Search Through Agriculture Grants in Maine in the U.S.

Our Story

We believe entrepreneurs are uniquely placed to transform the world, today and in the future, by using their skills, networks, and resources to tackle huge, seemingly insurmountable problems. However, they often lack the time, tools, or knowledge to direct their charitable giving where it will do the most good.

Founders Pledge exists to bridge this gap. We advise on, facilitate, and maximize the impact of our members’ giving.

In our vision of the future, the value created by technology benefits those who need it most.

Funding Areas

We are particularly interested in work being done in four areas:

• Global health and development:
  • Especially programs that can, in expectation, save a life for under $4,000, avert a DALY for under $70, or double income for one person at a cost of less than $30.
  • Note that this includes interventions that affect economic growth.
  • We don’t necessarily require that grantees be able to point to an RCT in order to demonstrate cost effectiveness.
• Global catastrophic risk:
  • Especially programs that can affect the likelihood of war between great powers, reduce risks from advanced artificial intelligence, or mitigate the possibility that biomedical advances could be used to cause harm.
• Climate:
  • Especially programs that can make a compelling case for advancing an important solution neglected by the large existing climate philanthropy and action effort.
• Animal welfare
  • Mainly corporate campaigns, especially in geographies where other animal welfare charities aren’t working — as well as on novel bets on cellular agriculture and plant based meats, including those that are trying to increase public R&D funding.

How We Can Help

There are three ways we may be able to help:

• We typically make small grants of between $50,000 and $300,000 from our various Funds, though in special cases we would consider larger sums.
• We can recommend much larger one-time grants of up to $5m to large donors.
• We can recommend programs to members on an ongoing basis. Such recommended programs tend to draw in variously-sized donations from Founders Pledge members several times per year.

Welcome to the Maine DACF

Welcome to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), the State of Maine's support center for our many land-based, natural resource interests. The Department balances for and develops the state's various land-based, natural-resources including Maine agriculture, forests, outdoor recreation and public-access.

The DACF helps guide Maine's 21st-century natural resource economy by supporting the creation of new jobs and businesses, improving and supporting existing land-based industries and streamlining regulations. We strive to provide excellent customer service and we facilitate a team approach to land-use planning, conservation efforts and economic activity. Our professionals work each day to strengthen the base of scientific research and information for effective decision-making.

Our agency has a wide range of duties from protecting the food we eat, stopping forest fires, mapping the ocean floor; keeping our parks and public lands pristine and accessible, planning wise land utilization, and helping beginning farmers.

We take a collective pride in providing excellent customer service through our hundreds of activities and programs.

Land for Maine's Future: Public Water Access to Maine Waters Fund

The Public Access to Maine Waters Fund is designed to 'get people to the water.' The board will accomplish this by acquiring fee simple of public access rights on small parcels of land to create or enhance access points to lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal waters. Land for access could support a facility for trailered boats, or small, hand-launched craft (canoes, kayaks) and provide bank fishing, swimming, clamming, worming, or other water contact opportunities. Access is primarily intended for general public use.

An application to LMF requires sponsorship from a suitable state agency. An application must include full knowledge and agreement from the landowner that their project is up for consideration for LMF funding.

Funds often assist land trusts, municipal conservation commissions, local governments, private nonprofit charitable organizations, state agencies, and private foundations.

About Us

Mattina R. Proctor (1926-2005) was a compassionate philanthropist from Camden, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Proctor championed and funded many worthwhile projects to benefit those in need, protect the environment, and bring fine music, arts, and media to the people. In her memory, The Mattina R. Proctor Foundation continues to support charitable organizations and initiatives in Maine, Massachusetts and beyond that focus on education, healthcare, music, and environmental stewardship.

Need Based Giving

MRPF strives to make a difference with the grants we make. We prefer to focus our giving on particular projects rather than on general program support. Successful applicants are generally those who demonstrate a specific need related to our focus areas in Maine, Massachusetts and beyond.

Focus Areas 

Education

We support organizations that provide educational opportunities in music, performance, and in traditional trades and crafts. The foundation has supported projects at the university and secondary school levels, and programs that engage younger students. We are especially interested in projects that support music and trades education in traditionally underserved populations in Maine and Massachusetts.

The Arts 

We supports organizations and initiatives that bring fine music, arts, and media to the people primarily in Maine and Massachusetts with a special focus on opera. We generally focus our funding on performance and education organizations. In this focus area we tend to concentrate on funding opportunities where major foundation support is critical to the ongoing success of the applicant.

