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.
Support our work and help create a vibrant rural America.
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Kevin Raun contributes annually to the Center. Last year, he tried something new and gifted grain. Click here to meet Kevin.
Thank you 2022 donors
We couldn’t do it without you!
This list reflects donors to the Center for Rural Affairs and its subsidiaries from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. 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.
- Elsberg Family Foundation
- Cornelia and Jan Flora
- Gretchen Hall & David Saadah
- Pat Kubly
- Don Ralston
- 1 Anonymous donor
Center for Rural Affairs Donors
We’re pleased to honor our 2022 donors. Your generosity and dedication empower the Center’s work to build a vibrant, welcoming, and just rural America.
$1,000 and greater
Nadine & Michael Bergin +
Nicholas, Century, Willow & Jessi Bergin*
Mike & Lori Bride*
Linda & Joe Butkus*
Dennis & Ruth Demmel +
Brian Depew & Jamie Horter*
Jerry Depew & Dorothy Lamberti
Claryce Evans
Charles & Barbara Francis
Barbara Francisco
William & Meg Furlong
Donna Hansen
Connie & David Hansen
Bradley and Christie Hinton
Keith Johnson +
Pat Kubly
Sheila Leete
James & Cynthia Mohl
Paul Neukirch +
Helen & Robert Nichols
Kevin & Jessica Raun
Mary Jo & Lester Schmerr
Cynthia Thomsen
Stephen Tiwald & Karen Hutt +
Ruth Tonachel
Katie Weitz, Ph.D. & Tim Wilson +
Mark & Margaret Yackel-Juleen
1 Anonymous donor
$250 to $999
Clyde & Mary Anna Anderson
Leverne & Nancy Barrett
Robert & Joann Barry
Patrick Bauer
Ann Beckenhauer & George Wimmer
Richard Benning
Mary Blackmore
Peg Bouska
Byron Brogan
William Bryan
Steve & Lynn Carnes*
Tonya & Duane Daskam
Scott & Carol Davis
Barbara Dilly*
Krista Dittman
Otto & Barbara Doering
Alvin Eshe*
Merlin & Marcia Fick
Janaki Fisher-Merritt
Melissa Florell*
Merlin & Rita Friesen
Elizabeth Garst
Susan Gillies
Kathleen Grant
Mark Gustafson & Dianne Travers Gustafson +
Gary Heineman
Douglas Hillmer
Harmon Hoff & Eve Ann Shwartz
Deborah Jacobs
Royce Janzen
Anne Jenkins
Claude & Linda Jensen
Charles & Margaret Karpf
Pam Kaufman
Martin & Linda Kleinschmit
Cleo Kottwitz
Walter & Sharon Koziol
Larry Kramer
Robert D. Kuzelka*
Rhea Landholm*
G. Wade Leak & Jay Yost
Joe Lesiak & Charisse Hutton
Kent Lewandowski
Holly Lewis
Mark & Susan Liebig*
Matt Liebman
Kevin McCarron
Amanda & Patrick McKinney*
Phil Menke*
Robert & Suzanne Meyerson
Janece & Wayne Mollhoff*
Dan Morgan
Arland Mozer
Cheryl Mugno & William Trompeter
Mark Munson
Doug Nopar
Renee O’Brien
Paul Olson
Rita J Ormsby*
David & Susan K. Pease*
Thomas & Debra Posey
Bill Pratt
Kim and Trevor Preston*
Karen Rathje
Gerry Rathouz & Dee Ebel
Beverly Rehm
Sandra Renner*
Catherine & Jamie Renshaw*
Paul & Susan Rice
Tim Rinne & Kay Walter
Ted & Susie Rudberg
Dawn Ryan*
Laura Sayre
Carol & Joe Schmieding
Lucia Schulz*
Charles & Joan Shapiro
Ben & Marj Shomshor
Mary & Richard Smythe*
Veronica Spindola*
Dave & Lindy Staub
Joe Stehlik
Paul & Mary Jo Swanson
Paul & Diane Thompson
Janice & Richard Tiggelaar*
Jim Tikalsky
Sharon Tinker
Ron & Lois Todd-Meyer
Katherine Townsend
Judith Vohland
Dan Voss
Michael & Barbara Wahler
Jack & Carol Werner
Angela Winkler
Mark Wolfe
Tony Wolk & Lindy Delf
Richard Wynne
Stan Yogi & David Carroll
Jane & Loren Yule*
