We believe rural communities, family farms and local businesses are national treasures that provide the foundation upon which our nation was built. Thank you for your generous support in our mission to ensure a strong and vibrant future for this American treasure.
Thank you 2025 donors
We couldn’t do it without you!
This list reflects funders of the Center for Rural Affairs and its subsidiaries from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Thank you for your support.
Granary Foundation donors
The Granary Foundation is the Center’s endowment fund. Gifts to the Granary are invested and the income is used to support the Center’s mission. Please contact us if you would like to discuss making a gift to the Granary Foundation or would like to include the Center in your estate plan.
- John & Susan Arens
- Elsberg Family Foundation Fund
- Jane & Loren Yule
Center for Rural Affairs Donors
We’re pleased to honor our 2025 donors. Your generosity and dedication empower the Center’s work to build a vibrant, welcoming, and just rural America.
(*) indicates members of our Evergreen Society, who have committed to monthly or quarterly gifts.
(+) indicates matching donors, who provided special gifts that inspire donors throughout our fundraising drives.
$1,000 and greater
- Academy of our Lady of Lourdes of Rochester
- Nicholas, Century, Willow & Jessi Bergin*
- Mike & Lori Bride*
- Paul Conway
- Dennis & Ruth Demmel+
- Brian Depew*
- Barbara Dilly*+
- Otto & Barbara Doering
- Dee Ebel
- Claryce Evans+
- Melissa Florell*+
- Barbara Francisco
- William & Meg Furlong+
- Connie Gompert
- Caitlin Gustafson
- C. Heider & P. Czisny Charitable Fund
- Doug Hillmer
- Bradley Hinton
- Keith Johnson
- Larry Kramer
- Pat Kubly
- Sheila Leete
- Kent Lewandowski
- James & Cynthia Mohl
- Paul Neukirch+
- Helen & Robert Nichols
- Paul Olson
- Alan Perish Estate
- Debbie Petersen
- Don & Barbara Reeves
- Dan & Marge Schlitt
- Mary Jo & Lester Schmerr
- Carol & Joe Schmieding
- Charles & Joan Shapiro
- Jim Tikalsky
- Stephen Tiwald & Karen Hutt
- Ruth Tonachel
- Katie Weitz, PhD & Tim Wilson+
- Mark & Margaret Yackel-Juleen
- Stan Yogi & David Carroll
- Jane & Loren Yule*+
- 2 Anonymous donors
$250 to $999
- Valerian J. Ahles & Christine Iverson
- Clyde & Mary Anna Anderson
- Robert & Joann Barry
- Ann Beckenhauer & George Wimmer
- Richard Benning
- Nadine & Michael Bergin
- George & Anne Bird
- Mary Blackmore
- Peg Bouska
- Jessica Caban*
- Steven & Lynn Carnes*
- Ralph & Madeline Copenhaver Designated Fund
- Sam Cordes & Trish Brown
- Diane Curran & Ferd Hoefner
- Carol Deardorff
- Ronald & Joan Ellermeier
- Alvin Eshe*
- Cynthia Farmer*
- Janaki Fisher-Merritt
- Wyatt & Jeanie Fraas*
- Charles & Barbara Francis
- Deb & Tom Frank
- Lisa & Jim French
- Rebecca Gould*
- Dan & Norma Green
- Mark Gustafson & Dianne Travers Gustafson
- Hawley Hamlet Neighborhood Garden, Inc
- Hertneky Farms LLC
- Roger Hill
- Catharine Huddle
- Deborah Jacobs
- Vern & Delores Jantzen
- Royce & Carol Janzen
- Anne Jenkins
- Claude & Linda Jensen
- Ron J. Johnson & Mary Beck
- Kylie & Brenn Kai*
- Charles & Margaret Karpf+
- Barbara Klubal & Jan Svec
- Cleo Kottwitz
- Barb Kudera
- Bob Kuzelka*
- Ross & Carole Larson+
- Lila Laux
- G. Wade Leak & Jay Yost
- Joe Lesiak & Charisse Hutton
- Mark & Susan Liebig*
- Matt Liebman & Laura Merrick
- Marvin Liewer
- Jillian Linster*
- Audrey Lutz Musilek+
- Charles Manlove
- Donald & Gail Marti
- Robin Matthews
- Alexandra McClanahan Shively
- Mark & Susan McConnell
- William McDonald
- Amanda & Patrick McKinney*
- Marisela & Josue Mendez
- Phil & Dixie Menke*
- Nancy & Alan Meyer*+
- Janece & Wayne Mollhoff*
- Dan Morgan
- Arland Mozer
- Cheryl Mugno & William Trompeter
- John & Pat Muntz
- Doug Nopar
- Ann Nore
- Daniel Padilla*
- Krista Peeks Dittman*+
- Bill Pratt
- Kim & Trevor Preston*
- Karen Rathje
- Beverly Rehm
- Sandra Renner*
- Catherine & Jamie Renshaw*
- Marvin & Sheila Schmidt
- Lucia Schulz*
- Lynette Seigley
- Ben & Marj Shomshor
- Eve Ann Shwartz & Harmon Hoff
- Richard & Diana Sloan
- John Snyder
- Deborah Solie*
- Dave & Lindy Staub
- Jim Steffen
- Joe Stehlik
- Paul & Mary Jo Swanson
- T & M Inc.