Healthcare

We support healthcare initiatives predominantly in Maine and the Boston area, for public health and medical research. Funding is provided for initiatives in diabetes research and care, dental care, and projects that seek to provide preventative healthcare to underserved populations in Maine.

Environmental Stewardship

We support organizations and campaigns that seek to acquire and protect land in the Midcoast region of Maine, both through direct acquisitions and via conservation easements. We tends to give to conservation organizations that demonstrate a desire to support rural economies through multiple-use management objectives, providing for continued agricultural and recreational uses, along with sustainable timber management programs. In all of our grants, the economic impact on jobs and the regional economy are important factors in the decision-making process.

About Us

Mattina R. Proctor (1926-2005) was a compassionate philanthropist from Camden, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Proctor championed and funded many worthwhile projects to benefit those in need, protect the environment, and bring fine music, arts, and media to the people. In her memory, The Mattina R. Proctor Foundation continues to support charitable organizations and initiatives in Maine and Massachusetts that focus on education, healthcare, music, and environmental stewardship.

Our Focus

MRPF supports organizations and initiatives primarily in Maine and Massachusetts that focus on education, healthcare, music, and environmental stewardship. Grants from MRPF typically range in size from $2,500 to $50,000. Grants are usually made for a specific project in a single year.

Multi-year grants may occasionally be made.

Need Based Giving

MRPF strives to make a difference with the grants we make.  Successful applicants are generally those who demonstrate a specific need related to our focus areas in Maine and Massachusetts.

Focus Areas: 

Education

We support organizations that provide educational opportunities in music, performance, and in traditional trades and crafts. The foundation has supported projects at the university and secondary school levels, and programs that engage younger students. We are especially interested in projects that support music and trades education in traditionally underserved populations in Maine and Massachusetts.

The Arts

We supports organizations and initiatives that bring fine music, arts, and media to the people primarily in Maine and Massachusetts with a special focus on opera. We generally focus our funding on performance and education organizations. In this focus area we tend to concentrate on funding opportunities where major foundation support is critical to the ongoing success of the applicant.

Healthcare

We support healthcare initiatives predominantly in Maine and the Boston area, for public health and medical research. Funding is provided for initiatives in diabetes research and care, dental care, and projects that seek to provide preventative healthcare to underserved populations in Maine.

Environmental Stewardship

We support organizations and campaigns that seek to acquire and protect land in the Midcoast region of Maine, both through direct acquisitions and via conservation easements. We tends to give to conservation organizations that demonstrate a desire to support rural economies through multiple-use management objectives, providing for continued agricultural and recreational uses, along with sustainable timber management programs. In all of our grants, the economic impact on jobs and the regional economy are important factors in the decision-making process.

Rainer Arnhold Fellowship

We’re impact and scale-obsessed. Each year we select 10 fellows and help them (1) design high-impact scalable solutions and strategies for better and more lasting outcomes; (2) build the organizations to deliver them at scale; and (3) become part of a growing community of innovators in global development.

The one-year fellowship is a mix of money and a lot of ideas, support, and connections. The main event is usually a week-long in-person retreat.Here are the components of the fellowship in more detail:

Design and Strategy

‍The fellowship is bookended by an intensive week-long workshop to dive in on design for impact and strategy for scale. It’s a rare opportunity to focus completely on new ideas and a systematic way to apply them.

Community and Connections

We bring together a cohort of leaders committed to social justice and ending extreme poverty, alongside some great experts, consultants, and our team. Fellows join a community of over 100 previous fellows.

Resources and Support

The fellowship comes with $100K (delivered in two $50K tranches). Learning resources are regularly shared to keep everyone informed on the latest thinking and doing. We also hold open office hours year round.

Design For Impact

Our Approach to Design

All our fellows have great ideas. And want to create big change for the better. Our design tools take them all the way from a great idea to impact at scale. Scale for us doesn’t simply mean growth, nor is it just a big number. And it isn’t about an organization “scaling;” it’s about scaling the impact you want to see in the world.

We’ve found that for an organization to get to “scale” and make a big dent in a big problem it has to go through some stages 1) smart R&D to arrive at a scalable model, 2) replication by your own organization to prove scalability, and finally 3) scale via replication by others that creates the exponential growth of impact. The first part of the fellowship focuses on how to turn an idea into a systematic and replicable model. It takes them through a series of steps to get to a detailed impact model, and then serves as the vehicle of an ongoing process of iterative redesign. And then we dig into how to shepherd it through the stages to scale. It’s a systematic approach to go all the way. You can take a look at some of the design content here.

