Thank you for your interest in applying. Our 2024 application is now closed. Please check back in January 2025 for our next grant cycle.ย
Eligibility
– U.S. Farms only are eligible to apply
– Grant awards are up to $5,000 maximum
– Applicant is an owner/operator of the farm or has long-term, legal access to the land. Note: If farming on leased land, a letter of support from the landowner specifying length of the lease agreement must be provided with the grant application.
– 501(c)(3) agricultural nonprofits are also encouraged to apply. Note: You will be required to upload 501(c)(3) document as well as a complete list of board of directors.
– The applicant farm must be an established working farm with at least 2 years in operation.
– We welcome farms to re-apply for the same project or a different one if you have not been funded in an earlier grant cycle.
– Farm is small to medium-sized as determined by acreage in agricultural production. Farms with more than 250 acres in agricultural production are ineligible to apply.
Preferences for 2024
Projects are scored on their impact to help farms operate more sustainably as well as strengthen community, including but not limited to:
– Water Conservation (for example, drip irrigation & rainwater catchment)
– Natural Pest Control (for example, owl or bat boxes)
– Pollination (for example, beehives & pollinator hedgerows)
– Soil Health (for example, cover crops & minimizing tillage)
– Energy Efficiency (for example, renewable energy options like solar, geothermal & wind)
– Heirlooms (for example, not using GMO seed, saving heirloom seeds, using heritage varieties)
– Increase Low-Income Consumersโ Access to food (for example, expanding free or low-cost CSA shares)
– Equity, Community Building & Education (for example, sustainability education for new farmers, students, refugees, etc.)
– Support beginning and under-represented farmers including BIPOC and women
For examples of past granteesโ projects, visit the Alumni Grantees page of our website: fruitguyscommunityfund.org/alumni-grantees
Your Chances
We receive applications for many worthy projects but have limited funding available. Up to twenty-five (25) finalists will be invited to submit full applications.
Remember We Will Not Fund
– Farms located outside of the U.S.
– Non soil-based farming operations (i.e. hydroponic/aquaponic growing systems)
– Land purchases
– Project costs associated with labor
– Consultants or administrative costs
– Requests that are dependent upon receiving funding from a larger grant
– General marketing costs
– We’re not currently considering applications from farms that have already received a FGCF grant
Resources
We welcome you to preview the example applications below.