Funding
Greensboro Garden, image by Lucy Bradley
Fundraising for Community Gardens by Gary Goosman, ACGA
Adopt-a-Garden
Foster partnerships between businesses, service organizations, universities or community colleges, etc. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce to identify potential partners. Look to the parents of the children who garden for support from their businesses.
Operation Green Plant is offering FREE SEEDS!Captain Planet Foundation
They are offering between 100 and 1000 seed packets on the basis of availability and relative need for volunteer efforts to grow food for the needy, elderly, handicapped and confined; for charitable plant sales; to beautify neighborhoods; to start new educational programs; and to show that growing plants can give people and communities new hope as they help to beautify and nourish America. These are seeds were packaged to sell last year and have germination rates of 85% to 90%.
To request a Free Seed Grant, simply request an application, then:
America the Beautiful Fund-Attach a short letter describing your project -Enclose a check for Shipping & Handling -Mail it to the following address:
1730 K Street NW Suite 1002
Washington, DC, 20006
(1-800-522-3557)
Deadlines: March 31, June 30 September 30, December 31Common Ground Garden Program
Committed to supporting hands-on environmental projects for young people, the foundation provides grants from $250 to $2,500 to school and community groups.
Ricardo Gomez, Manager, Agriculture and Environmental Programs
Burpee/USDA Partnership
USDA Extension Service
South building, Room 3347
Washington, DC 20250-0900
(202) 720-2471
Donations for groups servicing the most needy and neglected urban areas.
Federal funds which are given to the cities to use to meet local priorities and needs. $500 - $50,000 available for one program. Contact your local Mayor's office for information and application procedures. Involve the children in the process of securing funds. They can attend council meetings and write letters to successfully lobby for city block grant money for their gardening program.
Contact The Foundation Center, 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, (800) 424-9836 or visit the reference section of your local library to identify potential funders. The Foundation Directory lists corporate and private foundations. Call for locations and phone numbers of regional offices.
Donations
Develop a budget and a specific wish list. Form a plan for raising the money including a list of potential donors, what you will request, who will do the asking, how donors will be recognized and involved in the project, and how you will express your appreciation.
Eligible: 501(c)3 in CA, FL or NCEnvironmental Protection Agency Grants
Amount: $5,000 to $50,000
Priorities: civic affairs, youth, education, social services
Contact: 1533 Sunset Dr., Suite 150, Coral Gables, FL 33143, 305-668-4192, 305-668-4247 fax
U.S. EPA-Environmental Education Grants
Office of Public Affairs (E2)
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1581
$5,000 to $250,000 awards
Environmental Support Center
Strengthen non-profit environmental organizations in areas of fund raising, organizational development and planning.
1500 Massachusetts Ave., N. W. Suite 25,
Washington, D.C. 20005;
(202) 331-9700; fax (202) 331-8592; general@envsc.org
Fiskars: Project Orange Thumb
20 Grants Available in 2010
Community gardening groups across the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to apply. Grant recipients receive $1,000 in Fiskars garden tools and $1,000 in garden related materials Deadline: 2/19/10
General Mills: Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program
50 grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle.
Application Deadline: 1/15/10
Contact: Beth Labrador, 1-800-877-1600 ext. 4821 or blabrador@eatright.org
Training Opportunities, Free Magazine, Nonprofit Resources, Publications, and more.
Up to $15,000 for projects for community projects
Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award: designed to foster family-focused garden efforts in communities across the country.
Who: Any adult in the US who wishes to garden with preschool to high school-aged family members(s)
Amount: Tools and Supplies valued at $500
Deadline: Jan 10, 2010
Contact: National Gardening Association, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403; phone 802-863-5251, http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants/heinz.asp
Building Healthy Communities
Who: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. who are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.
Amount: $2,500 Gift Card to Home Depot
Deadline: March 1, July 1 and Nov 1
Contact:team_depot@homedepot.com
Other ways we invest in the community:
In-kind product donations are handled through our Framing Hope program in partnership with Gifts In Kind International.
Our stores have a limited supply of $25 donation coupons to assist local nonprofits with their small donation needs. Please see a member of the store management team or the Team Depot Captain for more information.
Team Depot, our associate volunteer force, uses the time and talents of our associates to meet community needs through hands-on service. Team Depot Captains at our retail locations actively seek great nonprofit partners to work with throughout the year. Visit our page on The Home Depot Foundation’s Web site for further information.
Organizations requesting event and sports sponsorships should apply at www.homedepotproposals.com.
The National Gardening Association, in partnership with The Home Depot, awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs.
Support youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment.
Who: 501(c)(3), Public or Private School (must have 2 years of audited financial records)
Amount: $20,000 to $60,000
Deadline: Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, and Nov 1
Contact: http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf
A national foundation with local roots seeking opportunities that can transform both communities and journalism, and help them reach their highest potential. Funding priorities include: Education; Well-being of children and families; Housing and community development; Economic development; Civic engagement/positive human relations; Vitality of cultural life
Deadline: None; Eligible: Government or 501(c)(3) Contact : Suite 3300, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33131; (305) 908-2600
Focus Areas:Kroger Co. Foundation
* Physical Health (which includes the Healthy Weight Initiative)
* Access to Health Care
* Social, Emotional and Behavioral Health
Cycle:: RFPs 3 times per year: Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall
Eligible: Government Agencies, 501(c)(3) non profits
Contact: Kate Shirah 919-781-5852
Eligible: 501(c)(3)s in communities where Kroger customers and associates live and work.
Priorities: Hunger relief; Grassroots organizations, Education.
