Why Membership in the Extension Foundation Matters
The Extension Foundation (EXF) exists to help Cooperative Extension professionals make a more visible, measurable impact in communities nationwide. While all Landgrant institutions can access some EXF resources, membership directly fuels the national infrastructure and services that send significant funding, tools, and support back to the system. In 2024, 73 Land-grant institutions chose to invest in this shared success.
EXF National Programs Funded and Managed in 2024
EXF currently serves as a national technical and administrative backbone for Cooperative Extension across seven federal initiatives:
- EXCITE
Immunization education and outreach. - NTAE
Subawards and support for CES-alignedinnovation projects. - AgriProspects
Workforce development andmini-grants (11 grants totaling $990K in 2024). - PSEFMP
Over $1M annually distributed for pesticide safety education. - FADI-EDEN
Disaster preparedness support. - USDA NextGen
Technical assistance for 1890s, 1994s, HSIs, and Insular Area institutions. - Member Services
Professional development, Campus LMS, Customized Solutions, and more.
In each of these programs, EXF ensures that funding flows efficiently to the institutions doing the work, especially those with limited administrative capacity.
Leveraging Membership Dollars
In 2024, $1.3 million in membership dues were invested in EXF. These funds supported the administration of $73 million in nationally funded programs, all secured and managed on behalf of Cooperative Extension.
100% of membership dues are reinvested in services for Land-grant institutions.
The Value of Membership
National Funding Infrastructure
Membership dollars unlock EXF’s ability to manage large grants that serve the entire Cooperative Extension system. This includes:
- Subaward administration
- Partner onboarding and compliance
- Financial reporting and audits
- Communication and dissemination
Examples of EXF’s Role in Grant Infrastructure:
USDA NextGen Program
EXF provided technical assistance to over 120 institutions applying for NextGen funds. Of the 33 institutions ultimately awarded grants totaling over $262 million, 82% of successful proposals received direct support from EXF during proposal development. In 2024, EXF continued to support implementation by organizing webinars, hosting the NextGen Project Directors meeting in Washington, DC, and piloting a national internship-matching program.
Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program
In 2024, EXF administered 53 subawards totaling over $1 million to Land-grant institutions supporting pesticide safety education. EXF also built an online community within Connect Extension to increase collaboration among awardees and EPA partners.
EXF awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $990,000 to Land-grant institutions through the AgriProspects initiative, helping expand workforce development programs. These grants supported education, certification, and entrepreneurship in agricultural careers.
NTAE Program Support
In 2024, EXF administered $710,000 in direct funding to 22 Extension teams from 20 LGUs through the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program. These funds were paired with coaching, evaluation support, marketing, leadership development, and digital publishing services.
EXCITE Program
Through a USDA–CDC partnership, EXF managed the EXCITE initiative involving 36 Land-grant institutions.
In 2024, EXF:
- Administered subawards and compliance for 32 project teams
- Delivered millions of dollars in funding for immunization education programs since 2021.
- Coordinated over 1,200 educational events, reaching 194,000+ participants
- Supported delivery of 52,875 immunizations across rural and under-resourced communities
- Provided monthly coaching, communication support, and professional development
- Enabled institutions like West Virginia State University and Clemson to integrate immunization outreach into local Extension programs
Support for PD and Opportunities
Members receive exclusive access to over 70 leadership and Profession Development opportunities annually. These sessions support skill building efforts highlight Extension programs and innovation and facilitate the sharing of peer-to-peer knowledge across the system. This includes:
- National summits
- Virtual trainings
- Innovation coaching
- Impact Collaborative delivery
- AI-focused events and conferences
- Speaking engagements at state, national, and higher education conferences
Technology and Tools
Membership provides full access to Campus, the Foundation’s learning management system (LMS).
In 2024:
- 636 active courses were hosted on Campus
- These courses reached over 43,000 learners, including Extension professionals and the public
While tools like Connect Extension, MERLIN, and ExtensionBot are available system-wide, membership dollars help sustain the infrastructure and staffing that support these tools.
In addition, EXF’s platform work is often supported through university buy-outs and partnerships, for example, with institutions adopting Ask Extension, ExtensionBot, and MERLIN. These collaborations return funding directly to Land-grant institutions, allowing EXF to reinvest in the system’s capacity while minimizing duplication and driving innovation nationally.
“Thank you. Your series of webinars has been the single most helpful resource to me in my funding journey that is only one part of this epic project. I really appreciate your wisdom and generosity in sharing it. We are fortunateto be on the receiving end and I just wanted to share the fruits you helped us harvest.”
A participant of the Fundraising, Grant & Partnership Development who recently applied skills she learned in these trainings to land a $8,000 corporate investment in a garden she manages.
