Funding and Support

The Center’s primary funding stream is the Agriculture Management Account (AMA), one of four accounts that comprise the Groundwater Protection Fund, created by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. The legislation set a fee on sales of nitrogen fertilizer and pesticide registrations to support about 20 environmental programs. The Center receives 35 percent of the AMA funds, or about $1,300,000 annually for research, education and administration of programs.

A second source is an annual education appropriation of approximately $425,000. These funds are earmarked to support many of the Center’s competitive grants. This appropriation is included as part of the Iowa State University budget.

Grants and other funding

The Center has received grants from other agencies and institutions. In many cases, the Center is simply the fiscal agent or requestor, with funds going directly to other organizations or groups involved in the project.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Wallace Center
The Center received a one-year planning grant to develop Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture (VCPSA) project in June 2002. In April 2003, the grant was extended through July 2005. In 2006, project received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Henry A. Wallace Center at Winrock International to continue work through 2010.

Federal funding
The Center has helped the Iowa State University Hoop Group research team obtain federal funds to continue its work. The Center created the team in 1997. The team received its fourth year of funding for FY2005.

Other federal funds have been used to support work to reduce practices leading to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. These projects have been conducted through the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Contributions and donations

After the Iowa legislature transferred $1 million out of the Leopold Center’s operating budget in FY2002, the Center embarked on its first-ever fundraising effort.

Working with the College of Agriculture’s office of the ISU Foundation, the Center conducted a direct mail solicitation of gifts from supporters and established the “Friends of the Leopold Center” program. This group consists of people who contribute $1,000 or more to the Center’s general fund.

More than 170 individuals and organization have contributed to the Center since the budget cut went into effect. Many of the gifts came with letters of support or notes encouraging the Center to continue its efforts on behalf of Iowa farmers.

How you can support the Leopold Center

The Leopold Center seeks support from private donors interested in supporting the Center’s work in Iowa. A major objective of the fundraising campaign is to build a general endowment fund that could be used to cover ongoing costs associated with many programs during periods of budget stress. In addition to the Leopold Center Endowment, the Center also seeks private gifts to offset travel expenses, student and faculty/staff support, and general operating funds.

The ISU Foundation accepts and manages all gifts made to support programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, including the Leopold Center, and has established account number 0125322 to receive gifts designated for this program. Interested donors may make gifts on-line using a Visa, Mastercard or Discover at the ISU Foundation web site. This site includes instructions for making a gift or pledge using a downloadable pledge form.

Donors also may make gifts of stock, real estate or personal property, or may choose to make a deferred commitment through a will bequest, charitable remainder trust or other gift planning vehicle. More information about these types of gifts is available on the ISU Foundation web site, or you may contact Ray Klein at the Foundation, (515) 294-3303, rklein@iastate.edu.