Amount: Up to $50,000 Contact: 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, (513) 762-4449, ext. 3, http://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_foundation.htm
Twenty-five gardens receive a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator. Past winners include community gardens, schools, ministries, colleges, master gardening groups, and hospices.Mattel
Eligible: 501(c)(3) serving children in the US, Must not discriminate, Preference to those with a budget under $1 million.The National Education Association
Priorities: Children with needs; Demonstrated results, Innovative, Locally Defined need, Learning, Health, Empowering Girls
Funding: $5.000 to $25,000 for Specific Program or Operations
Deadline: July 15
Contact: MCF, 333 continental Blvd, M1-1418, El Segundo, CA 90245; 310 252-3630; foundation@mattel.com; http://www.mattel.com/about_us/philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_grantmaking.asp
A variety of grants programs to support teachers doing innovative work
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
"Creating Awareness, Education, and Action in Support of the Environment
"NEETF awards one-year challenge grants requiring a cash match of at least one non- federal dollar for each NEETF dollar awarded. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000 915 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 628-8200
Landscapes for Learning, Youth Garden Grants, and Kids Growing with Dutch Bulbs
300 youth gardens nation wide will each be awarded tools, seeds and garden products valued at $750. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18 years. Both food gardens and beautification projects are eligible. Evaluation criteria include: leadership, educational and environmental programming, innovation, sustainability, need and community support.
Youth Garden Grants Program
1100 Dorset St.
So. Burlington, VT 05403
National Science Foundation
Attention Grants and AgreementsNorth Carolina Office of Environmental Education
1800 G Street N. W.
Washington, DC 20550
(202) 357-9859
List of grants for gardens, physical activity and outdoor projects.Organic Gardening Magazine
Organic Gardening magazine has provided rainwater harvesting systems to community gardens around North America as part of their Waterworks project. The effort was a great success. Sponsors, Aveeno and Nature's Path, gained a true appreciation for the important benefits community gardens bring to their participants and neighborhoods.They plan to bring this program to more gardens.
See profiles of the gardens which have won in the past
Download an Application
For more information contact:
Therese Ciesinski, Senior Editor
Organic Gardening Magazine
400 South Tenth Street
Emmaus, PA 18098
610-967-7633
therese.ciesinski@rodale.com
Eligible: US 501(c)(3)Public Welfare Foundation
Amount: 1st Place $35,000, 2 Runner-ups of $7,500 & $5,000
Deadline: Usually due in July, Awarded in November
Contact: GSM, CGU, 1021 North Dartmouth Ave, Claremont, CA 91711; (909) 607-9212;contact@druckerinstitute.com
The Public Welfare Foundation supports efforts to ensure fundamental rights and opportunities for people in need. They look for carefully defined points where their funds can make a difference in bringing about systemic changes that can improve the lives of countless people.Readers Digest
Contact: 1200 U Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009, 202-965-1800, Fax 202-266-8851
In partnership with Share Our Strength and Food Network, Reader's Digest and their sponsors are underwriting the creation of five new edible Good Food Gardens in schools and communities. It's part of their joint commitment to nutrition education and healthy food Good Food Gardens will be awarded to nonprofit 501(a)(3) organizations, schools with a valid NCES code or local government entities that serve children and youth. Official Rules Apply on LineSouthern Region IPM Center
Current Requests for ProposalsSouthern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Eligible: Any person or organization with an idea that will link sustainable agriculture activities to healthy rural community development.
Amount: Up to $10,000, can be spread over two years.
Contact: Paige Patton (770) 412-4787.
Call for Proposals
Eligible: preK-12 classroom teachers, community organizations and houses of worship
Amount: $500 to $2500
Priorities: direct student impact; reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools; and/or support educator professional development in these areas.
Contact: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104, (334) 956-8200, Contact: http://www.tolerance.org/teach/about/contact.jsp
Eligible: Private Non-Profit Entities Meeting specific requirements as listed in the Request for Applications
Amount: $10,000 -$300,000
Matching: 1:1
Priorities:Community Food Projects should be designed to (1): (A) meet the food needs of low-income people; (B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for (A) infrastructure improvement and development; (B) planning for long-term solutions; (C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers or (D) Food Security Learning Center to support a grant to a non-governmental organization (NGO) to establish and operate a national information and education clearinghouse on community food security.
Due Dates: May
Contact: Elizabeth Tuckermanty,etuckermanty@csrees.usda.gov
Grassroots Guide to the Farm Bill
Eligible: Students, Teachers and Organizations around the world
Amount: Up to $500
Matching: None required
Priorities: Youth applicants ages 5-14 take a leading role in the planning and implementing service projects focusing on the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, environmental issues, and other pressing priorities.
Due Dates: Two rounds of awards each year. Proposals are reviewed once in the months leading up to Global Youth Service Day and then again in the summer for projects taking place in October.
Contact: MinnieGrant@ysa.org
Eligible: Schools and Organizations planning service projects to be implemented by 5-18 year old youth.
Amount: 150 $500 grants
Matching: None required
Priorities: The goal of each grant is to inspire children to work with their families, friends, schools and communities to address critical environmental needs in their local, national, and global communities. Learn more about Disney’s Friends for Change at www.Disney.com/projectgreen.
Due Dates: Two rounds of awards each year. Proposals are reviewed once in the months leading up to GYSD and then again in the summer for projects taking place in October.
Contact:
Eligible: 501 (c)(3) organizations and government entities for programs and projects serving the people of North Carolina
Amount: Up to $35,000 per year for one or two years, larger amounts available
Matching: None required
Priorities: The Foundation focuses its grant making on five Focus Areas: Community Economic Development, the Environment, Social Justice and Equity, Democracy and Civic Engagement, and Pre-Collegiate Education.
Due Dates: February and August
Contact: Info@zsr.org, 336-725-7541
Please help us expand this list by sending information on other awards and opportunities for recognition to garden@ncsu.edu