The Retreat

The main event is a week-long retreat where fellows have the opportunity to think deeply about their path to create meaningful impact at scale. We bring together founders, experts, experienced doers, and our team. It's fast-paced, interactive, and fun.

The engagement also helps Fellows work through the organizational and financial models – how to deliver the impact model and how to pay for it. Fellows work directly with our team to incorporate new information, lessons, and ideas into their model.

Fellows get to listen, learn and support each other through:

• Design & scale sessions that build on pre-work
• Iteration on design for impact and strategy for scale
• Honed communications
• Small group topical conversations
• A series of curated one-on-one conversations

They emerge with more clarity on the dream and a roadmap to help get them there.

The Global Commons Alliance’s Accountability Accelerator

The Accountability Accelerator is currently funding early-stage projects and organizations that contribute to building an accountability architecture across the four clusters with significant grant making through a regional lens across Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

We support the development of a robust accountability ecosystem for corporate action on nature by making small to mid-sized grants (~USD 50,000-100,000) to specific projects that fit with our areas of work: Data & Standards, Finance, Legal, and Campaigns. We specifically focus on closing gaps in the accountability landscape and on projects that are early-stage and require higher-risk seed funding that might be deemed too risky by larger funders.

We work with applicants to co-develop proposals and accept proposals on a rolling basis. We pride ourselves in our ability to be reactive and nimble to catch and support urgent and time-sensitive projects, including lesser-known or early-stage ideas and organizations, with a keen attention to local organizations at the front-line of where devastation of nature is happening.

Across our clusters, we support projects which align with the following elements of the accountability ecosystem:

• Frameworks and tools, including standards, frameworks and targets based on credible data to enable business and financial institution commitment, disclosure, planning and action.
• Incentives and capacity building for companies to act by enabling service providers,  NGOs & business networks share knowledge, guidance & tools for business & FIs to identify, address and act on the harm to nature.
• Assurance and pressures, including third party validation of science based targets for natures, verification of transition planning and progress, and enabling a broad set of stakeholders advocate for action while driving corporate accountability
• Policy and regulation through influencing governments and regulators to embed nature and society into policies, finance rules, and legal framework & create economic incentives for business and FIs to act.
• Community mobilization by which citizens are mobilized, IPLC rights are recognized and people everywhere are supported in their efforts to hold corporations accountable, especially their supply chains and impacts on the ground.

Finally, the Accountability Accelerator recognises and supports the rights and leadership roles of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as stewards of nature and the vast majority of the world’s biodiversity regions. We endeavor to have at least half our grants going to regional and local organizations, where the impacts of global agricultural, manufacturing, and commodity supply chains are most deeply felt on the ground.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture, and housed at the Maine Department of Agriculture. Our goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society so that they will become citizens who support wise agricultural policies and local agriculture endeavors.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by the Maine Agricultural specialty license plate, grants and private sponsors. Last year programs were utilized by over 77,000 Maine students. Grants were distributed to educational programs for over $60,000 in four different categories including; School Gardens and Greenhouses, Agricultural Awareness and Agricultural Leadership.

MAITC was established in 2007 as a Public Instrumentality working directly with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many Maine agricultural businesses and organizations.

MAITC promotes the understanding of the food and fiber system in Maine and the nation, by providing information of agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.

Agricultural Leadership Grant – Up to $1,000

These grants are in support of leadership development activities for students already enrolled in agriculture courses at the Middle or High School level, in formal and informal education settings, providing these students with the skills to become future leaders in the agriculture and natural resources field. Grants are intended to support organized leadership programs rather than an individual student.

The maximum duration of the grants will be one year

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture, and housed at the Maine Department of Agriculture. Our goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society so that they will become citizens who support wise agricultural policies and local agriculture endeavors.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by the Maine Agricultural specialty license plate, grants and private sponsors. Last year programs were utilized by over 77,000 Maine students. Grants were distributed to educational programs for over $60,000 in four different categories including; School Gardens and Greenhouses, Agricultural Awareness and Agricultural Leadership.

MAITC was established in 2007 as a Public Instrumentality working directly with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many Maine agricultural businesses and organizations.

MAITC promotes the understanding of the food and fiber system in Maine and the nation, by providing information of agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.

Agriculture Education Organization Grant – Up to $2,000

Suitable projects will promote an understanding of the food and fiber system in the state and the nation through the infusion of agricultural concepts into Pre K – 12th grade level curricula.