$1 to $249
Armando Aguado
Perla Alarcon-Flory
William Alward
Joe Amy
Jonathan Andelson & Karin Stein
Mads & Chloe Andenas
Alan Anderson
Clinton & Cecilia Antholz
John & Susan Arens
Patricia Arnold
Nancy Athey
Sandra Atkinson
Dennis Backhaus
Darline Balm-Demmel
John Barrier
Richard Baumert
Sue Baumert
Mel & Mary Ann Beckman
Sandy & Bob Bettger
George & Anne Bird
Rhoda Bjelland
James Bjorklund
Ruth Blocker
Ross & Lorena Blount
Boeing
Donna Bolz
Patrick Bosold
Carol Bouska
Dennis Bricker
Charlene Brown
Cheryl Brown
Tony & Patty Brown
Lin Brummels
Marvin Bryant
Patricia Buck
Wayne Bueltel
Trenton Buhr-Roschewski
Jean Burkhardt
Ronald Busch
Angelina Cardenas de Fregoso
Janet Carlson
Jonah Carlson
Jerry & Karen Carolan
James Carr
Justin Carter*
Xochitl Castillo
Domingo Castro Velasquez
Allen Chlopek
Elizabeth Clark
Paul Conway
Kenneth Cookson
Sam Cordes & Trish Brown
Dr. Ron Cox
Tania Damian
Dana F. Cole & Company, LLP
Joan Davidson
Maria Davila
Neidy De la Parra
Fabiola De Leon
Carol Deardorff
Maria Delgadillo
Carol & John Dennison
Anne DeVries*
Dwight Dial*
James Dickson
Jack & Michelle Dill*
Terry Dittmer
Thomas Donahue
Robert Doriss & Jean Bonnet
Don Doumakes*
Gail Dunlap
Vickie Dunn
John Dyck
Margaret Dyson-Cobb*
Janet Ebaugh*
Carroll Ebner
Jonathan Eckman*
Kristi Effenbeck
Chris & Carol Eisenbeis
Heath Ellison
Carl & Debbie Engstrom
Mark Epp & Cathy Wismer-Epp
Merlin & Evelyn Ericksen
Mark Erlander
Claudia Escobedo
Steven Espeland
Mike Ewanciw
Jack & Linda Fanning
Hildy Feen
David Ferneau
Bob & DeAnne Finken
Aaron Fischbach
Ellen & Al Fisher
Linda Fitzgerald
Jim Fitzgibbon
Leonard & Sandy Fleischer
Thomas Foote
Marcia Forbes
Wyatt & Jeanie Fraas*
Tami Frank
Susan Frembgen
Lisa & Jim French
Jerry & Kathleen Fullerton
Sam & Amy Fuqua
Tom & Rebecca Furlong
Kathy Gaines
Kara Gallup
Luz Garcia
John Geddie
George Gehant
Mark M. Giese
Bev & John Gilbert
John Ray Gill
Carol Glenister
David Goeller
Ryan Goertzen-Regier
Rex & Kathleen Gogerty
LaDell Goodroad
Jeff Gorfine
Rebecca Gould*
Peter Gradoni
Peter Mark Graff
Sarah Grant
Dan & Norma Green
Laurel Gress
LaVon & Craig Griffieon
Gary & Sharon Grugel
Dale Gubbels
Lisa Guerra
Anthony Gurrola*
Don Hagedorn
Amy Hahn
Patricia Halbur
Jay Hall
Marlene Halverson
Diane Hansen
Pauline Hansen
Phil Hardenburger
Ronald Harrell
DeLynn & Esther Hay
Jan Hayen
Harry Heafer
Mike & Cecilia Heimes
Randy Helgerson
Angela Heller
Helene Hembreiker
Cynthia Hemingway
Cristina Hernandez-Villapando
Maria Herrera
Jeff Herrick & Christine Laney
Christian Hertneky
Jackie & David Hladik
Mary Pat Hoag
Dan & Sue Hodges
Thomas Hodson
Roger & Freda Hoffman
Teresa Hoffman
Heather & Jason Holcomb
Linus & Elaine Holthaus
Jerold & Bonnie Hubbard
Lawrence & Mary Lou Hultgren
Glenda Humiston
Dwight & Janet Humphrey
Debbie Hunsberger
Chris & Mark Huston
John & Ellen Ikerd
Gregory & Anne Isaackson
Chuck Isenhart
Elizabeth Ivers
Megan Jackson
Wes & Joan Jackson
Patricia James
Katie Jantzen
Vern & Delores Jantzen
Sam Jilka
B. Johnson
Duane Johnson
Edith Johnson
James D. Johnson
Ron J. Johnson
Betty & Raymond Johnston
Marilyn Jones
LeRoy & Vicky Jons
Belva Junker
Susan Jutz
Kylie & Brenn Kai*
Ed Kail
Barbara & James Kalbach
Leann Karbaumer
Jean & Gerald Karlen
Merle Kaufman
Roy Kaufman
John Kellogg
Jack & Kathryn Kibbie
Jon Kinnamon
Rosalie Kleinschmidt
Julia Kleinschmit
