America the Beautiful Fund: Operation Green Plant
Application process for free seeds. Includes sending a letter, filling out an online application, and sending a check for shipping and handling.
Fiskars: Project Orange Thumb
Grants for community gardens. Recipients receive garden tools, funds, and t-shirts. Applications accepted mid-November through mid-February.
Garden Burger: Community Garden Grants
Past grants given for community kitchens, school gardens, community gardens, and other community food projects that address nutritional needs of communities.
Mantis Award
Yearly award of a Mantis tiller/cultivator for non-profit educational and charitable garden projects.
Nature Hills Green America Award
Awards of $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 to communities focused on environmental projects by planting trees, bushes, and shrubs. Although projects are based on planting of trees and shrubs, many awards were given to community gardens.
Tomato Bob: Seeds for Schools
Program that sends free seeds to school and community gardens that support local food banks. Requires contact name, school or organization, mailing address, and the reason for requesting seeds.
USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
Awards grants to programs focusing on long-term food security initiatives with an emphasis on low-income areas and populations. Also emphasizes cooperative relationships between farmers and local food systems.
School Garden Grants
Kids Gardening
Comprehensive list of grants for school gardens.
School Garden Weekly
List consists mostly of school garden grants, however some include community gardens as well.
California School Garden Network Grants and Fundraising
Extensive list of grants for school and community gardens. Some are California-specific, but most are nationwide.
Fundraisers
American Community Gardening Association (ACGA): Money for Community Gardens
Great tips on raising money for community gardens. Has information on donor relations, applying for grants, and hosting events. Covers etiquette and has entertaining section on “Proven Ways to Fail at Fundraising”.
Rebel Tomato
Off-shoot of American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) page has list of fundraising tips and grant resources.
Seeds of Change Healthy Fundraising
Fundraising for school gardens through organic seed sales. After initial costs, schools keep all profit from seed sales. Fundraising kits have free shipping and include free garden starter kits.
Agriculture and Food and Research Initiative (AFRI): Improved Sustainable Food Systems
This grant is for universities who conduct research, education, and extension on local and regional food systems, from field to fork, that will increase sustainable food security in U.S. communities and expand viability within local economies.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
This grant is for Low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines. This grant works to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, and to promote the use and expansion of farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs throughout the country.