Funds may be used for events, materials and educational programs for students, educators and/or volunteers with a statewide impact.

The maximum duration of the grants will be one year.

The Mosaic Company Foundation

Our mission is to help the world grow the food it needs

Doing our part to support global initiatives and local needs within the areas where we live and work is something we are passionate about. We continually strive to make a positive impact in our communities around the world by partnering with organizations and supporting initiatives that can help improve quality of life. The Mosaic Company, The Mosaic Company Foundation and The Mosaic Institute in Brazil are making investments to help feed the hungry, protect our critical natural resources, support education, health and culture, and much more. Annually, we contribute about $12 million through philanthropic funding, employee engagement and in-kind donations.

Mosaic Company Foundation Community Investment Grant

We are proud to support organizations and initiatives that create growth and leave a lasting impact in our communities in three main focus areas: Food, Water and Local Community. Each year, we invest an average of $12 million.

Food

To feed a growing global population, food production will have to double by 2050. This is a daunting challenge considering that today one billion people go to bed hungry each night. We seek to address these issues by concentrating on the following funding areas:

• Hunger: food insecurity and food system development in local communities where we have facilities and offices.
• Global Agricultural Development: addressing global food security through development programs focused on smallholder farmers in developing nations where we have key stakeholders.
• Agricultural Education: research, education and extension programs primarily focused on soil health and balanced nutrition and increasing the capacity of farmers to grow more food sustainably.

Water

Water is the greatest limiting factor to growing more food. By 2030, it is estimated that the world will experience a 30 percent shortfall in freshwater supply at current consumption rates. We seek to address water conservation by concentrating on the following funding areas:

• Habitat Conservation: conserving resources and encouraging stewardship of the environment, including biodiversity and habitat protection where we have facilities and offices
• Nutrient Stewardship: nutrient stewardship and ecosystem management programs that promote sustainable agriculture and best management practices in watersheds where we have facilities, offices, and other key stakeholder relationships
• Watershed Restoration: preservation and restoration in regions where we have facilities and offices

Local

Our local communities are our homes, and we have a vested interest in their sustainability. We understand that for Mosaic to prosper, our communities must also. Mosaic strives to make investments that will protect and enhance the long-term quality of life in our communities for ourselves, our families and our neighbors. We concentrate funding in the following areas:

• Philanthropic and Civic: partnerships that enrich the long-term strength of communities in which Mosaic has offices and operations
• Operating Communities: Organizations located near Mosaic operations and/or where our employees live.

Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund (MOHF) helps fund critical wildlife and conservation projects throughout Maine. The Maine Legislature established MOHF in 1996 with LD 717 "An Act to Establish the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund" in response to a grassroots effort led by Maine Audubon and the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine while joined by many other environmental interested parties.

MOHF’s sole purpose is "maintaining, improving and expanding state and local natural resource conservation programs and associated compatible public uses." in accordance with the MOHF Strategic Plan (PDF).

Revenue is generated exclusively by a dedicated instant lottery ticket distributed by the Maine State Lottery. Tickets are available at most convenience stores, gas stations, and other outlets where Maine State Lottery tickets are sold.

The MOHF Strategic Plan (PDF) requires that funds raised by the lottery be expended in four general categories:

• Category 1: Conservation of fisheries and wildlife, and habitat (35%);
• Category 2: Acquisition and management of public lands, parks, wildlife conservation areas, and public access and outdoor recreation sites and facilities (35%);
• Category 3: Conservation of endangered and threatened species (15%); and
• Category 4: Natural resources law enforcement and protection of public health (15%). 

Grants are awarded semi-annually to natural resource agencies in response to grant proposals. To date, MOHF has awarded over 28 million to over 1200 projects.

Project Apis m.'s mission Is to fund and direct research to enhance the health and vitality of honey bee colonies while improving crop production.

FAQ's & Research Proposal Guidelines for Applicants

Since its inception in 2006, Project Apis m. has infused over $10 million into bee research and programs in the USA and Canada, including more than 160 projects involving research institutions throughout North America. We have brought new technologies to honey bee health research, discovered new pathogens, developed Best Management Practices programs, and are supporting long-term stock improvement. We are recipients of grants from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and USDA-APHIS. Project Apis m. is the largest non-governmental, non-profit bee research funding organization in North America.

Thank you for your interest in submitting a research proposal to Project Apis m. We are funded largely by beekeepers and farmers, and dedicated to enhancing the health of honey bees, thereby improving crop production. Proposals are expected to clearly state how they fulfill our mission. Proposals and the review process are kept confidential. We offer the following frequently asked questions to help you submit a research proposal to Project Apis m. for project funding. 

