Iowa Farm Bureau

What it reported doing in 2024

Marketing and communications - news services issues the weekly publication, Iowa farm bureau spokesman, which is the primary communications vehicle between state and county leaders and farming members providing reports on farm bureau policy implementation and regulatory issues as well as state, national and international agriculture news. Also published is a bi-monthly magazine, family living, distributed to ag-supporting members. Approximately 130,000 members benefited from both publications. Additionally, a weekly e-newsletter for member leaders, the dirt, is published by news services benefiting over 900 members each week. The spokesman speaks is a farmer-focused podcast that has over 109,000 unique downloads on useful farm trends and tips since its inception. The team also produces a semi-annual consumer e-newsletter, the Iowa dish, with a subscriber base of more than 82,000 subscribers featuring farm and food news. Marketing focuses on member retention and acquisition through various mediums including video, advertising, print, radio, multimedia, and web marketing. The team markets farm bureau benefits, services, policy positions and programs to the membership as well as the public and oversees the organization's brand. They also manage relationships with member benefit partners and coordinate partner promotions. Key events include the Iowa state fair, ffa, outreach efforts with the university of Iowa through our anf partnership and Iowa state university through our farm strong partnership, among numerous other partnerships. Combined, partner promotions reached over two million consumers with farming and farm bureau information. Public relations strategically communicates farm bureau policy and agricultural issues to key organizational stakeholders, including members, employees, elected leaders, members of the news media, influencers and the general public. The team conducted message, media and communications training for members, training over 158 last year. The team also managed media relation efforts, coordinating 143 media interviews resulting in 2,532 placements with a reach of over 75 million. The digital marketing department provides strategic outreach through online (web-based) and social media platforms (facebook, instagram, twitter, snapchat, etc.) to engage, develop, maintain, and expand relevant and impactful dialogues with key audiences. Over 156,000 members benefited from these programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 97.8%; rating input score 98; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 90.9%; rating input score 91; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 42.2%; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 53.3; rating input score 99; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.5%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -3% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings