About

Established in 1988, the Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF) provides ongoing funding for workforce development initiatives and temporary assistance for dealership employees affected by natural disasters.

• Since its inception, EDF has been focused on education within the equipment industry, particularly in the promotion of the service technician within dealerships. Up until 2017, that meant providing scholarships to current and prospective dealership employees to attend technical training to further their skills and career. Now, in addition to the scholarship program, EDF works with the Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE) program to provide partial scholarships to teachers that enables them to bring mechanical education back to their classrooms.  In this way we are able to reach hundreds, if not thousands of students each year.

• The Foundation’s mission is to continue our support for the NAEDA Industrial and Farm Equipment Technician Program at OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and to establish scholarship programs at post-secondary educational institutions for deserving students and member employees interested in pursuing a degree program relative to the equipment industry.

• Additionally, in 2020, EDF launched its own grassroots marketing campaign called Technicians For Tomorrow aimed at familiarizing parents and teachers of middle and high school students with the careers available at an equipment dealership.

• The Disaster Relief Fund was established in 2005 following hurricane Katrina. Since then, the fund has provided more than $350,000 in grant assistance to the employees of equipment dealerships impacted by natural disasters.

• The EDF is operated by a group of volunteer dealers and association staff who coordinate the Foundation’s activities.  A Board of Trustees appointed by the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) governs the EDF.

• The EDF is a registered charitable foundation established under United States guidelines and policies.  As such, all donations to the EDF are eligible to receive a receipt for income tax purposes. All funds that are raised in the United States are allocated for the benefit of United States equipment dealers.