| Title |
Organization |
Grant Deadline | Description | Category | Funding Amount | Geography | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Fresh Start Foundation Community Grants Program | USDA |
Deadline passed as of April 20, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The initiative extends the foundation’s work beyond the school day, to provide children with access to fresh fruit and vegetables afterschool, on the weekends, during summer breaks and in other creative venues. The program provides $25,000 in grants to local community organizations and groups that share the United Fresh Start Foundation’s commitment to increasing kids’ access to fresh produce, helping them develop healthy habits to last a lifetime. Grants will support programs, events and/or activities that increase children’s access to fresh produce. |
food justice, distribution, nutrition, education, diet, health, noncommunicable disease,accessibility, local, fresh, economy, school, youth | Grants are available up to a maximum of $2,500. | National | Link | |
| Alaska Native-Service and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program | USDA | 03/28/2023 |
Deadline: March 28, 2023. The purpose of this program is to promote and strengthen the ability of Alaska Native-Serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs in food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Priority will be given to those projects that enhance educational equity for underrepresented students; strengthen institutional educational capacities; prepare students for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States; and maximize the development and use of resources to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. Learn more here. |
Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, agricultural sciences, career development, equity, youth | $150,000 - 1,000,000 | Alaska, Hawaii | Link |
| Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants | USDA |
Recent Deadline: November 20, 2020. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Applications for Grants of $20,000 or Less and Loan/Grant of $20,000 or Less Combo Applications due by November 2, 2020, or March 31, 2021. Applications for Unrestricted Grants or Loan/Unrestricted Grant Combo Applications due by March 31, 2021. |
rural development, infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable | Unrestricted Grants (up to $500,000) | National | Link | |
| Rural Business Development Grants | USDA | 02/28/2023 |
Deadline: February 28, 2023. Application deadlines vary by state. Check with your local program staff. RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities. |
small business, rural business, family-owned, private business, rural communities | Grants range from $10,000 up to $500,000. | United States | Link |
| Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership | USDA |
Deadline passed as of May 24, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The 2014 Farm Bill replaced the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program with the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership as an enrollment option under ACEP – WRE. WREP continues to be a voluntary program through which NRCS signs agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out high priority wetland protection, restoration and enhancement and to improve wildlife habitat. |
land, easement, property, restoration, habitat, management, conservation, climate change, wetland, riparian, estuary, swamp, marsh, pond | Varies. | National | Link | |
| Local Food Purchase Assistance Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 5, 2022. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will establish cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments for the purpose of supporting local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through food purchasing under the Build Back Better Initiative. These cooperative agreements will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. Learn more and apply here. |
Food assistance, economic opportunity, food storage, food distribution | National | Link | ||
| Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 8, 2022. The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. Learn more and apply here. |
Farm business, agriculture, financial management | Up to $500,000 | National | Link | |
| Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) FY 2019 | USDA |
Deadline Passed 06/10/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Rural Housing Service (Agency), an Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community. |
rural development, tribal housing, facilities, development projects, non-profit housing, economic development, infrastructure, capacity building | $50,000-$250,000 | United States | Link | |
| AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities | USDA |
Last deadline: January 19, 2023. The AgrAbility program increases the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities will experience success in agricultural production. The program supports projects between State Cooperative Extension System and private, non-profit disability organizations who work in partnership to provide agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming and farm-related occupations. |
agriculture, equity, inclusion, social justice, disability services | $150,000 - $180,000 | National | Link | |
| Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants | USDA |
Applications accepted continuously. This program provides grants to assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grant may fund waterline extensions from existing systems, construction of new water lines; repairs to existing systems, construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other water sources. . Priority is given to areas with less than 5,000 people, low-income areas, and communities facing imminent decline and shortage of water. |
