Garden Grants

Vermont and New England-based Grant Programs
Youth Gardening Grant Programs
General Grant Programs That Support Garden Projects

Vermont and New England Grant Programs:

• Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Vermont Grant Programs fund community projects that further social justice, protect the environment and support sustainable food systems. More info.
  • Vermont Community Action Team Grants are small grants, generally under $2,000, that give special attention to underserved populations including seniors, at-risk youth and low income communities. The CATs prioritize support for basic human needs and the needs of underserved areas of the state as well as organizations that are primarily volunteer-led. Applications accepted any time and reviewed monthly.
• Community Sufficiency Grant Program – Grants available for Vermont-based Community Resilience Organizations (CROs) or a dedicated group that is in the process of becoming a CROs. Find out about CROs and how to start your own team. Applications accepted on a rolling basis for up to $2500. Contact May Erouart with questions: may.erouart@gmail.com.
• Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant – This Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ grant is to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) organizations develop and expand farm to school and farm to early childhood programs. In addition to financial support, grantees also receive technical assistance from the Vermont Farm to School Network and partner organizations to help them implement comprehensive farm to school and farm to early childhood strategies using the “3-C” approach, which incorporates Classroom, Cafeteria, and the Community. Offered annually. More info.
• Grassroots Fund Grow Grants – Grants of $1,000-$4,000 for established gardens to increase capacity, collaborate, and leverage impact, from The New England Grassroots Environment Fund (Grassroots Fund). Eligible groups are doing community-based work in New England, are volunteer-driven or have no more than 2 full-time paid staff (or equivalents) and have an annual operating budget under $100,000. Application deadlines: third Tuesday in March and September, each year. More info.
• Grassroots Fund Seed Grants – Grants of $500-$1,000 for new and evolving gardens from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund (Grassroots Fund) . Eligible groups are doing community-based work in New England, are volunteer-driven or have no more than 2 full-time paid staff (or equivalents), and have an annual operating budget under $100,000. Applications accepted year-round. More info.
• Grassroots Fund Young Leaders Grants – Grants of up to $6,000 for groups led by young adults (ages of 15 and 25 years old). Seeking projects in which young people are in a relationship to the project that goes beyond them being recipients of service. Application deadlines: third Tuesday in March and September, each year. More info.
• Vermont Community Foundation grants help sustain healthy and vital Vermont communities. A variety of grant opportunities are available–statewide and more regionally specific. More info.
• Zero Waste Grants – Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District is offering grants to public schools located in district towns. Schools may apply for up to $2,500 annually for projects that actively reduce waste, including onsite composting. More info. Not located in Central Vermont? Ask your Solid Waste District about funding opportunities for composting projects and let us know about it!

Youth Gardening Grant Programs:

• Annie’s Garden Funder – a fundraising platform through Crowdrise to empower schools and like-minded friends to raise money for school gardens. More info.
• DonorsChoose.org is a crowdfunding platform for public school teachers from across the U.S. to request much-needed materials and experiences for their students. More info.
• KidsGardening – The KidsGardening website keeps an updated list of grants for youth gardens. More info.
• K4C Microgrant Program provides microgrants in $250 – $1,000, helping young citizen leaders execute and magnify their initiatives to help repair our world. Students 18 years of age and under may apply for funds to complete service projects in their communities throughout the United States. Applications can be submitted at any time but are reviewed quarterly following these deadlines: January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st. More info.
• Seeds for Education Grant Program – Wild Ones offers funding for U.S. schools, nature centers, and other non-profit places of learning from preschool through high school, including houses of worship. Awards of $100 to $500 each are for purchasing appropriate native plants and seed to grow natural landscapes at centers of learning. Application period: July15 – November 15, 2022. Awards announced mid-February, each year. More info.
• Shade Structure Grant – The AAD Shade Structure Program provides monetary awards of up to $8,000 for the purchase of a permanent shade structure to schools, day-cares, parks, and other non-profit organizations where children learn and play. Application period: October 1 – December 31, each year. More info.
• Whole Kids Foundation – Grants and awards for schools and other youth programs to enhance their farm to table programs, including funding for salad bars, gardens and bees!  Salad Bar Grant applications accepted on a rolling basis. Other grants available annually. More info.

General Grant Programs That Support Garden Projects:

• Awesome Foundation – Every month, one $1,000 micro-grant will be given to an individual or group to fund an awesome idea.  The more inventive, the better.  More info.
• Clif Family Foundation – These grants support daily operating costs and specific projects. Priority funding for applicants working to strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and safeguard our environment and natural resources. Applications are reviewed three times a year; the deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 1. Grants awarded during one cycle will be announced at the beginning of the following cycle. More info.
• Community Impact Grants – The Home Depot Foundation offers grants of up to $5,000, available to IRS-registered 501c designated organizations and tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. They focus on serving veterans, diverse and underserved communities. Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. More info.
• ioby is a crowd resourcing platform for funding neighborhood projects.  The group combines “crowdfunding” (the pooling of small online donations for a cause or project) with “resource organizing” (a core tenet of community organizing) to organize all kinds of capital—cash, social networks, in-kind donations, volunteer time, advocacy—from within the neighborhood to make the neighborhood a better place to live. More info.
• Seed Money is a fundraising portal for public food garden projects. They use a “crowdgranting” platform, combining crowdfunding with challenge grants. Participating projects use the possibility of securing a challenge grant of $400 to motivate local donors in their area to contribute to their project. Applications due November 12, each year.  More info.
• The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) donates orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. Applications accepted on a rolling basis and remain on file until there is an opportunity to award an orchard. More info.