Proposals are reviewed by the executive director, scientific advisory board, ad-hoc reviewers, and a board of directors. Projects must clearly meet the criteria outlined in the Request for Proposals or address PAm’s mission. Please note proposals must be scientifically sound (i.e., short format USDA or NSF grants without all the extra forms). Funding decisions are primarily based on an overall evaluation, which includes the following review criteria:

• Focus on solving problems facing the beekeeping industry in either the short or long term.
• Relevance to bee health, nutrition, productivity, crop pollination                                        
• Likelihood of obtaining practical/usable results for the beekeeping industry
• Project strengths and weaknesses    
• Inclusion of unique strategies, sustainable solutions, or establishment of knowledge that will lead to sustainable solutions in the long-term                                       
• Use of adequate experimental approaches, inclusion of logically linked experiments and project feasibility
• Identification of risks and adequate solutions (e.g., potential pitfalls and solutions)
• Likelihood of success (PIs credibility, record of success, experience with techniques, etc.)
• Adequate indication that PI(s) will communicate their findings to commercial beekeepers.
• Economical and adequate budget for proposed research

What type of research projects does Project Apis m. fund?

Project Apis m. seeks projects that will ultimately improve honey bee health. Our main areas of focus include:

• pests and disease prevention and control,
• honey bee nutrition,
• impacts of pesticides on bees, and
• long-term honey bee stock improvement.

We are looking for projects that fill the gaps in honey bee research, and benefit honey bees and agriculture in the USA and Canada. The reviewers will ask questions that ensure the commercial beekeeping community will benefit from the research and its application. For example, PAm seeks research projects that will:

• Enhance the economic viability of pollination businesses.
• Provide practical solutions for managed colonies.
• Yield results that can be efficiently transferred into field practice.
• Provide an excellent rate of return for beekeepers and farmers.

How much does PAm fund?

PAm funding is dependent on the project and the goals. We have funded from $5,000 – $200,000. Typically, proposals are in the range from $20,000 to $40,000. As you might imagine, the higher the funding request, the more scrutiny administered in the proposal review. We offer several initiative RFPs, in addition to accepting proposals outside those periods, and do our best to coordinate funding with other industry sources to partner and avoid duplication.  

RFP: Project Apis m. and the National Honey Board ​are requesting research proposals to support ​and enhance honey bee health. 

Background

U.S. Honey yield per colony is decreasing while colony losses are increasing, as many crops dependent on pollination services continue to expand. Winter honey bee colony losses in the United States were reported at 37.7% during 2019. Colony losses are often attributed to pathogens, parasites, pesticides, hive management (queen mating, genetics, maintenance), climate, and available nutrition. United States honey yield per colony averaged 54.4 pounds in 2018, down 2% from 55.5 pounds in 2017. (www.nass.usda.gov) Sustainable beekeeping is dependent on maximizing outputs (colony health, colony numbers, pollination contracts, honey production, profitability) while minimizing the inputs (time, money, personnel). A sustainable beekeeping industry contributes to a more sustainable agricultural landscape through a stable supply of bees for crop pollination. Therefore, PAm is requesting research proposals that focus on enhancing the health, survival and productivity of honey bee colonies, which provide practical and tangible solutions to the beekeeping industry.

The funding sponsor for these proposals is the National Honey Board (NHB), with Project Apis m. (PAm) administering the proposal, accountability and funding process. The NHB funds, collected by a federal research and promotion program ($0.015/lb), for Production Research, were approximately $347,000 in 2019. PAm administers several other initiatives with funding from many sources, including corporate sponsors, private donations and grants. Past proposals received and funded by PAm and NHB reflect a similar focus on supporting the industry.

The National Honey Board is an industry-funded agriculture promotion group that works to educate consumers about the benefits and uses for honey and honey products through research, marketing and promotional programs. Project Apis m. is the largest nongovernmental, non-profit honey bee research organization in the USA. Established by beekeepers and almond growers in 2006, PAm has infused over $8 million into bee research to provide growers with healthier bees resulting in better pollination and increased crop yields.