Water, Natural Resources, Health, Emergency | Individual awards range from 150,000 to $500,000 depending on the severity of decline in quantity or quality of water. | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for FY22 (Alaska) | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 11, 2022. This funding seeks to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Alaska. A total of up to $415,000 is available for the Alaska (State) CIG competition in FY 2022. Learn more and apply here. |
Conservation, innovation, Alaska, technology | $5,000 - 415,000 | Alaska | Link | |
| Community Connect Grant | USDA |
Deadline to Apply, April 15, 2019. Deadline for 2020 Unknown. This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. The Community Connect program helps rural communities extend access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for people and businesses. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet for jobs, education, healthcare, public safety and community development |
development, economy, rural communities, | Unknown | National | Link | |
| Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants | USDA |
Past deadline: May 15, 2019. The DLT Program provides financial assistance to enable and improve distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. These grants are intended to increase rural access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in scope. |
telecommunications, rural, telemedicine | $500,000-$50,000 | National | Link | |
| Regional Conservation Partnership Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. This year’s funding includes updates that encourage projects to address climate change, benefit historically underserved farmers, and support urban agriculture. |
Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Farming, Forestry, Ranching, Watershed, Collaboration | $250,000-$10,000,000 | National, International (US Territories) | Link | |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program | USDA |
Past Deadline: May 16, 2019. Beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts. But, for the first time, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234, Section 7410) appropriated $75 million for FY 2009 to FY 2012 to develop and offer education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The Agriculture Act of 2014 provided an additional $20 million per year for 2014 through 2018. The reasons for the renewed interest in beginning farmer and rancher programs are as follows: the rising average age of U.S. farmers; the 8% projected decrease in the number of farmers and ranchers between 2008 and 2018; and the growing recognition that new programs are needed to address the needs of the next generation of beginning farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. |
ranchers, Farm Bill, outreach, programs food | $600,000- $50,000 | National | Link | |
| Crop Insurance in Targeted States Program | USDA |
Deadline Passed 7/30/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The purpose of the Targeted States program is to deliver crop insurance education and information to U.S. agricultural producers in States where there is traditionally, and continues to be a low level of Federal crop insurance participation and availability, and producers are underserved by the Federal crop insurance program. These states, defined as Targeted States for the purposes of this RFA, are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Any cooperative agreements that may be funded will not exceed the maximum funding amount established for each of the Targeted States. Recipients must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project. |
crop insurance, education, farm management, planning | Alaska- $203,000 | Alaska | Link | |
| Risk Management Education Partnership Program | USDA |
Deadline Passed 07/30/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to deliver crop insurance education and risk management training to U.S. agricultural producers to assist them in identifying and managing production, marketing, legal, financial, and human risk. |
climate change, human health, sustainability, agriculture, economy, management, planning, policy | varies | National | Link | |
| Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grants | USDA |
This program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression. An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. |
community facilities, development, economic depression, rural areas, public health | Varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
| Community Facilities Tribal College Initiative Grants | USDA |
Deadline is ongoing. This program provides funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment. |
community facilities, development, educational facilities, infrastructure, renovation and improvements, cultural projects | Grants up to $250,000 per land grant institution Funds can be used to pay up to 95% of the project cost | National | Link | |
| Water & Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias | USDA |
Applications are accepted year-round. This program provides low-income communities, which face significant health risks, access to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities and services. |
low-income communities, public health, safe drinking water, waste disposal | varies | Rural Areas, Tribal Lands | Link | |
| Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages | USDA |
Applications accepted continuously. Meant to fund water and waste disposal systems in rural Alaskan Villages. Funds must be used for development and construction of water and wastewater systems to correct dire health and sanitation conditions in those villages. Many communities in remote rural Alaska, where villages are accessible by plane or boat only, are essentially inaccessible during the long, hard winters. They lag far behind the lower 48 States in having safe and dependable drinking water and suitable waste disposal systems available. Construction costs are extremely high. This is due in part to the severe weather conditions, which makes laying pipe difficult, if not impossible. These conditions also require the use of insulated pipe, or in areas of permafrost, above ground utilidors, often with heat traced insulated pipe. The vast distances from the transportation hub of Anchorage to a village increases costs substantially as the material must be delivered by barge or air. |
