In 1966, a farmer-owned co-operative,
formed a small foundation, the Agway Foundation, to benefit agriculture and the public good. The Foundation was organized as a trust and funded by contributions from Agway Inc. In September 2003, the Agway Foundation, Inc. was formed pursuant to Section 402 of the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. The Foundation was formed as a successor organization to the original trust. In May 2009 the organization was renamed the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”). It will function as a private foundation to promote the development of agricultural leadership and a better understanding of agriculture and agricultural-related activities within the Northeastern United States (States of MA, ME, MD, NJ, NY, PA, NH, RI, VT, and CT).
The Foundation will provide financial support to organizations which are recognized as qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, accept any gifts, contributions, grants and donations which are deemed appropriate by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and conduct any and all lawful activities which may be necessary or useful.
The primary goal of the Foundation is to support education and leadership training organizations dedicated to serving the interests of farmers and rural communities in the Northeast. The Foundation anticipates making about 25 – 30 grants each year generally ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per grant.
The Foundation will only make grants to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose activities and programs meet the Foundation’s philanthropic priority areas.
Subject to the additional restrictions imposed on private foundations under the Internal Revenue Service, Foundation funds will not be used to support: individuals, political, religious or labor organizations; memberships in professional societies or trade associations; or the general operating funds of health care facilities.
No grants are made to individuals or for-profit organizations and no loans are made. The Foundation does not fund recurring operating costs unless it is for programmatic start-up. The Foundation will not fund indirect (overhead) costs associated with sponsored projects.
Contributions will be focused geographically primarily in the northeastern United States. Programs or projects are expected to be primarily statewide or larger activities.
The Foundation will support organizations whose activities either promote agricultural leadership development, help foster a better understanding of agriculture and/or our food production system, or improve the quality of life for farmers. Of particular interest to the Foundation are those organizations that: 1) provide agricultural leadership training; 2) provide education about agriculture; 3) educate citizens, especially youth, about how food is produced and processed; or 4) promote farm safety awareness, especially those which educate and train farmers and their families.
