What is the Hopper fund?  The Illinois Foundation FFA Board of Directors began the Hopper Fund Incentive Program in 2014 as a way to show their appreciation for the chapters that participate in the Local Collection Drive for the Foundation.

On June 30^th, 2022, the Foundation Board of Directors approved the Local Collection Drive Committee’s one-time hopper fund proposal to begin July 1st, 2022 and end June 30th, 2023, that stated the following:

It is proposed by the Local Collection Drive Committee that the Illinois Foundation FFA remove the benchmark of $1,000 and all chapters regardless of their total collection drive amount receive 5% of their total collection drive back in their Hopper Funds Account.

It is also proposed that those chapters reaching and exceeding the $1,000.00 benchmark, receive an additional 5% for a total of 10% of their total collection drive back in their Hopper Funds Account.

Furthermore, it is proposed that chapters that have contributed $0.00 for the past three years but have been credited for ANY amount will receive a one-time, additional 5% for a total of 10% of their total collection drive back in their Hopper Funds Account if their total collection drive is below the $1,000 benchmark or 15% of their total collection drive back in their Hopper Funds Account if their total collection drive is above the $1,000 benchmark.

These funds can be used for Chapter registrations for the following four Illinois FFA activities:

• State FFA Convention
• Illinois FFA Leadership Camp
• Ground Zero Conference (formally 212 Conference)
• BUILD Conference

Finally, the Local Collection Drive proposes keeping the requirement that all Hopper Funds received during a school year must be used during that school year. Thus, no carryover will be allowed.

How do I access the Hopper funds?  If you want to use Hopper funds, you must register for the event on the ilaged.org website.  Once you have registered, contact Tammy Yard (tyard@illinoisffa.org).  She will check your Hopper fund balance and apply the amount you have requested towards the registration of the event on your invoice in the ilaged website system.

When does the chapter earn Hopper funds?  The Hopper funds are calculated after the end of the Foundation fiscal year, which also coincides with the end of the year’s collection drive, which is June 30^th.  In early fall, after school has started, an email will go out to the advisor to let them know what their Hopper fund balance is for the year.

When do I have to use the Hopper funds?  Hopper funds must be used within the following fiscal year that they were earned.  For example, if your Local Collection Drive total for the 2021-2022 school year was $1,500.00, you would earn anywhere between $75.00 and $225 (based on the one-time approved proposal) in Hopper funds that would need to be used by June 30, 2023.  Any funds that are not used by June 30^th, will just stay with the Foundation and the chapter’s Hopper fund balance will be zeroed out.

How much is in my Hopper fund?  You will be receiving an email in the next few weeks that will let you know the amount you may have in your Hopper funds for the 2022-2023 school year.

Any additional questions about the Hopper fund can be directed to Tammy Yard tyard@illinoisffa.org or 217-753-3328 ext 106.