John Kleinwachter
Frank Kloucek
Barbara Klubal & Jan Svec
William Knight & Carolyn A. Ristau
Jim & Carolyn Knopik
Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher*
Ted Kooser & Kathleen Rutledge
David Kozlowski
Robert & Eleanor Kraenow
David & Mardene Kroeger
Ron Kroese
Starry Krueger
Donna Kruse
Randy & Pam Krzmarzick
Scott & Wendy Kubik
Larry Kurtz
Don & Lois Lambrecht
Evelyn Lange
Thomas Lansworth
Claudia Lanuza
Ross & Carole Larson
Elizabeth Lasensky
Glenn Leach
Kim Lecher
Dick Leitschuck
Mary Laura Lesniak
Norman Leuenberger
Jo Leyland
Marvin Liewer
Gwen Lindberg
Larry & Joanna Lindberg
Anne Lippstreu
Doug Little
Jacquelyn Lloyd & Stephen Horan
Daniel Looker
Martha Lowe
Randy Lukasiewicz
Concepcion del Carme Luna Romero
Hertha Lutz
Patricia MacRae & Timothy Rowan
Matilde Magana
Yeseli Magana
Charles Manlove
Kimberly Mann
Donald & Laurie Marsden
Martha Martinez
Martin Massengale
Robin Matthews
Mary McCall
Meredith McCann*
Alexandra McClanahan Shively
Mark & Susan McConnell
Steve & Lisa McConnell
Sharon & Duane McCormick
Art & Arliss McDowell
Michael McMullen
Marilyn McNabb
Angela Medbery
David Meints
Melvin & Delores Meister
Mardi Mellon
Anita Menke
Mark Metcalf & Patricia Vauck
Robin Metzner
Barbara Meyer
Nancy & Alan Meyer*
Fouad Mhadji Issa
Kay Michener
Evalee Mickey
Ariel Miller
Ron Miller
Chris Mondak
Patricia Montoya-Aguilar
Eduardo Morales
Melody Morrell
Orville Morrow
Robert Mortenson
Terry & Kim Mosel
Mark & Carol Moseman
Delmar & Nancy Mueller
John & Lavelle Muller
Michael Muller
John & Pat Muntz
Wayne & Jo Ann Myers
Jeanette Nakada
Dennis & Barbara Nebendahl
Dixie Nelson*
Donald & Anita Nelson
Laverne & Arlene Nelson
Tom & Ruth Neuberger
Gregory Nielsen
Elaine Nighswonger
Dale & Sunny Nimrod
Neal Nollette
Ann Nore*
Phillip O’Brien
Beatrice Olson
Holly Olson
Daniel Padilla
Darrel Parish
Mary & Jerry Partridge
Megan Patent-Nygren
Patti Patrie
Emilee Pease & Tyler Pribbeno
David Peck
Jerry Peckumn
Krista Peeks Dittman
Kay Pence
Karina Perez
Alan Perish
Tom & Gretchen Pesek
Carroll Peterson
Mary V. Peterson
Merlin Pfannkuch
Elaine & Ted Phillips
Evey Phillips
Michael Phillips
Elaine Pike
George Piper
Donald Preister
David & Gail Prestemon
Ron & Marilyn Prochaska
Lisa Pruitt
Amy Radding*
Elizabeth Ramirez
Susan Raye
Don & Barbara Reeves
Stephen E. Reno
Arlene Renshaw
Avis Renshaw
Leander & Mary Rerucha
Cliff & Harrietta Reynolds
Charles Rhodes
Helen Richardson
Mary Rogers
Patrick & Linda Rogers
Robert Rogman
Alan Rolston
Randolph Roth
Peggy Rover
Everett Rowland
Duane Sand
Barbara Sanders
Jim & Rita Sanner
Dennis Schill
Don Schmaderer
Marvin & Sheila Schmidt
Ben Schole
Lori Schrader*
Loren Schroeder
Ruth Ann Schultz
John & Julie Schutz
Gary Scott
Diane Seaver*
Lynette Seigley
Jayson Seip
Sister Claren Sellner
Dwight Sheets
Elton & Jean Sheets
Jim & Sara Shelton
Marvin Shirley
Reyna Sibrian
Debra Skillstad-Rost
Susan Skinner
Don & Ellie Skokan
Cynthia Skrukrud & Thomas Von Geldern
Richard & Diana Sloan
Roxanne Smith
Luther Snow
Jane Sooby
Wayne Sorenson
Lynnette M. Sowells
Kathie Sparks Thornblad
Jonathan Specht
Larry & Linda Spomer
Dave & Mena Sprague
Kathie Starkweather
Verlynsil Steed
Emma & George Steen
Liz & Jake Stewart
Ann Stocker
Christine Stone
Magnus Stover
Andrew Strassman
Carolann Streett*
Aubrey Streit Krug*
Ralph Surprenant
