Extension Foundation
Overview

Extension Foundation (EXF) is the national nonprofit partner to the U.S. Cooperative Extension System, which operates through the nation’s 112 land-grant universities in all 3,000+ counties and parishes across the US and the Territories.

Extension Foundation strengthens Extension’s national capacity—helping local Extension programs scale, modernize, and collaborate across states to address our nation’s complex challenges in agriculture, health, workforce development, resilience and disaster preparedness, and community well-being.

Our mission is to empower a national network of community-based educators, volunteers, and partners to turn knowledge into real-world solutions for stronger communities and people.

Why This Matters for Partners

Extension Foundation offers the opportunity to work with a network of 35,000 trusted community-based educators and volunteers without having to negotiate 50 separate state relationships, while still delivering local impact. Extension Foundation does not compete with universities, but serves as a highly trusted, neutral, partner to manage funds, partnerships, and compliance on behalf of U.S. Cooperative Extension. It helps scale proven solutions quickly and align federal, philanthropic, and private investments with community-level delivery.

What Extension Foundation Does

  • Operates at the national level to support and connect state & local Extension programs.
  • Serves as a convener across institutions, states, and sectors.
  • Manages large, multi-state federal initiatives on behalf of Extension.
  • Acts as a bridge between Extension, federal agencies, philanthropy, and industry.
  • Leads innovation in technology, workforce development, and program modernization.

How to Work with Extension Foundation

Partners collaborate with EXF to co-design and pilot national initiatives, scale proven multi-state models, contribute technology, data, or workforce expertise, and participate in national convenings or advisory roles.

What Partners Can Achieve

Each year, EXF supports the training of thousands of community-based educators and volunteers, and operates national platforms used by Extension organizations nationwide, turning innovation into measurable, system-wide impact.

Key National Initiatives

Agriprospects logo

A national workforce development network focused on strengthening adult agricultural workforce pipelines, particularly in rural and underserved communities. AgriProspects connects Extension-led education and credentialing programs with employers and workforce systems.

Website: https://agriprospects.extension.org/

Excite Logo

A national public health initiative supporting Extension professionals in delivering evidence-based adult immunization education. EXCITE partners closely with CDC and USDA to scale trusted health education through Extension networks.

Website: https://extension.org/excite

H5N1 Resource Hub: https://h5n1.extension.org

NTAE Logo

A national program that funds and supports innovative Extension projects with strong potential for scaling. NTAE provides not only funding but also coaching, evaluation, communications, and partnership support to accelerate impact across Extension.

Website: https://extension.org/ntae

Extension AIThe Extension Foundation leads national efforts to prepare Extension for an AI-driven information environment. This includes ExtensionBot, an AI tool trained on validated Extension content, and MERLIN, a shared data infrastructure that organizes Extension knowledge for responsible AI use.

ExtensionBot: https://extension.org/tools/extbot

Eden Logo

Through its support of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), Extension Foundation strengthens Extension’s capacity for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery related to food, agriculture, and community resilience.

Website: https://extension.org/national-programs-services/fadi-eden/

Contact

Ahlishia Shipley
Partnership Development
ashipley@extension.org

Megan Hirschman
Senior Government Relations & Strategic Partnerships Officer
meganhirschman@extension.org

Vicki Stouffer
Senior Corporate & Foundation Relations Officer
vickistouffer@extension.org

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Extension Foundation Logo

Our mission is to empower a national network of community-based educators, volunteers, and partners to turn knowledge into real-world solutions for stronger communities and people.

Terms of Use

Cooperative Extension Logo

The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit established in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators nationwide. Extension Foundation is embedded in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System and serves on Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP).

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

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