Several years ago, someone I know asked me for recommendations for end of year donations that had to do with farm, food, and the environment. They were hopeful that I could give recommendations for worthy organizations with ties to Iowa. I am fortunate to have some insight on this, but I don't pretend to know everything, nor do I have full knowledge of every organization in the state. I can only share what I know (and what I think of as I write) - so here we are.
If you have information about other worthy organizations, you can feel free to share them with me - then we'll be even!
Once again, I want to remind us all to be patient while the organizations we support inundate us with requests for donations. Don't take your name off of their mailing lists in disgust. Instead, watch more carefully for the other things they ask you to do and the resources they provide. Use those metrics, among others, to determine to whom you are willing to provide support. Then, if you don't like what you see as you check out their work, take your name off of the list. For now, exercise patience and grace as they all do what they need to in order to secure funding.
I speak now, with four years of experience working for the Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network. I can’t tell you how painfully aware members of the Communications Team (of which I am a part) are when it comes to asking people like you for money. I CAN tell you that we, at least, have been trying to modify the way we ask by also showing you some of our work at (or near) the same time.
Just remember, many of these organizations exist because you and I don't have the space in our lives to do things like look out for the environment as a whole or provide a food resource for those who need it or - pick your topic that really speaks to you. They put people on salary so those people can focus their working hours on trying to make these good things happen. But, if they don't have the money, they can't have the people. If they don't have the money, they can't provide the food. If the don't have the money, they can't monitor legislation and inform you when something important is happening
And, hey... if you don't like being told WHEN you should give, then take matters into your own hands. Make a budget and a schedule for your giving and send the money on your own terms. Then you can blithely ignore the additional requests for money while paying attention to the requests to help make change happen.
Things like this action to get rid of the dangerous pesticide paraquat.
Let’s get the direct plug out of the way first!
Before I get too far, let me send out a plug for the place I work - Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network. The Charity Navigator rating for PAN is now 95 - a number that has gone up each of the past four years. They must have heard I work there. Or maybe they have YET to hear that I work there. Take it how you will.
PAN is involved in many efforts to counter bad pesticide laws and regulations and to promote agroecology. Recently, one of the national-level court cases we were involved in resulted in a win for the good guys (yes, I mean PAN - and you and me). We’re also involved in global work as well as efforts on the local level (including Iowa). I suspect you’ll be hearing more here about our efforts to block a bill in Iowa that would give multi-national pesticide companies immunity from lawsuits in our state.
This Year's Recommendations
Our focus with these recommendations are organizations that promote the health of our environment - whether it is by encouraging/discouraging particular farming practices or supporting wild areas in the state. The focus is environment, food and farming - because that's what I know most about. I won’t presume to tell you about things for which I have no personal knowledge.
I took a moment and checked our recommendations out on Charity Navigator, which does not have complete ratings for every organization, especially if they are smaller. We encourage you to look beyond the number ratings to see what the rating is based on. You can decide what, if anything, in these ratings matter to you.
What we can say is that, in our opinion, all of these organizations would be worthy of your attention. Read on for some of our opinions and experiences regarding each.
This list is provided in no particular order.
Charity Navigator - N/A (but National Farmers Union is 81)
IFU has been a force for pushing alternative policy approaches in a state that does not seem to want to listen to ideas from sources other than corporate agriculture. IFU has pushed back against the process of farm consolidation, which results in larger farms. You may notice that IFU has taken a stand to stop pesticide drift, reduce agricultural runoff into our waterways and encourage diverse farmscapes.
The people at IFU have the energy to push for policy change and they need support to maintain that energy and make some progress. I have participated in the legislature lobby days, giving briefings to the attendees on issues such as pesticide drift. Just this past weekend, I presented with another person on the pesticide immunity bill at the IFU Annual Convention.
I continue to appreciate the heart and tenacity of the people that make IFU work. If you want a farming organization that will openly provide an alternative lobbying force to all of the groups financed and supported by Big AG - this is the group in Iowa you want to support.
