Seed Savers Exchange has established the Seed Savers Exchange Endowment Fund with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. This fund supports the long-term sustainability of Seed Savers Exchange and its mission to preserve and share heirloom seeds and their stories for generations to come.

For 50 years, Seed Savers Exchange has preserved biodiversity through community-centered conservation. The organization regenerates garden varieties that have been lost, strengthens what still grows, and equips the next generation of seed stewards with the tools they need to carry this vital work forward.

Today, the need for this work is more urgent than ever. In many parts of agriculture, production depends on a limited number of crop varieties, which can leave the food supply vulnerable to climate disruptions, emerging diseases, and pests. Meanwhile, countless diverse and resilient heirloom varieties are quietly disappearing. Once these genetic resources and their cultural connections are lost, they cannot be recovered.

This work also depends on the continued care and involvement of those who steward these seeds. For generations, gardeners and farmers have passed down varieties, along with the knowledge of how to grow, save, and share them. Securing this legacy requires sustained support – so that future hands can carry forward the stories, flavors, and cultural connections embedded in every seed.

“This endowment is our promise to generations to come,” said executive director Mike Bollinger.  “It ensures that the seeds, stories, and stewardship we’ve cultivated for 50 years will continue to thrive in a changing world. With every gift, we’re building a lasting foundation to protect biodiversity, grow community resilience, and keep heirloom seeds in the hands of the people.”

Seed Savers Exchange chose to partner with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation to give Iowa supporters an added incentive to invest in the future of seed preservation. Through this partnership, eligible donors can take advantage of the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, making their gifts go even further while helping build a permanent source of support for the organization’s mission.

Gifts to the Seed Savers Exchange Endowment Fund can be made via check, cash, or stock. Checks should be made payable to the Seed Savers Exchange Endowment Fund and mailed to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

Secure online donations can be made at: www.cfneia.org/donations/seedsavers

All gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and donors will receive an acknowledgment of their gift from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, an accredited local nonprofit organization.

To learn more about giving to the Seed Savers Exchange Endowment Fund, contact the Community Foundation at 319-287-9106.

Photo courtesy of Shawn Linehan.