Mosaic Company Foundation

The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems operates as a corporate foundation backed by The Mosaic Company, one of the world's largest producers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. The foundation's grantmaking strategy is tightly aligned with Mosaic's core business in agriculture and fertilizer production, focusing investments across three pillars: Food, Water, and Local Community. This strategic alignment means the foundation prioritizes projects that connect to its parent company's operational expertise — soil health, nutrient stewardship, sustainable farming, and water conservation. In March 2025, the foundation was formally relaunched as "The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems," consolidating two decades of philanthropy under a sharper brand focused on farmer-led solutions. The foundation operates internationally across the US, India, and Brazil, with nearly $50 million invested to date. Its approach favors multi-year programmatic partnerships over one-off grants, with flagship initiatives like the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program (covering 10 million acres in the US), the Krishi Jyoti Program in India (benefiting 760,000+ people), and The Villages Project in Brazil (where yields have increased up to 175%). President Ben Pratt leads the foundation with zero paid staff — operations are supported by Mosaic corporate employees.

The foundation's giving has fluctuated significantly over recent years. In 2024, total giving was $2,675,441 across 16-17 awards, down from $3,870,000 in revenue and $3,423,410 in disbursements in 2023. Total assets stood at $1,743,275 as of 2024, a modest 3.9% decline from the prior year. Historical data shows peak activity in 2019 with 50 awards, suggesting a consolidation toward fewer but larger grants. The typical award range spans $10,000 to $1,021,889, with an average around $230,000, though the foundation has made grants as large as $375,000 (Mosaic Institute for the Brazil Villages Program) and $335,612 (American Online Giving Foundation for employee giving match). The foundation annually contributes approximately $12 million through combined philanthropic funding, employee engagement, and in-kind donations — though the foundation entity itself distributes a smaller portion of this. Grant requests should not exceed 10% of the applicant organization's annual operating budget or 50% of the specific program's annual budget, indicating a preference for organizations with diversified funding.

Compared to peer corporate foundations in the $1-3M giving range, Mosaic stands out for its international scope (US, India, Brazil) and tight thematic focus on agriculture and food systems. While smaller than major agribusiness foundations like Cargill, Mosaic's concentration on nutrient stewardship and sustainable farming gives it outsized influence in its niche. The 2025 relaunch as the Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems signals a further narrowing toward measurable impact in agricultural productivity.

In March 2025, the foundation underwent a significant relaunch as "The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems," consolidating its philanthropic identity. Key recent developments include: expansion plans to increase participating family farms in India and Brazil by 15%; continued leadership of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative covering 10 million US acres; partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and S M Sehgal Foundation; appointment of Ann Steensland as Executive Director; and a $200,000 grant to American Farmland Trust for agricultural conservation and water quality. The foundation's 2024 990 showed 16 awards totaling $2.67M, a decrease from 2023 levels, reflecting the organizational transition. In Brazil, the Villages Project reported that 50% of participating farms are now led by women, with yields increasing up to 175%. The Krishi Jyoti Program in India has benefited over 760,000 people and achieved 35% yield increases for key crops.

To maximize your chances with a Mosaic Company Foundation grant: (1) Align tightly with their three pillars — Food, Water, or Local Community — and explicitly connect your project to sustainable agriculture, nutrient stewardship, or food security outcomes. (2) Demonstrate geographic relevance to Mosaic's operations — the foundation strongly favors communities near their potash and phosphate facilities in Florida, Saskatchewan, and other operational areas. (3) Keep your request under 10% of your organization's annual budget and under 50% of the specific program's budget — this is an explicit guideline. (4) Apply through the quarterly online application system at mosaicco.com/community-giving, noting that review cycles take approximately 4 months per round. (5) Ensure your organization has written non-discrimination policies and can attest to promoting diversity — this is a mandatory requirement. (6) For international opportunities (India, China, Brazil), email community.relations@mosaicco.com rather than using the online portal. (7) Note that Minnesota grants are now by invitation only since the 2019 HQ move to Tampa. (8) Faith-based and political organizations face additional scrutiny — funding is only available if charitable work expressly serves the entire community. (9) Consider the foundation's emphasis on measurable agricultural outcomes — their flagships report specific yield increases and acreage coverage, so quantifiable metrics strengthen proposals.