Joint FAQ for Farmers and Stewards

 GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q: Is the International Farming Foundation an investment fund?

A: No. The Foundation does not offer investments, returns, or ownership of any kind.

Q: Does anyone make money from these stewardship instruments?

A: No. Stewards do not receive income, profits, crops, yield, appreciation, or financial returns.

Q: Are contributions refundable?

A: No. All contributions are irrevocable and used to support the Foundation’s mission.

Q: Is this a charity?

A: The Foundation is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. It is not a 501(c)(3) by design and does not promise tax deductibility.

Q: Why is the Foundation not a 501(c)(3)?

A: To preserve: Operational flexibility, Governance clarity , Stewardship integrity.

QUESTIONS FROM STEWARDS

Q: Do I own land, crops, or equipment through the Foundation?

A: No. You do not own land, crops, equipment, or any agricultural assets.

Q: Do I get a share of production or output?

A: No. You are not entitled to crops, yield, output, or proceeds of any kind.

Q: Do I have control or influence over farms?

A: No. All farming decisions remain solely with farmers.

Q: What do I actually receive as a steward?

A: Stewards receive: Education , Transparency into agricultural realities , Recognition of Contribution.  Alignment with a mission that preserves farming without extraction

Q: Can I direct my contribution to a specific farm or family?

A: No. All funds are allocated at the discretion of the Foundation’s Board.

Q: Are stewardship instruments transferable or resellable?

A: No. They are non-transferable and have no resale value.

QUESTIONS FROM FARMERS

Q: Does the Foundation or its stewards control my farm?

A: No. You retain full ownership, operational control, and decision-making authority.

Q: Are stewards entitled to crops, revenue, or profits from my farm?

A: No. Stewards have no economic rights of any kind.

Q: Can the Foundation tell me what to plant or how to operate?

A: No. The Foundation is supportive, not directive.

Q: What kind of help can the Foundation provide?

A: Depending on circumstances, the Foundation may provide: Legal or advisory support,  Equipment loss or emergency assistance , Education and training, Succession and continuity planning support.  All support is non-extractive.

Q: Why would stewards support farms without financial returns?

A: Because many people and institutions want to: Keep farms alive, Preserve food security , Support families, Learn how agriculture actually works without turning farms into financial products.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY

Q: What kind of reporting is shared with stewards?

A: Educational, non-financial updates explaining: Farming practices, Environmental and logistical challenges, Risks and realities of agricultural operations.

Q: Are financial performance reports shared?

A: No. There is no ROI, yield-per-dollar, or profit reporting.

Q: Are farms required to disclose sensitive financial data?

A: No. Transparency is educational, not financial or invasive.

LEGAL & STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS

Q: Are these stewardship instruments securities?

A: No. They confer no financial rights or expectations and are not investment contracts.

Q: Do stewardship instruments create ownership or property rights?

A: No. They do not create ownership, leasehold, usufruct, or beneficial interests.

Q: Can stewardship instruments be sold, traded, or inherited?

A: No. They are non-transferable and expire at the end of their term.

Q: What happens when an instrument term ends?

A: The instrument expires. No payout, settlement, renewal obligation, or accounting is owed. Recognition may continue at the Foundation’s discretion.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE (FOR EVERYONE)

The International Farming Foundation exists to support farms without owning them, and to educate stewards without exploiting farms. 

Participation in the International Farming Foundation is stewardship, not speculation.