Charity Navigator - N/A
The Iowa Organic Association is a smaller organization that has been around longer than you think - yet its impact is being felt more and more in recent years. One of its biggest contributions has been various workshops to help farmers figure out how they can transition to organic production.
Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I was on the IOA Board several years ago. At that time, the organization was struggling. But, that iteration of the board brought new energy that led to the hire of quality staff. While I left the board once the Exec Director was hired, I still have a sense of pride in the strength IOA has shown since that time.
If we can find ways to encourage more farmers in row cropping systems to adopt organic practices, we can make a big difference in our environment.
Charity Navigator - 94
Here’s another organization that has seen significant improvement on its Charity Navigator rating over the past few years. Often, these changes reflect adaptation to current circumstances. Just like people, organizations also reach points where they have to do some self-assessment and make changes.
If open pollinated seed access and preservation are important to you, then Seed Savers should be an organization you consider supporting. SSE maintains some beautiful land in northeast Iowa, sustainably managing natural areas as well as a heritage orchard, seed production gardens and display gardens.
Our farm has relied heavily on a number of heritage and heirloom seed varieties sold by SSE for our vegetable production over the years. If you love Black Krim tomatoes, Thelma Sanders Acorn Squash or Grandpa Admire's Lettuce, you can thank Seed Savers for making them available to farms like ours and gardeners like yourself (if you garden). Our farm has pushed back against the increased reliance on F-1 hybrid seeds by trying to use open pollinated varieties whenever we are able to - we support Seed Savers mission, in part, by simply working to grow and sell those varieties rather than relying on an increasingly small number of seed producers. We have also grown out a couple of pepper seed varieties for SSE in recent years.
Diversity in seed is important.
Charity Navigator - 100
If there is something that is near to our heart - it’s addressing hunger in our communities.
As growers of food, Tammy and I are often acutely aware of the fact that there are many people in our area that are "food insecure." Because we raise quality food products, we have regularly made contributions of food and money to the food bank. We are honored to have been able to provide everything from broccoli to eggs to the food bank and the affiliated food pantry in Waverly.
Tammy has also worked multiple times with Northeast Iowa Food Bank on various projects. Her research classes have frequently designed, implemented and analyzed the results of surveys to help assess some of the services offered by NEIFB. Some of you might even recall that Tammy was involved in the initial processes that brought about the Waverly Community Gardens, including the efforts led each year by Ron Lenthe to grow food that goes to the food bank.
All in all, it has been a privilege to witness the positive steps NEIFB have made over the years. And - check out that Charity Navigator rating! It’s always been pretty high, but this is pretty amazing.
Scattergood Friends School (and Farm)
Charity Navigator - 76
This recommendation may seem a bit out of place if we are talking about environmental issues, but this is where our personal connection gives us an inside scoop to understand what the non-profit does. We have friends who teach at the school and run the farm that is attached to the school. We are aware of how the school uses its farm and surrounding natural areas to educate young people with hands-on experiences. Exposing young people to nature and to how food is grown (they raise vegetables and meats for consumption at the school) is an excellent way to make a difference in how we care for our world now and how we prepare to care for it in future generations.
Charity Navigator - 97
If you have read our blogs over the years, then you have heard about Practical Farmers of Iowa. PFI supports on-farm research, which encourages farmers of all types (row crop, grazing, orchards, horticulture) to 'stay curious' about farming and continue to look for better ways to do things, rather than simply accept what agribusiness tells us to do. Our farm has participated in several research projects and we have held multiple field days for PFI.
PFI strongly supports the increased use of cover crops to reduce erosion, supply fertility, suppress weeds and provide alternatives to current agricultural processes. It was PFI who helped create videos on pesticide drift and resources for those who have been drifted on. Spoiler alert, you might recognize one of the two farmers featured in those videos. Just this past year, I was involved in creating a new webinar on how to deal with pesticide drift and I will be presenting again at their annual conference in January.
Charity Navigator - 100
The Xerces Society is a national organization that has had a strong presence in Minnesota and has also had some good connections to Iowa. Once again, you can let them know how much you appreciate their attention to a state, such as Iowa, by pointing out how much we need help maintaining our pollinator and invertebrate populations.
