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John Deere Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.3M
Grant Range
$53K - $7.5M
Decision Time
3w

John Deere Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26,302,731 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $213 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $53,000 - $7,500,000
  • Median Grant: $122,000
  • Geographic Focus: U.S. communities where John Deere operates (IL, IA, GA, KS, LA, MO, NC, ND, TN, WI), plus international programs
  • Application Method: Invitation only (request invitation via email)

Contact Details

Address: One John Deere Place, Moline, IL 61265
Phone: 309-765-5256
General Inquiries: Brand@JohnDeere.com
FIRST Robotics Program: Inspire@JohnDeere.com
Website: https://www.deere.com/en/website/our-company/sustainability/grant-guidelines/

Overview

Established in 1948, the John Deere Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Deere & Company, supporting programs that address world hunger, advance education initiatives, and strengthen local communities. With $213 million in assets and annual giving of approximately $26.3 million, the foundation focuses its support on communities where John Deere maintains operations in the United States and internationally, including Canada, Europe, India, Brazil, and developing countries in Africa and Asia. In October 2023, the foundation made its three largest grants in history—totaling $19 million—to combat global hunger through partnerships with One Acre Fund ($7.5 million), The Nature Conservancy ($6.5 million), and World Food Program USA ($5 million). The foundation operates primarily on an invitation-only basis but encourages nonprofits working in their focus areas to request an invitation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

World Hunger Solutions

  • Grant Range: Up to $7.5 million (multi-year commitments)
  • Focus: Sustainable agricultural solutions, farmer training, value-chain enhancement, water access, food systems strengthening
  • Recent Examples: One Acre Fund ($7.5M/5 years), World Food Program USA ($5M), Feeding America ($6.6M/3 years), The Farmlink Project

Education Initiatives

  • Grant Range: Varies by program
  • Focus: K-12, higher education, out-of-school learning, agricultural career pathways, STEM education
  • Recent Examples: National FFA Organization ($3.9M/3 years), FIRST Robotics teams (850+ teams funded)
  • FIRST Robotics: Dedicated application through johndeerefirst.submittable.com; goal to serve 1 million underserved youth by 2030

Community Development

  • Grant Range: Varies
  • Focus: Economic development, community resiliency and safety, community relations activities, housing, food security
  • Geographic Priority: Communities with John Deere operations and employee presence
  • Recent Examples: Grow Quad Cities Fund, Renew Moline, Rock City Economic Growth Foundation

Employee Matching Gift Program

  • Matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000-$3,500 per employee annually
  • Volunteer grants ("Dollars for Doers"): $20 per volunteer hour up to budgeted amount
  • Eligible organizations: Nearly all 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Platform: Benevity's Power for Good

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes:

  • Sustainable solutions for world hunger and agricultural development in under-resourced communities
  • Inspiring, rewarding, and innovative educational experiences for youth and adults
  • Economic development and community safety initiatives
  • Support for farmers and agricultural communities globally
  • Programs in communities where John Deere maintains major operating units and employee presence
  • Natural climate solutions including forest restoration, conservation, and agroforestry

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Non-charitable organizations lacking formal tax-exempt or legal charitable status
  • Self-dealing arrangements that benefit John Deere directly
  • Grants directly to individuals or families
  • Political organizations or campaign activities
  • Religious organizations engaged in ministry or advocacy for specific religious worldviews (though faith-based organizations serving secular purposes may be considered)
  • Organizations that discriminate in operations or activities
  • Animal welfare or rights advocacy organizations
  • Any organization or activity deemed illegal, controversial, or otherwise incompatible with their mission

Governance and Leadership

The John Deere Foundation is a private foundation affiliated with Deere & Company. While specific board member names are not publicly disclosed in readily available databases, governance is closely tied to the corporation's leadership structure. The foundation has operated since 1948, building on a 75-year legacy of community engagement and strategic philanthropy that aligns with John Deere's business operations and employee presence.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Invitation-Only Process: The John Deere Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. However, nonprofits working in the foundation's areas of interest (world hunger, education, community development) may request an invitation to apply.