Priority Areas for Funding

With this call for research proposals, PAm is requesting proposals for research addressing honey bee health, nutrition and productivity. Priority will be given to proposals which aim to produce solutions to industry problems. Current specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Addressing practices for sustainable profitability of beekeeping and the provision of pollination services to agriculture
• Innovations to control and manage AFB, EFB, nosema, varroa and viruses
• Studying and developing innovative management techniques including: indoor overwintering; supplemental forage impacts on pollinators, resource management, and landscape carrying capacity; cropping system management.
• addressing gaps in honey bee complete nutrition
• pollination and colony density economics, including stocking rates, land use and landscape level comparisons, transportation and inspection impacts
• cover crop efficacy and management studies including seed composition, implementation, establishment, termination, soil benefits, pest/pathogen/beneficial insect use, frost, irrigation, etc.

Other projects will be considered, and research outside the U.S. is possible (all application materials must be in English). The goal of this research is to help producers maintain colony health and honey production. Most proposals will likely be of one-year duration. If multi-year projects are considered, it is with the understanding that funding for subsequent years would be contingent on performance and National Honey Board budget availability beyond 2020. The amount of funds available for a particular proposal will depend on the number and merit of successful proposals. 

DAIRY FOOD SAFETY & CERTIFICATION GRANT

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant program, which will provide grants for dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized. Activities covered by this grant include accessing technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades. 

Projects funded by this grant will allow dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products and improve marketability. Technical assistance providers or supply chain partners including distributors, co-packers and cross-dockers that would also benefit from grant activities should be listed as partners. Projects that demonstrate that grant activities will increase or expand access to market channels will be prioritized. Food safety activities under this grant should build upon baseline state and federal compliance requirements to further improve product consistency, safety, and quality of dairy products.

Grants are available to applicants in all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Funding

Grants will range from $10,000 - $40,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. Total funds available: $250,000. 

Required Project Criteria

The following criteria must be addressed:

• Must build upon dairy business’ existing baseline compliance with food safety requirements.
• Project increases the safety of dairy products produced in the Northeast.
• Business/organization can sustain the changes/improvements past the grant period.

The Foundation supports projects in coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and selected international locations.

For the last two decades, the Foundation has focused a significant portion of its financial resources on Southeastern Massachusetts, where its office is located. Here the Board seeks to understand how communities grow sustainably and equitably, how to increase educational opportunities, how rural and urban economies are intertwined, and how to best protect working landscapes and the people who rely upon these areas for their livelihoods. In funding in a few specific areas, the Board believes it will have the most impact.   

Environment

In Southeastern Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, the Island Foundation promotes the conservation of marine and coastal resources. For many years, the Foundation has given priority to North Atlantic right whale research, protection of coastal waterbird habitat, and preservation of coastal lands.

More recently, the Board has been interested in new initiatives that:

• link climate change, renewable energy, and regional planning and support those most impacted by climate change;
• support working landscapes (sustainable agriculture and community-based fisheries) and the people who rely on them for their livelihoods;
• help local conservation organizations strengthen their own capacity;
• connect community health, quality of life, and environmental conservation; and
• promote environmental justice and seek to include the voices of those most affected by environmental harms.

Grant Guidelines

For application-based grants, the Betterment fund’s minimum annual grant is $10,000. The maximum annual grant usually does not exceed $35,000. The average annual grant, whether for multiple years or a single year, is $15,000-$20,000. Three years is the maximum period of time the Betterment Fund will consider for a multi-year grant. The largest grants tend to be made to applicants with a successful history of grant management with the Betterment Fund

Current Grant Priorities

Education, health, conservation and community support are our primary grant categories. We also recognize that certain projects transcend these categories and have defined a number of “cross-sector” areas.

Community Support

We favor community-wide programs or regional systemic approaches to issues to improve well-being within the following current priority areas:

• Downtowns
• Basic Human Needs:
• Legal Protections

Proposals less likely to be funded include individual school programs, programming supplementary to the curricula of schools, and construction projects. Any funding of scholarships at Maine colleges and universities is done only at the initiative of the trustees rather than in response to grant requests.

Education

We believe that every Maine resident is entitled to an education which equips the individual to lead a satisfying, productive and economically independent life, and we are interested in funding broad-based educational policy initiatives to that end. Please see “Health” and the Cross-Sector areas of “Early Childhood” and “Economic Development” for initiatives related to education in those areas. More particularly we fund:

• Educational Quality
• Adult Education
• Arts Education
• Higher Education Aspirations

Proposals less likely to be funded include individual school programs, programming supplementary to the curricula of schools, and construction projects.