- Lee Tesdell+
- Janice & Richard Tiggelaar
- Sharon Tinker
- Jeff Tracy
- Anne Vidaver
- Judy Vohland
- Michael & Barbara Wahler
- Scott Walters*
- Wendy Wasserman
- Dave & Deb Welsch
- Roger Wess
- Angela Winkler
- John Woolsey
- Edith & Robert Zahniser
- 1 Anonymous donor
$1 to $249
- Paul Ackley
- Cynthia Aguilar
- Dr. Ahmad Al-Absy
- Mary Allen
- Valerie Ankeny*
- Clinton & Cecilia Antholz
- Beverly & David Armstrong
- Kenneth Baer
- Pam Baker
- Mark & Melanie Bannister
- Jim & Carol Barr
- Leverne & Nancy Barrett+
- John Barrier
- Richard Baumert
- Mel & Mary Ann Beckman
- Neal Beets
- Allan & Joan Benjamin
- Thomas Bielen
- Rhoda Bjelland
- Laurine Blankenau*
- Ross Blount
- Patrick Bosold
- Carol Bouska
- Robert & Kate Brooke
- Cheryl Brown
- Tony & Patty Brown
- Sara Brubacher
- Lin Brummels
- William Bryan
- Marvin Bryant
- John Buckstead & Pat Stolfa
- Wayne Bueltel
- Jean Burkhardt
- Linda & Joe Butkus
- Janet Carlson
- Jonah Carlson
- Jerry & Karen Carolan
- Central City Area Chamber of Commerce
- Graham Christensen
- Debra Christian
- Nils Christoffersen
- Elizabeth Clark
- Erik Cleveland, Jr.
- Kenneth Cookson
- David Corbin
- Dr. Ron Cox
- Mary Anne Cunningham
- Tricia & Brook Darnell*
- Joan Davidson
- Alex Delworth*
- Tim & Angie Delworth
- Jerry Depew & Dorothy Lamberti
- Anne DeVries*
- James Dickson
- Jack Dill*
- Terry Dittmer
- Donna & Gus Dornbusch
- Don Doumakes*
- Roxanne & Mark Draper
- Gayle Duda
- Vickie Dunn
- Margaret Dyson-Cobb*
- Carroll Ebner
- Jonathan Eckman*
- Peggy & Ronald Egertsen
- Chris & Carol Eisenbeis
- Shannon Engberg
- Carl & Debbie Engstrom
- Mark Epp & Cathy Wismer-Epp
- Mike Ewanciw
- Hildy Feen
- David Ferneau
- Merlin & Marcia Fick
- Rebecca Firestone
- Aaron Fischbach
- Julie Fischer
- Linda Fitzgerald
- Leonard & Sandy Fleischer
- Jennifer Frank*
- Susan Frembgen
- Rita Friesen
- Jerry & Kathleen Fullerton
- Patricia Funk
- Tom & Rebecca Furlong
- Stephanie Furrer
- Gene Gage
- Kathy Gaines
- John Geddie
- Mark M. Giese
- John Ray Gill
- Gil & Ardyth Gillespie
- Carol Glenister
- Cindy & Dave Goeller
- Peter Gradoni
- Peter Mark Graff
- Kevin Greenwood
- Laurel Gress
- LaVon & Craig Griffieon
- David & Michelle Gundy
- Mary Haas
- Patricia Halbur
- Jay Hall+
- John Hannah
- Pauline Hansen
- Richard Hargesheimer
- Lynn & Sharleen Harnisch
- Phillip Harr
- Ronald Harrell
- Del Harsh
- Jan Hayen
- Linda Heil
- Devon Heilman
- Helene Hembreiker
- Cynthia Hemingway
- Robert Hitchcock
- Casey Hoins
- Heather & Jason Holcomb
- Linus & Elaine Holthaus
- Amy Hoover*
- Chris & Mark Huston
- John & Ellen Ikerd
- Gregory & Anne Isaackson
- Chuck Isenhart
- Elizabeth Ivers
- Meg Jackson*
- Frank James
- Katie Jantzen
- Sam Jilka
- Charlie & Bette Johnson
- Duane Johnson
- Betty & Raymond Johnston
- LeRoy & Vicky Jons
- Edward Kail
- Barbara & James Kalbach
- Jean & Gerald Karlen
- William King
- Theresa Klein
- Rosalie Kleinschmidt
- Julia Kleinschmit
- John Kleinwachter
- Frank Kloucek
- William Knight & Carolyn A. Ristau
- Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher*
- Ted Kooser & Kathleen Rutledge
- Leopold Kovar
- David Kozlowski
- Robert & Eleanor Kraenow
- Donna Kruse
- Randy & Pam Krzmarzick
- Scott & Wendy Kubik
- David Kunzweiler
- Joni Kuzma
- Evelyn Lange
- Thomas Lansworth
- Glenn Leach
- Kim Lecher
- Dick Leitschuck
- Mary Laura Lesniak
- Gary Lesoing
- Jan Libbey & Tim Landgraf
- Larry & Joanna Lindberg
- Martha Lowe
- Patricia MacRae & Timothy Rowan
- Madison County Bank
- Kimberly Mann
- Paula Mares
- Donald & Laurie Marsden
- Meredith McCann*
- Kevin McCarron
- Steve & Lisa McConnell
- Dennis McLaughlin
- Angela Medbery
- Anita & Clint Menke
- Grayce Mesner
- Mark Metcalf & Patricia Vauck
- Barbara Meyer
- Robert & Suzanne Meyerson
- Evalee Mickey
- Ariel Miller
- James Miller
- Bob Moellenbeck
- Jenifer Morrissey
- Terry & Kim Mosel
- Mark & Carol Moseman
- Maxine Moul*
- Michael Muller
- Peg Munke
- Mark Munson
- Glen Murray
- Wayne & Jo Ann Myers
- Cary Nailling
- Jeanette Nakada
- Roger Napue
- Dixie Nelson*
- Tom & Ruth Neuberger
- Suzanne Neumann & Andrew Kimmel
- Dale & Sunny Nimrod
- Neal Nollette
- Phillip O'Brien
- Roselyn & George O'Connell
- Harold Olson
- Adriana Orozco
- Darrel Parish
- Mary & Jerry Partridge
- Patti Patrie
- Emilee Pease & Tyler Pribbeno
- David Peck
- Charles & Nancy Peek
- Jim Pelzer
- Delayne Persson
- Merlin Pfannkuch
- Evey Phillips
- Lydia Pintor
- George Piper
- Marilee Polacek
- Frank & Deborah Popper
- Thomas & Debra Posey
- David & Gail Prestemon
- Ron & Marilyn Prochaska
- Kelsey Quiroz
- B. W. Radtke
- Peter Raun
- Greg Reineke & Maxine Adelstein
- Arlene Renshaw
- Avis Renshaw
- Leander & Mary Rerucha
- Paul & Susan Rice
- Charles Rhodes
- Charles & Laureen Riedesel*
- Mary Rogers
- Patrick & Linda Rogers
- Thomas Rolfes
- Alan Rolston
- Claudia Lanuza & Ricardo Rosas Ruiz
- Ronald & Maria Rosmann
- Jeremy Rounds
- Susie & Ted Rudberg
- Matthew Russell
- Amy Sandeen
- Jim & Rita Sanner
- Laura Sayre
- Don Schmaderer
- Erin Schoenberg
- Ben Schole
- Lori Schrader*
- Troy Schroeder
- Mark & Susan Schulz
- Diane Seaver*
- Sister Claren Sellner
- Dwight Sheets
- Jim & Sara Shelton
- Diana Sickles
- Susan Skinner
- Cynthia Skrukrud & Thomas Von Geldern
- Connie & Bill Smith
- Roxanne Smith
- Mary & Richard Smythe*
- Luther Snow
- Lynnette Sowells
- Kathie Sparks Thornblad
- Ashley Sperling*
- Dave & Mena Sprague
- Jerome & Josette Stanley
- Kathie Starkweather
- Emma & George Steen
- Bob & Lyda Steiert
- Liz & Jake Stewart
- Christine Stone
- Ron Stone
- Palma Strand
- Andrew Strassman
- Aubrey Streit Krug*
- Ralph Surprenant
- Jenna Sutterfield*
- Carl & Nina Swanson
- Nic Swiercek
- Dan Taylor
- Thomas Thelen
- Margaret Thompson
- Paul & Diane Thompson
- Tom Tomas
- Teresa Troxel
- Carol Turek
- Steve Turman & Maggie McQuown
- Joe & Anita Twitchell
- Elaine Uhlir
- Howard Voelker
- Ingolf Vogeler
- Oren & Joyce Vogt
- Peter Von Christierson
- Christina von Roedern*
- Ronald Vos
- Dan Voss
- Margaret Vrana
- M. Judd Wagner
- Rod Wagner
- Thomas Wagoner
- Donald Wall
- Ellen Walsh-Rosmann & Daniel Rosmann