Adaptation, Emergency Management, Water, Health, Natural Resources | The maximum grant is 75 percent of the project cost. | Alaska, Coastal | Link | |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 14, 2022. The purpose of the Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) is to enable 1994 institutions to deliver science-based, culturally relevant extension education programs designed to address public needs and improve quality of life. The TCEP is intended to be a component of the applicant 1994 institution's land-grant roadmap or strategic planning process. To the extent practicable, priorities should reflect NIFA's national critical needs areas: 1) Development of sustainable energy; 2) Increased global food security; 3) Adaptation of agriculture and natural resources to global climate change; 4) Reduction of childhood and adolescent obesity; and 5) Improved food safety. Learn more and apply here. Download the RFA here. |
Education, agriculture, training, development, research, technology, development, tribal youth, food security, community | $60,000 - $200,000 | National | Link | |
| Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: March 31, 2022. This program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Increasing energy efficiency and developing more renewable-energy systems is cost effective and reduces the consumption of fuels that generate greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. Applications can be for grants of $20,000 or less or a loan/grant combination of $20,000 or less. Learn more and apply here. |
Rural, agriculture, energy, equipment, emissions | Grants of $20,000 or less or a loan/grant combination of $20,000 or less. | National | Link | |
| Individual Water & Wastewater Grants | USDA |
Applications accepted continuously. The purpose of this grant is to provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks. Every effort is made to identify and fund the neediest projects. |
Adaptation, Water, Health, Natural Resources | Generally, applicants are expected to borrow as much as they can afford to repay, as in the regular loan program. However, water and waste disposal systems can obtain up to 100 percent grants to construct basic drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm drainage to serve the residents. | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Emergency Watershed Protection Program | USDA |
Applications accepted continuously. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. The program is designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. All projects undertaken, with the exception of the purchase of floodplain easements, must have a project sponsor. |
Water, Natural Resources, Adaptation, Disaster, Emergency Management, Health | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants | USDA |
Applications accepted year round. This program assists low-income communities with initial planning and development of applications for USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan/grant and loan guarantee programs. The area must also have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income |
water, waste disposal, planning, development, infrastructure, rural communities | Maximum of $30,000 or 75 percent of the predevelopment planning costs. | Rural Areas, Tribal Lands | Link | |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program | USDA |
Deadline passed as of June 28, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA focuses on the societal challenge to adapt agroecosystems and natural resource systems to climate variability and change and implement mitigation strategies in those systems. In the Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of reducing the use of energy, nitrogen, reducing GHG emissions from practices, and water in the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; reduce GHG emissions from these agroecosystems; and increase carbon sequestration. Project types supported by AFRI within this RFA include multi-function integrated research, education, and/or extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. |
Education, Natural Resources, Research, Adaptation, Mitigation, Land, Health, Energy, Water | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant | USDA |
Previous Deadline: 04/30/2020. The Agency will make grants to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations Technical Assistance and/or training with respect to essential community facilities programs. The Technical Assistance and/or training will assist communities, Indian Tribes, and Nonprofit Corporations to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area. Once those needs have been identified, the Grantee can assist in identifying public and private resources to finance those identified community facility needs. |
community facilities, infrastructure, planning, training, technical assistance | up to $150,000 | National | Link | |
| Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants | USDA |
Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project. Funds may be used to:
|
housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance | varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program | USDA |
Deadline Passed for 2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), AMS, requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that establish, expand, and promote direct producer-to-consumer marketing. |
Farmers Market, Local Foods, Sustainability, Bioregionalism, Sustainable Agriculture, Community Development. | Capacity Building: Minimum grant award is $50,000. Maximum award is $250,000. Community Development, Training, and Technical Assistance: Minimum grant award is $250,000. Maximum award $500,000. | United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. | Link |
