Funding Opportunities

National

Donors Choose DonorsChoose allows public school teachers to post requests that will directly benefit students. The process and rules are pretty straightforward. Teachers complete a one page application on line. Be sure your proposal does not foster discrimination or proselytize a religious or political viewpoint. Concerned individuals, DonorsChoose calls them Citizen Philanthropists, select projects to fund. Details:www.DonorsChoose.org

Active Living Research and Healthy Eating Research 2009 Call for Proposals for Rapid-Response Round Application Deadline: Rolling

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has posted a call for proposals (CFP) in the Childhood Obesity program area. Active Living Research and Healthy Eating Research are national programs of RWJF that support research to identify promising policy and environmental strategies for increasing physical activity, promoting healthy eating and preventing obesity. The overall aim of both of these programs is to provide key decision- and policy-makers with evidence to guide effective action to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.

The objective of this CFP is to support time-sensitive, opportunistic studies to evaluate changes in policies or environments with the potential to reach children who are at highest risk for obesity, including African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian-American and Pacific Islander children (ages 3 to 18) who live in low-income communities or communities with limited access to affordable healthy foods and/or safe opportunities for physical activity. Research studies may focus on one or both sides of the energy balance equation – on physical activity (including sedentary behavior), healthy eating or both. Studies funded under this CFP are expected to advance RWJF’s efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

Two types of studies are eligible for rapid-response funding under this CFP:

1. Opportunistic evaluations of imminent changes in policies or environments (i.e., “natural experiments”).

2. Studies that can inform an ongoing or upcoming policy debate (e.g., small experimental studies, secondary data analyses, cost-effectiveness analyses, health impact assessments, simulations of policy effects or macro-level policy analyses).

Up to $1.675 million total will be awarded for rapid-response research grants, with the majority of funds in this CFP focused on physical activity studies.

The maximum amount for a single grant is $150,000, with a maximum funding period of 12 months.

Visit the Active Living Research or Healthy Eating Research Web sites for more details about this CFP and information on how to apply, at www.activelivingresearch.org or www.healthyeatingresearch.org

Dairy MAX School Breakfast Grant Up to $1,000 per school to improve student access to nutritious breakfasts. The goal of the expanded breakfast program is to increase the average daily participation by 50 percent or more by establishing one of the following alternative breakfast service options: Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab ‘n Go Breakfast (served outside the cafeteria), or Breakfast after 1st Period.

National Gardening Association Announces 2009 Healthy Sprouts Awards Program The National Gardening Association encourages the growth of health-focused youth garden programs through the Healthy Sprouts Awards sponsored by Gardener's Supply Company. The awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. To be eligible for the 2009 Healthy Sprouts Awards, a school or organization must plan to garden in 2010 with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States.
In 2009, the program will present awards to twenty schools or organizations. Each recipient program will receive gardening supplies and resources, including gift certificates toward the purchase of gardening materials from Gardener's Supply. The top five programs will each receive a certificate valued at $500; fifteen more programs will each receive a $200 gift certificate.

National Gardening Association Announces Continuation of Youth Garden Grants Program The National Gardening Association has announced that the Home Depot is returning as the Youth Garden Grants sponsor for 2010. NGA annually awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs across the United States. Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18 years.Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so, but must wait one year before applying again, and must have significantly expanded their garden programs. For the 2010 grant cycle, 100 grants are available. Five programs will each receive gift cards valued at $1,000 (a $500 gift card to the Home Depot and a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog and educational materials from NGA). Ninety-five programs will each receive a $500 gift card to the Home Depot and educational materials from NGA.

National Gardening Association Invites Applications for 2009 Hooked on Hydroponics Education Grants The Grow Store and ProgressiveGardening.org have joined with the National Gardening Association to offer hydroponic equipment to expand indoor gardening opportunities for elementary and middle and high school students. The program will provide thirty-six schools with equipment and learning materials for hydroponics projects that involve at least fifteen children between the ages of 6 and 18 during the 2010 school year. Applicants must verify that their facility can accommodate the equipment in the award packages available for their age group.

Grants Encourage the Family Farming System The mission of Farm Aid is to keep family farmers throughout the United States on their land. Farm Aid supports organizations that work to maintain a family farm system of agriculture and that promote solutions to the challenges facing rural communities. Grants are provided in the following categories: Growing the Good Food Movement supports projects that increase the interest in family farm-identified, organic, or humanely-raised food. Helping Farmers Thrive supports projects that assist farmers transitioning to more sustainable farming practices, as well as support services for farm families in crisis. Taking Action to Change the System grants enable advocates to strengthen the voices of family farmers and promote their interests on a local, regional, and national level.