- Angelyn Wang
- Thomas Wellington
- Betty Wells
- Jack & Carol Werner
- Norm & Susan West
- Larry & Rebecca Williams
- Nancy Williams
- Norma & Jerry Wilson
- Henry Winckler
- Mary Woolsey
- Katy Wortel
- Rebecca Wright
- Richard Wynne & Catherine Sweeney
- Bill & Dorothy Zales
- James & Eileen Zentner
- 4 Anonymous donors
Institutional Funders
Institutional funders are government agencies, foundations, and other organizations that provide funding for specific initiatives.
- Association of Women's Business Centers
- Builders Vision Philanthropy
- Carolyn Foundation
- Clean Energy Districts of Iowa
- Clif Bar Family Foundation
- Coalition for Green Capital
- Energy Foundation
- Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund
- Farm Aid
- Farm Credit Services of America
- First National Bank of Omaha
- From Now On Fund
- Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
- Heising-Simons Foundation
- Howard G. Buffett Foundation
- Iowa Farmers Union
- Lincoln Community Foundation
- Lozier Foundation
- Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger
- Meshewa Farm Foundation+
- MOSAIC, a project of the Tides Center
- Multiplier, Connected Grid Initiative
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Program Office
- Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Business Innovation Act
- Nebraska Department of Economic
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Qualified Census Tract Recovery Grant Program
- Nebraska Department of Education
- North Central Extension Risk Management Education
- OCIA International
- Opportunity Finance Network
- PayPal
- Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation
- RE-AMP Network
- Regenerative Agriculture Foundation
- Sherwood Foundation
- Stearns Bank
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Women’s Business Ownership
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Services
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institution Fund
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs
- Walton Family Foundation
- Weitz Family Foundation
- William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
- Windward Fund
Capital Partners & Investors
Capital partners and investors provide capital to revolving loan funds operated by the Center for Rural Affairs and its subsidiary, Center for Rural Affairs Community Capital.
- First National Bank of Omaha
- Lincoln Community Foundation, Alice Dittman Integrity Loan Fund
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Business Innovation Act
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Rural Workforce Housing Fund
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Pandemic Relief Housing Program
- Opportunity Finance Network
- Peter Kiewit Foundation
- Sherwood Foundation
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
- U.S. Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Community Advantage Program
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Microloan Program
- William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