Conservation

Perpetuating a balanced, dynamic relationship between the natural and built environments in the three-million-acre corridor between the White Mountain National Forest and the Moosehead Lake region is of particular interest. To that end we sponsor the following initiatives within the extensive and varied landscape which covers most of Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties:

• Preservation of special places, particularly those identified by the local communities, along the spine of the Appalachian Trail and in the Maine West and High Peaks Regions.
• Support of the responsible development of working forests and agriculture.
• Preservation and restoration of threatened natural habitats.
• Opportunities for traditional Maine recreation in the target region.
• Support of water quality preservation of lakes, rivers and ponds.

Occasionally we may fund projects of land trusts and environmental organizations located in the other rim counties, but we focus primarily on the Western Maine counties listed above.

Health

We are currently focusing our Health grants in the following areas:

• Maine Public Health Policy
• Oral Health
• Increasing Educational Opportunities for Health Careers
• Community Health Projects
• Substance Use Disorder

Please note that projects focused primarily on physical activity and healthy eating should be submitted under our cross-sector “Moving Communities to Health.”

Proposals that are not as likely to be funded include medical research, projects relating to a single disease, actual delivery of medical treatment and capital construction or equipment purchases

Cross-Sector Areas

We have identified these areas as being particularly susceptible to consideration under more than one of our traditional priority categories.

Economic Development

We recognize that the expansion of Maine’s economy will advance other areas of Betterment Fund concern. We particularly support the following programs:

• Entrepreneurship
  • Programs that promote scalable entrepreneurship, particularly in rural areas.
  • Areas of particular interest include women- and minority-owned businesses and improved coordination of existing entrepreneurship and economic development efforts, including with educational initiatives.
  • The development of careers and businesses in the trades is also of interest.
• Agricultural Capacity
  • Improvements to the competitiveness and long-term viability of Maine farms and farmers by providing technical support and improving access to distribution and markets.
• Tourism
  • Promotion and development of quality tourism as an engine for economic opportunity in the mountain and forest regions, with particular preference for the Western Mountains region.
• Broadband
  • Support of planning and implementation projects to increase access to broadband in local communities of Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, and northern Cumberland Counties, conditioned upon local municipal and/or nonprofit community entities’ commitment of resources to such projects.

Creative Economy

The Betterment Fund is primarily interested in regional and statewide strategies promoting the economic enhancement of communities through arts and culture.

Early Childhood

The Betterment Fund has prioritized improvement of the education, health, and general well-being of Maine’s youngest children, from before birth through preschool age. Our focus in this area is funding the development of best practices for the physical, mental, and psychosocial health and development of young children. We support policy work that leads to the adoption of state or federal policies to achieve these outcomes and the establishment and maintenance of the broad infrastructure to carry out this work. We also are interested in the development of an economically viable and accessible system of childcare for working families. We are unlikely to make grants to individual school or childcare center programs.

Moving Communities to Health

Of interest are community-scale initiatives taking advantage of natural and other qualities inherent in the community’s locale and promoting the participation of its residents in active recreation and other activities (such as healthy eating) conducive to healthy lifestyles and prevention of illness. Essential elements of this priority include:

• A demonstrated connection to individuals’ physical and/or mental health; and
• Initiation by and for the residents of an identified geographic-based community (as opposed to individuals with common interests or attributes drawn from more disparate geographic areas).

Philanthropy

The Betterment Fund embraces opportunities to collaborate with other state-wide philanthropic organizations that seek to improve grant-making and support charitable activities in Maine. In addition to making grants, the Betterment Fund supports and participates in a number of funder groups around specific issues.

What We Do

Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine through strategic giving, community leadership, personalized service, local expertise and strong investments. We offer a range of giving options tailored to fit each donor’s financial means and charitable objectives. Our staff provides personalized service, community leadership, and a deep understanding of local issues.

Land for Communities

The Land for Communities (L4C) grant program supports community land projects that increase relationships to land for underserved geographies and populations in Maine.

Types of Funding

Project support for land acquisition:

• Up to a maximum of $50,000 towards the purchase of land that meets the criteria above. Project costs may include purchase price, closing costs, legal support, survey, appraisal or value assessments, lease agreements, right-of-way agreements, and/or stewardship funds.

Project support for land-based projects:

• Up to a maximum of $25,000 for land-based projects that meet the criteria above that are not acquisition related. Land-based project costs may include, but are not limited to, infrastructure, convenings, technical support programs, stewardship needs, and/or staff time dedicated to the project.

What is an AgEnhancement Grant?

Each year, Farm Credit East and CoBank award grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 to help organizations promote awareness and strengthen agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products in the six New England states, New York and New Jersey. Since its inception in 1996, the Farm Credit AgEnhancement Program has awarded more than 3.5 million dollars in grants to organizations across the Northeast.