Xerces is my "go to" resource when I need to learn more about pollinators and pollinator habitats. In fact, we hosted a field day with Xerces and Practical Farmers of Iowa in 2016. Xerces has also helped other farmers (not just veggie farmers) install pollinator strips, beetle banks and other habitat areas. Our pollinators need support now and Xerces is a key organization.
Over the past several years, I have worked (with my PAN hat firmly in place) with Xerces staff as part of a Herbicide Working Group that has met with the EPA to alert them to the continued hazards of dicamba products - one of the primary reasons that Iowa's Oak trees are struggling (among other things - but that's for another day). The good news? PAN was involved in a court case that revoked that registration - and for the first time in years our tomato crops reached production levels equal to what we saw BEFORE the dicamba registration was allowed!
Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center
Charity Navigator - 100
Rodale is synonymous with organic. We have at least two Rodale books that have been in our reference library from day one at the Genuine Faux Farm. While Rodale is centered on the East coast, they recently (in the past four or five years) opened their Midwest Organic Center in Marion, Iowa.
In my opinion, it is important that organizations such as Rodale, PAN and Xerces put a focus in a state such as Iowa. Why? Well, Iowa may be one of the most unfriendly states (in general) for their efforts with the overwhelming strength of corporate agriculture in opposition to their goals. The strength of these larger organizations are needed if we want to make headway. If you decide to donate to Rodale, please tell them that you support their center in Marion.
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Charity Navigator - 97
Here is an organization that works on preserving natural areas in Iowa by supporting the process for lands to be protected by easements. I have been a supporter of INHF from the time I took my first job in Cedar Rapids until the present day. I have watched their efforts as they have helped to preserve the Loess hills in western Iowa and set aside larger contiguous pieces of land in the Upper Iowa River Valley (among others).
I won't pretend to be perfectly knowledgeable about such things, but I suspect we would have even fewer natural areas in this state if INHF didn't exist. Oh, and some of the beautiful photography on their magazine is quite worthwhile.
Charity Navigator - 96
The Iowa Environmental Council is another organization with which I have some personal connection. Some of IEC's work helped us through the process of putting solar panels on our own farm by connecting us with a site evaluator.
If you are concerned about the health of Iowa's land and waterways, support renewable energy and want to take action to respond to climate change, IEC is a good place to look. IEC is a policy oriented organization, looking to advocate for changes at the governmental level to support renewable energy, clean water and land stewardship. So, if you are looking for legislative change, this is one you should consider.
Just last week, IEC was among the groups that was part of a legislative briefing I participated in. We were briefing legislators on the dangerous pesticide immunity bill - and I think we had a successful event.
I hope you found this review worthwhile to read and I hope you found some of the information useful. Tammy and I are both happy to support each of these organizations as we are able throughout the year. We are also pleased to support other organizations, such as Cedar Valley Friends of the Family. We also have traditionally supported Iowa Public Radio and Iowa Public Television because we value the services of balanced new reporting and educational television. I, in particular, remain grateful for the free access to resources from public television when I was growing up.
Don't get us wrong - we aren't trying to say we are key supporters for any of these organizations, we don't have that much money or influence. And we are definitely NOT saying we are better than anyone else. What we are saying is that if you were asking our opinions (and someone did), this is where much (but not all) of our money and support flows when we are able to give it.
Have a great day and thank you for lending your support to others in whatever way you are able. Kind words mean something. Careful and thoughtful actions are important. And, when you can, donating resources (time, money, etc) is also important. When we care and put effort into HOW we care, we help make this world a better place.
Thanks, Rob, for encouraging us to support others working for common-sense land and water practices, as well as recommending some specific organizations doing this good work. It is encouraging to know that we're not in this alone -- there are many others who think similarly and are working hard to accomplish these worthy goals.
I'm from Illinois, but I do appreciate the Iowa perspective on donations! I have been a long time supporter of the Xerces Society, which I was glad to see included. There are some excellent writers in Iowa that I have been following lately after first reading Art Cullen and Chris Jones, through the Iowa Writers Collaborative:
https://iowawriters.substack.com/about