“The Bonus Fund is what truly sets Birdies for Charity apart,” said Micaela Booth, Director of Birdies for Charity. “These unrestricted dollars are game changers for our participating nonprofits. They allow organizations to respond to urgent needs, invest in long-term growth, and expand their reach in ways that restricted funding often doesn’t allow. It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what we’re able to offer through this program.”
The Bonus Fund—initiated with a grant from John Deere and supported by other generous donations—ensures that every dollar pledged through Birdies for Charity goes even further. In addition, John Deere underwrites the entire Birdies for Charity program, allowing participating charities to receive 100% of every donation without paying any administrative fees.
“The John Deere Classic is proud to announce a record-setting $16.9 million raised for charity in 2025, along with an incredible 9% bonus match for the 460 incredible organizations participating in Birdies for Charity,” said Tournament Director, Andrew Lehman.
“This record year is a testament to the unwavering generosity of our entire region—John Deere, our corporate partners and the thousands of community members who give year after year,” Lehman continued. “John Deere’s deep-rooted commitment to corporate citizenship continues to be the driving force behind the tournament’s success and the life-changing impact we’re able to make together.”
In addition to its fundraising success, the tournament’s Birdies for Charity contest—which invites fans to guess the number of birdies made during the event—produced five finalists who correctly guessed 2,102 birdies.
The John Deere Classic continues to lead the PGA TOUR in per capita charitable giving, with this year’s total equating to $45.19 for each of the Quad Cities’ 375,000 residents—a distinction the tournament has proudly held for more than a decade.