To Request an Invitation:

  • Email: Brand@JohnDeere.com
  • Include information about your organization's mission, programs, and alignment with foundation priorities
  • Organizations must have current IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Programs should be located in or serve communities where John Deere operates

FIRST Robotics Teams:

  • Public application process through johndeerefirst.submittable.com
  • Open to schools (public/private) or 501(c)(3) nonprofits in John Deere home communities or with confirmed John Deere employee mentor
  • Applications accepted for FIRST LEGO League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST Robotic Competition (FRC)
  • Important: Do not pay FIRST registration before applying, as this forfeits grant eligibility

Decision Timeline

  • FIRST Robotics Program: Approximately 3 weeks from submission to grant decision notification
  • General Foundation Grants: Quarterly board meetings (specific meeting dates not publicly disclosed)
  • No specific deadlines listed for general grant programs due to invitation-only process

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, available data indicates:

  • In 2023, the foundation made 4 major grants totaling $26.3 million
  • The foundation supported over 850 FIRST robotics teams in recent seasons
  • The giving rate represents 12.4% of total foundation assets

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Given the invitation-only structure and focus on multi-year partnerships (as evidenced by 3-5 year commitments to major grantees), the foundation appears to favor sustained relationships with organizations rather than one-time grants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and recent grant patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

Strategic Alignment with John Deere's Mission

  • The foundation explicitly states that grants to One Acre Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and World Food Program USA represent organizations "whose work aligns with John Deere's purpose of running so all may thrive and with the Foundation's strategic focus of ending hunger"
  • Connection to agriculture, farming communities, and food systems is particularly valuable

Geographic Relevance

  • Priority for communities where John Deere maintains operations and has employee presence
  • U.S. focus states: Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin
  • International programs in Canada (Ontario), Europe, India, Brazil, and developing countries in Africa and Asia

Measurable Impact and Scale

  • Recent major grants demonstrate preference for significant, quantifiable outcomes: One Acre Fund's grant will "support more than 750,000 farm families across sub-Saharan Africa over five years, unlocking nearly $65 million in new farmer profits and assets"
  • The foundation seeks programs with capacity for substantial community transformation

Multi-Year Partnership Potential

  • Recent announcements consistently mention 3-5 year commitments rather than one-time grants
  • The foundation values sustained partnerships that allow for deep impact

Alignment with Specific Focus Areas

  • World Hunger: Farmer training, sustainable agriculture, food systems, water access
  • Education: Youth leadership, agricultural careers, STEM, underserved populations
  • Community Development: Economic development, safety, community relations in John Deere operating areas

Connection to John Deere Employees

  • For FIRST Robotics, having a John Deere employee mentor improves eligibility
  • The foundation's matching gift program demonstrates commitment to employee-connected causes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Request an invitation proactively if your organization works in world hunger, education, or community development—don't wait to be discovered. Email Brand@JohnDeere.com with a compelling case for alignment.
  • Geographic connection matters: Demonstrate how your program serves communities where John Deere operates or has significant employee presence; this substantially increases relevance.
  • Think multi-year partnerships, not one-time grants: The foundation's recent major commitments are all 3-5 year partnerships; position your proposal as a sustained collaboration with measurable long-term outcomes.
  • Quantify impact: The foundation's announcements emphasize specific metrics (750,000 farm families, $65 million in farmer profits, 1 million youth by 2030); include concrete, ambitious goals.
  • Connect to agriculture and food systems: Even education and community development grants often tie back to agricultural communities, farmer support, or hunger relief—make these connections explicit.
  • Leverage the FIRST Robotics pathway: If you work with youth in STEM education, the FIRST program offers a more accessible application route with 3-week turnaround and has funded 850+ teams.
  • Consider the employee matching program: For smaller organizations, cultivating relationships with John Deere employees who can donate and volunteer may be more accessible than foundation grants.

References

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