The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation is one of 11 groups dedicated to agriculture education, youth and leadership in Illinois that received funding for FY 2013 from 1st Farm Credit Services through their Donor Advised Fund. The fund is administered by the IAA Foundation.
A total of $102,000 was distributed on April 22nd from the fund, which ensures a long-term financial commitment from 1st Farm Credit Services. To date, more than $262,000 has been distributed from the fund.
The following organizations received funds for 2013:
- Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation – for leadership development
- University of Illinois – for education through the Department of Agriculture
- Illinois State University – for education through the Department of Agriculture
- Western Illinois University – for education through the Department of Agriculture
- Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom – for enhancing student & teacher ag literacy
- Illinois FFA – for education and leadership development
- Illinois 4-H – for education and leadership development
- AgrAbility Unlimited – for farm safety education and accessibility assistance
- Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation – for engaging urban youth in ag education experiences
- Annie’s Project – for empowering farm women to be better business partners through education networks
- Illinois Agri-Women: Women Changing the Face of Agriculture – for leadership development.
This is the first time a donation has been made to Illinois Agri-Women: Women Changing the Face of Agriculture from the fund.
“The impact of this fund, and the donations from it, has far exceeded our expectations,” said Steve Cowser, 1st Farm Credit Services Board of Directors Chairperson. “We continue to see the impact of this donation year after year, which allows us to have a great impact on the future of agriculture.”
“1st Farm Credit Services is a true partner in our mission to develop knowledgeable and effective leaders for agriculture,” noted IALF President & CEO Don Norton. “The organizations represented by their philanthropy provide an excellent example of how agriculture cares for and nurtures its future leaders.”
In December 2010, 1st Farm Credit Services established a Donor Advised Fund through the IAA Foundation with an initial investment of $ 1 million to be distributed for a number of years into the future. In 2012, an additional $250,000 was added to the fund. The donation is the single largest contribution to the IAA Foundation and helped establish its largest Donor Advised Fund managed through Country Trust Bank.
