Founded in 1997, the Iowa Barn Foundation is an all-volunteer, all-state organization dedicated to preserving Iowa's rural agricultural buildings. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, its mission focuses on educating the public about the significance and importance of Iowa’s barns through publications and barn tours. It raises funds for barn rehabilitation or restoration matching grants for property owners and recognizes outstanding restoration efforts with Awards of Distinction. Additionally, it ensures the perpetuation of agriculturally and economically self-sustaining farms and farmland according to the owner’s wishes.
The Iowa Barn Foundation grants program supports the restoration and preservation of Iowa's barns as symbols of the state's agricultural history. Through offering matching grants, it assists property owners in rehabilitating barns that are no longer the focal point of farms due to the mechanization of agriculture. The foundation places importance on educating the public about the historical significance of these structures via publications like the Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine and events such as Barn Tours. Additionally, the Iowa Barn Foundation awards an Award of Distinction to owners who utilize their funds for barn restoration, highlighting successful preservation efforts on tours. The foundation also proposes a special opportunities grant, the IBF Emergency Grant, aimed at "mothballing" barns or stabilizing structures at risk of demise, prioritizing restorations that maintain or introduce a public educational function.