These generous organizations provide the grant funds which provide the staff, infrastructure, and outreach necessary to make MIFarmLink successful. We appreciate their continued support in the protection of Michigan farms and farming that allow this platform to continue free of charge for the farming community.
Towsley Foundation
We would like to thank our supporters at the Harry A & Margaret D Towsley Foundation, who have generously granted MIFarmLink foundational support. Started in 1959, the Towsley Foundation partners with other charitable organizations to support creative, strategic, effective and sustainable approaches to improving the lives of people and communities in our ever-changing world.
In 2026, MIFarmLink was awarded the Beginning Farmer and Development Program grant called “Passing the Plow: A Statewide Initiative to Connect, Mentor, and Transition Michigan’s Next Generation of Farmers.” MIFarmLink and partners across the state will expand resources and connections for beginning farmers and farmland owners. Through this $750,000 grant award, MIFarmLink will be able to enhance:
- MIFarmLink’s statewide land-linking platform, including improvements to matching, case management and follow-up services.
- MI Farm Mentors, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, connecting beginning farmers with experienced Michigan farmers through structured mentorship.
- Farm business planning and education, helping beginning farmers strengthen financial, production and marketing skills.
- Land transfer support, including a dedicated Land Transfer Navigator to help farmers and landowners navigate the complexities of farmland transitions.
- Regional Representatives, connecting farmers with local resources and support through Conservation Districts and agricultural communities across Michigan.
- Workshops and technical assistance focused on land access, farm business development, agricultural credit, mentorship and succession planning.
American Farmland Trust (AFT)
American Farmland Trust supports MIFarmLink as a field sponsor, helping expand farmland access and support the next generation of Michigan farmers.
Past Funders:
The Carls Foundation
Bill Carls immigrated to the United States from Germany at the age of 21 and started his company, Numatics Inc, out of his garage in 1945. The Carls Foundation was founded in 1961 as a way for Bill and his wife Marie to give back to the community through charitable grants. The Carls Foundation has broadly defined charitable purposes, but today the principal purpose and mission of the Foundation as outlined by its donor-founder and its Trustees is children's welfare and preservation of natural areas. MIFarmLink has received $80,562 in support from The Carls Foundation.
SARE
The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, is working on the Key Components of a Successful Negotiation.
MIFarmLink and MSUE partnered with farmers to identify and overcome common land transfer challenges. Collaborative research results informed educational videos, training, and resources to support successful farm transitions and ensure farmland stays in cultivation for future generations. Please see the MIFarmLink YouTube channel for some of those videos.
The Americana Foundation
MIFarmLink has received financial support for agricultural capacity building from The Americana Foundation from 2022-2023. This organization, established by Michigan farmers Adolf and Ginger Meyer, continues their legacy of philanthropic investment in the community by supporting the development of sustainable agriculture and community food systems, the protection of natural resources, and conservation of early American heritage. To learn more about The Americana Foundation, visit the Meyer's historic farmstead now known as MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center.
USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program
Financial support to launch MIFarmLink came through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). In her role as Agriculture and Economic Resources Coordinator for Ottawa County, Becky Huttenga applied for the BFRDP grant which resulted in the county being awarded $45,000 to develop, launch and pilot the website through 2022.
