From its earliest days, Land O’Lakes has been driven by a simple but powerful idea: when we join forces as a cooperative, we lift up our members and employees, as well as their communities, in extraordinary ways. Whether facing everyday challenges or moments of crisis, our commitment to giving back delivers real impact when and where it matters most. 

Today, these cooperative giving efforts are led by the Land O’Lakes Community Relations and Foundation team. Be it through grant dollars, matching contributions, volunteerism, or product donations, learn more about how Community Relations and the Foundation has helped our members and employees show up and support those in need over the past year. 

Community investment driven by members 

No one understands the needs of a community like someone who lives there. That’s why Land O’Lakes offers three dollar-for-dollar match programs that provide an opportunity for our member-owners to double their donations to local causes they care about. Through this approach, we let our members take the lead in deciding where money should be donated in a way that maximizes impact.  

Eligible grant matches fit into two categories: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality. Examples of recent recipients of these match dollars include local food shelves, rural fire departments, and agriculture education programs. 

In 2024, over 800 grants were awarded across the member-match programs to eligible nonprofits across the country—a collective investment of $3.4 million from member-owners and the Foundation. And this year, due to a significant jump in the use of our largest program (Member Co-op Match), we reallocated philanthropy dollars to increase the budget from $1.5 million to $2 million. Total donations in 2025 have already surpassed 2024 levels, and the impact continues to grow.  

These programs are successful thanks to the advocacy and support of our member-owners like Alice Crothers of Long Green Farms. As Alice explains, the match programs exemplify the power of the cooperative. 

“Being a part of a co-op provides us the chance to amplify our impact in a way that we wouldn’t be able to accomplish on our own. By strategically doubling our donations with the match, it allows us to show up for our communities in powerful ways.” 

Uniting to end hunger 

A core belief of Land O’Lakes is that everyone should have access to a safe and plentiful food supply. That’s why since 2010, we have worked with Feeding America to offer our First Run food donation program. 

Since the program’s launch, Land O’Lakes has donated over 7.6 million pounds of product, primarily macaroni and cheese, to food banks across the country. These donations are often made in areas where our members and employees live, ensuring we show up for the communities who support us. For example, Land O’Lakes recently worked with Keystone Cooperative to make a First Run donation to Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette, Indiana. 

The First Run program is one facet of Land O’Lakes’ commitment to hunger-free communities. We recently revised our 10-year in-kind product donation goal from 3 million to 15 million pounds by 2030, which we are already more than halfway to achieving.   

“As an agricultural cooperative, ending hunger is at the heart of our community efforts,” said Morgan Kinross-Wright, vice president of community relations. “We are proud of the ongoing impact of First Run and our broader hunger initiatives across Land O’Lakes member and employee communities. As long as the need is there, we will continue working together to help put food on the table for our neighbors, and we look forward to continuing to provide these resources through the generous support of our members and employees.” 

Standing together when disaster strikes 

Being a cooperative, Land O’Lakes consists of a connected network that is ready to mobilize when needed, including when disaster strikes. 

Through the Land O'Lakes Foundation and Community Relations teams, we work hand-in-hand with trusted partners like the American Red Cross and United Way, as well as local food banks and community organizations, to provide emergency supplies, financial assistance, and food donations where they’re needed. 

When large natural disasters impact member and employee communities, Land O'Lakes works with organizations on the ground in the affected areas with recovery resources. 

 "Our responsibility as a cooperative goes beyond business. Showing up for our members and employees in times of crisis lets them know we are standing beside them,” said Kinross-Wright. “The true strength of a cooperative is measured by how we support each other when it matters most."