The Growmark Foundation
The Growmark Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation and corporate-sponsored grantmaking organization based in Bloomington, Illinois. Established in 2001, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation is affiliated with GROWMARK, Inc., a major agricultural cooperative.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-18.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$855K
-65.9% YoY
Grant Count
188
+4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-67.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Growmark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports food banks and organizations involved with:
- Higher education
- Plant conservation
- Health
- Agriculture
The foundation's work aligns with GROWMARK's core values of agricultural and consumer education, environmental stewardship, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 154 grants in 2024, with total giving of $854,906. Notable recent grants include:
Review Cycle
. Scholarship programs are open to students pursuing agricultural education across multiple states including Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Ohio.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states, with particular emphasis on the Midwest region including Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,185,826 |
| Total Revenue | $133,351 |
| Total Expenses | $869,134 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $117,726 |
| Total Giving | $854,906 |
The foundation's expenses exceeded revenue in 2024, with a net loss of $735,783, reflecting significant grant distributions from accumulated assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,185,826 | $3,930,630 | $6,175,344 |
| Revenue | $133,351 | $269,277 | $4,114,733 |
| Expenses | $869,134 | $2,522,778 | $1,296,076 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $854,906 | $2,505,692 | $906,843 |
| Net Investment Income | $105,430 | $130,829 | $95,744 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,119 | $18,841 | $61,654 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Agriculture Future of America ($55,000), Coop Devel Foundation of Canada ($10,000), Farm Rescue ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABEL SPEAKS PLANO, TX | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $150 |
| AGRIBUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF IOWA DES MOINES, IA | FOR SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| AGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA KANSAS CITY, MO | FOR SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $55,000 |
| ALSACST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH MEMPHIS, TN | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $50 |
| AlzheimerS Association CHICAGO, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $50 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAGERSTOWN, MD | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $200 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS BOONE, IA | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $200 |
| American Red Cross Heartland BLOOMINGTON, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $50 |
| ANDREW VOLUNTEER FIREMAN INC CLINTON, IA | FOR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $50 |
| ASHLAND UNIVERSITY ASHLAND, OH | FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a board of directors:
- Bradley Drake, Director
- Karmy Kays, Director
- Matthew Lurkins, Director
- Jeff Lynch, Director
- Mark Weilbacher, Director
- Mark Orr, Director
- Ashley McClintock, Director
- Mark Hansen, Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Drake | Director | — | — |
| Karmy Kays | Director | — | — |
| Matthew Lurkins | Director | — | — |
| Jeff Lynch | Director | — | — |
| Mark Weilbacher | Director | — | — |
| Mark Orr | Director | — | — |
| Ashley McClintock | Director | — | — |
| Mark Hansen | Secretary | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation reached a milestone of $1 million in cumulative donations to Midwest Food Bank as of late 2024
Growmark reaches $1M in donations to Midwest Food Bank2026 scholarship applications are open for students pursuing agricultural education
2026 GROWMARK Foundation Scholarship Applications Now Open - GROWMARK, Inc.The foundation continues to support youth and young farmer development programs through various educational initiatives
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Growmark Foundation fund?
The foundation supports food banks and organizations involved with: • Higher education • Plant conservation • Health • Agriculture The foundation's work aligns with GROWMARK's core values of agricultural and consumer education, environmental stewardship, and leadership development.
How do I apply for a grant from The Growmark Foundation?
The foundation made 154 grants in 2024, with total giving of $854,906. Notable recent grants include: • **University of Illinois Foundation** — $57,500 for student scholarships • **Agriculture Future of America** — $55,000 for support of agricultural activities • **Midwest Food Bank NFP** — $50,400 for support of community charitable activities GROWMARK has provided $1 million in total financial support to Midwest Food Bank since 2007, demonstrating sustained commitment to food security initiat…
Where does The Growmark Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states, with particular emphasis on the Midwest region including Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Ohio.
What size grants does The Growmark Foundation award?
In 2024, The Growmark Foundation awarded 188 grants totaling $855K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Growmark Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Growmark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Growmark Foundation's EIN?
The Growmark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1401632. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Growmark Foundation'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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