Carl & Nina Swanson
Nic Swiercek
Judy Tejral
Thomas Thelen
Monte Thompson
Robert Thompson & Melissa Will
Paul Tippery
Mark & Connie Tjelmeland
Pat Tomlin
Steve Toney
Andrew Tonnies
Roger Topil
Ivonet Torres
Carol Turek
Elaine Uhlir
Union Pacific GivePlus Program
Tyler & Melissa Vacha
Joleen Vang
Guadalupe Vazquez
Sayda Velasquez
Anne Vidaver
Eve Vogel
Ingolf Vogeler
Oren & Joyce Vogt
Peter Von Christierson
Christina von Roedern*
Ronald Vos
Matthew Voss
Penny Vossler
Margaret Vrana
M. Judd Wagner
Donald Wall
Ellen Walsh-Rosmann & Daniel Rosmann
Robert & Gudrun Warrick
Thomas Wellington
Betty Wells
Sarah Wentzel-Fisher*
Roger Wess
Norm & Susan West
Lorrie Whitaker
Lynn & Beverly Wightman
Mark Wilke
Tom & Denesse Willey
Larry & Rebecca Williams
Norma & Jerry Wilson
Audrey Woita
Ann Woolard
John Woolsey
Mary Woolsey
James & Janell Woracek
Katy Wortel
Toni Wright
Edith & Robert Zahniser
Bill & Dorothy Zales
James & Eileen Zentner
Steve Zimola
Ben & Helen Zoss
14 Anonymous donors
* Members of our Evergreen Society, who have committed to monthly or quarterly gifts.
+ Indicates matching donors, who provide special year-end gifts that inspire donors throughout our fundraising drives.
Institutional Funders
Institutional funders are government agencies, foundations, and businesses that provide funding for specific initiatives.
- Academy of our Lady of Lourdes of Rochester, Minnesota
- Carolyn Foundation
- Clif Family Foundation
- Elsberg Family Foundation
- Energy Foundation
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
- Farm Aid
- First National Bank of Omaha
- Grain Place Foods
- Granary Foundation
- Heising-Simons Foundation
- Holland Foundation
- Iowa State University
- Lincoln Community Foundation, Alice Dittman Integrity Loan Fund
- Lincoln Community Foundation, Family Farm Fund
- MAZON | A Jewish Response To Hunger
- McKnight Foundation
- Meshewa Farm Foundation
- National Center for Appropriate Technology
- Native American Agriculture Fund
- Nebraska Department of Agriculture
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development
- Nebraska Department of Education
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- Newman’s Own Foundation
- Patagonia, Inc.
- Peter Kiewit Foundation
- RE-AMP Network
- Regenerative Agriculture Foundation
- Sherwood Foundation
- Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Steiert Family Foundation
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
- Sustainable Food Lab
- South Dakota Community Foundation
- T & M Inc.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Services
- 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 & Public Engagement
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
- U.S. Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Microloan Program
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Capital Access
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Women’s Business Ownership
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Walton Family Foundation
- Weitz Family Foundation
- Wells Fargo
- William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
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
- 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, Microloan Program
- Wells Fargo
- William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation