivette Ruiz, Norysell Massanett, and Jehyra M. Asencio Yace as board members who resigned in 2025.
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation is led by Edna Rodriguez, Co-Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edna Rodriguez
Co-Executive Director
Executive Director → Co-Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$94K (2019) → $383K (2025)
Kavita Koppa
Co-Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$99K (2025)
Claire Kelloway
Chair & Treasurer
Board Treasurer → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Chair & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jarred White
Member At-Large & Staff Representative
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$61K (2024) → $65K (2025)
Kelly Marchand
Secretary - Non-Voting
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$70K (2025)
Daramonifah Cooper
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norysell Massanett
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivette Ruiz
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lacey Brown
Board Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jehyra M. Asencio Yace
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Lisa Misch (2020–2024) — Member At-Large & Staff Representative
- Former: Helga Garza (2021–2024) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Maria Dominique Villanueva (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Michelle Osborne Mo Murrie (2023–2024) — Secretary - Non-Voting
- Former: Sarah Sohn (2023–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Ray Jeffers (2024) — Member At-Large & Staff Representative
- Former: Jerry Dewitt (2019–2023) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Phoebe Gooding (2022–2023) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: David Pflugfelder (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Justine Post (2023) — Member At-Large & Staff Re
- Former: Archie L. Hart (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Elijah Brunson (2019–2022) — Board President
- Former: Ben Miller (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lariza Garzon (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Beverly Bowen (2021–2022) — Board Vice President
- Former: Michelle Osborne (2021–2022) — Member At-Large & Staff Re
- Former: Phillip Farland (2019–2021) — Board Vice President
- Former: Clif Slade (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Shirley Sherrod (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Alex Hitt (2019) — President
- Former: Kelli Dale (2019) — Staff Representative
- Former: Mary K. Hendrickson (2019) — Director
- Former: Sally Lee (2019) — Associate 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $383K, to Edna Rodriguez (Co-Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rural Advancement Foundation Internation
How much does Rural Advancement Foundation Internation give each year?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation gave $820K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $530K across 28 grants.
What is Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's typical grant size?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,071, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rural Advancement Foundation Internation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Rural Advancement Foundation Internation give grants?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's top state is Puerto Rico, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were North Carolina (20%) and U.S. Virgin Islands (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greensburg, LA (2 grants) and Zionville, NC (2 grants).
Does Rural Advancement Foundation Internation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Assist Farmers Rebuilding from Hurricane Damage" (8 grants), "Provide Land, Capital, and Market Support to Farmers" (5 grants) and "To Assist Faith Community's Hunger Relief Services" (3 grants).
Who are Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's largest grantees?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's largest 2025 grantees include Alliance for Agriculture ($245,085), Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition Inc ($106,639) and Greater Kansas City Community Foundation ($44,107), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rural Advancement Foundation Internation?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.0M.
What does Rural Advancement Foundation Internation fund?
RAFI’s mission is to challenge the root causes of unjust food systems and support and advocate for economically, racially, and ecologically just farm communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rural Advancement Foundation Internation?
For the described farmer-grant process, applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's EIN?
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1704863. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rural Advancement Foundation Internation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rural Advancement Foundation Internation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rural-advancement-foundation-internation-morg_dc9d12811af84595881260a64ad60fdb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561704863_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rural Advancement Foundation Internation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rural-advancement-foundation-internation-morg_dc9d12811af84595881260a64ad60fdb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 Rural Advancement Foundation Internation'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.
Rural Advancement Foundation Internation down — hundreds of funders to go?