Strengthening Communities Fund Objective: The objective of the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) is to enable nonprofit organizations to contribute to the economic recovery and help Federal, State, local, and Indian/Native American Tribal governments ensure that the information and services described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) reach disadvantaged and hard-to-serve populations.
Program Focus: The focus of this program is to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, whether secular or faith based, to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits, including ARRA benefits.
Grant Program: SCF is made up of two separate grant programs, the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program and the State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building Program.

"Why I'm a Victory Grower" video contest To participate and receive a free one-year membership and a packet of seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, log on to TEL•A•VISION (www.telavision.tv) to access the free tools that will help you easily create a vision video.

Tell us why you’re a Victory Grower and how that affects who you want to be and what you want to do in the future. Maybe you really just like playing in the dirt, but deep down, gardening, farming or otherwise raising good food supports the American economy, preserves natural resources and can help stamp out hunger.

The top five videos will be shown at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) Food and Society Fellows Conference in Washington, D.C. on September 9-11.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Small, Socially- Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $1.463 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2009 for cooperatives or associations of cooperatives to assist small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural
producers. USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs hereby requests proposals from eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives for a competitively awarded grant to fund technical assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum award per grant is $175,000.

Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund The Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO) fund provides a way for their cooperative's farmers to identify and support key issues facing the organic marketplace and organic agriculture. The organic farmers of CROPP Cooperative, who produce the high quality organic products for Organic Valley® and Organic Prairie®, voluntarily contribute to the fund on an annual basis, and a committee of CROPP farmers reviews proposals and decides how to distribute the funds. The FAFO Farmer Committee accepts proposals from individuals and organizations seeking funding for particular projects or programs dedicated to furthering organic education, organic farming or product research, and organic advocacy.
Proposals are due September 1, 2009.

Northeast SARE Research and Education Grants The Research and Education program funds projects offering research, education, and demonstration projects that engage farmers as cooperators in the exploration of sustainable farm practices. Projects should be directed toward research results that will translate quickly into farmer benefit, and farmers, extension staff, and other stakeholders should be involved in planning the project content.
Proposals are due July 31, 2009.

Alabama

Alabama Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation Grants Twice each year the Alabama Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation makes grants available for classroom projects that integrate agriculture into curriculum areas during the school year. Judges will be the members of the Alabama Agriculture in the Classroom Steering Committee. Aplications for grants may be submitted by:
• Alabama teachers in either elementary or secondary levels of public, private, or parochial schools;
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System Agents who work with K-12 th grade students and/or teachers on a regular basis; or
• Alabama Soil and Water Association District Coordinators who work with K-12 th grade students and/or teachers on a regular basis.
Grants are made for amounts from $25 to $500 on the basis of an application.
Funds may be used for supplies and/or equipment to develop and teach the planned project.

For information contact:
Amy Belcher, Alabama Agriculture in the Classroom
P.O. box 3336, Montgomery, Alabama. 36109-0336
Phone: 334-240-7126 Fax: 334-240-7169

California

School Garden Grants Western Growers Foundation funds school fruit and vegetable gardens in California. Schools receive up to $1500, an irrigation kit provided by T-Systems, and a box of teacher resources. Deadlines for postmarked application are June 1 and November 15 of each year.

Hawaii

Environmental Education Mini-Grants Teachers in HAWAI'I can apply for these mini-grants to purchase equipment, supplies, trainings to support their farm to schools programs (including gardens).

Iowa

Leopold Center Grants The Leopold Center's work is organized in three initiative areas—ecology, marketing and food systems, and policy—each aimed at enhancing the condition and viability of Iowa's natural resources in varying, yet integrated ways. Pre-proposals for projects addressing these three initiatives are being accepted. Investigators may represent any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups). The Center strongly encourages the involvement and collaboration of farmers, landowners, and farm-based businesses in the pre-proposal process.
Proposals are due August 19, 2009.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom offers mini-grants of up to $1,500 to Massachusetts educators to support their agricultural education efforts. The next round of applications are due April 1, with later rounds due September 1 and November 1. To receive a copy of the mini- grant guidelines, send a letter to Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, P.O. Box 345, Seekonk MA 02771.

Michigan

W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Programming in the Greater Battle Creek, MI area

Fair Food Foundation The Fair Food Foundation is dedicated to creating a relationship-centered food system that provides access to fresh, local and sustainably-grown food for all. The Fair Food Foundation is not accepting letters of inquiry or proposals in 2007. Information regarding grantmaking will become available on this site in 2008. If you would like to be contacted when that information is available, please enter your email address on their website.

Nebraska

Urbanic Farms Initiative The Urbanic Farms Initiative is designed to replace vacant inner city lots with healthy, sustainable organic gardens that serve low-income neighborhoods and food shelters.