Program Goals

We support programs intended to assist all-size farms, promote diversity and create opportunities for new entrants into agriculture. Applicants that clearly demonstrate how a program, project, activity or event will have a long-term positive effect on the agriculture, forest products or the commercial fishing industries in the eight-state Northeast region are encouraged to seek funding. Statewide and regional projects are also eligible.

Program areas in which financial support may be provided include but are not limited to:

• Leadership Development Programs that develop leadership skills among young farmers and youth. This has included grants to the Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Holstein Association’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute, Lead New York, the New Jersey Leadership Program, Beef Expo and the Cornell Dairy Fellows Program.
• Economic Viability and Enhancement Projects to promote economic development have included those by the New York Farmers Market Federation, New Hampshire Farm Link, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, the New York AgriDevelopment Corporation and the Center of Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Programs to Promote Northeast Agriculture and Recognize Accomplishments of Ag Leaders Grants to create greater awareness and develop markets for Northeast farm products have included projects of New England Green Pastures, New York Apple Association, the New England Departments of Agriculture – US Food Export Showcase and Long Island Farm Bureau.
• Build a Better Understanding of Agriculture, Forestry and Commercial Fishing Agriculture in the Classroom programs of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, along with Ocean Adventure (commercial fishing) and Witter Museum at the New York State Fair have been awarded grants to create a greater awareness and understanding of agriculture in the Northeast.
• Economic Analysis to Foster Agriculture Economic studies, including a special report on the need for the Northeast Dairy Compact, a research effort with the State Departments of Agriculture to develop a cost of production crop insurance program, and a special survey of farm worker wages, benefits and performance standards have received grants.

Diversity and Inclusion

Farm Credit AgEnhancement welcomes submission of proposals from all parts of our society. We encourage proposals from organizations that promote or facilitate minority involvement in agriculture and agriculture related businesses. To facilitate our diversity objective, Farm Credit AgEnhancement will accept and consider one-county proposals that would otherwise not be eligible.

Maine Healthy Soils Program

The Maine Healthy Soils Program (MHSP) was created by the 131 st Legislative Assembly (12 M.R.S.A., Chapter 7) to promote and expand the use of healthy soils best practices on Maine’s farms to improve the health, yield, diversity, and greenhouse gas drawdown capacity of those soils. The Maine Healthy Soils Program offers diverse support mechanisms, including 1:1 soil health coaching, on-farm soils and soil health evaluations, soil health testing, and several grant/incentive programs. This is a request for applications for the MHSP Soil Health Implementation Grant (SHIG).

Soil Health Implementation Grant

The Soil Health Implementation Grant provides funding for projects that address on-farm barriers to soil health. Barriers that can be addressed through this grant include but are not limited to costs for amendments, cover cropping, increased crop rotation, fencing, soil monitoring equipment, soil testing, labor and training, scaling practice adoption, resting rehabilitating poorly performing or fallow fields, and equipment purchases. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Department) is seeking applications for the Soil Health Implementation Grant. Applicants may request up to $100,000 to implement a project that addresses barriers to improving soil health on the farm.

Supporting Future Gardeners

The Old York Garden Club raises funds regularly to support this scholarship award. The recipient will be that student demonstrating outstanding achievement and promise in any of the allied plant sciences including, but not limited to:

• botany
• conservation
• ecology
• environmental studies
• forestry
• horticulture
• landscape design
• sustainable agriculture

The scholarship is in memory of Marion Prince Hosmer and will be a $2,700 award for the 2025 recipient, which will be paid directly to your academic institution in your name.

Momentum Conservation Land Trust Grant Fund

Momentum Conservation’s Land Trust Grant Fund awards are aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity and programmatic effectiveness of land trusts throughout Maine.

Program Goals

• Strengthen the land trust community’s governance, leadership, strategic planning, financial stability, programming, and organizational development.
• Help land trusts integrate equity and inclusion in their organizational policies, practices, and programming.
• Position land trusts to broaden their membership, including by engaging BIPOC, low-income people, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities.
• Support land trusts in developing additional social capital and infrastructure by facilitating connections to share lessons, opportunities, and growth.
• Ensure that conservation is rooted in community, and that conserved land is accessible to the broadest range of communities for meaningful experience.

Land for Maine's Future: Working Farmland Access Protection Program

The Working Farmland Access and Protection Program (WFAPP) provides funding to protect Maine’s productive and economically significant agricultural lands. On these protected properties, WFAPP encourages agricultural practices that support soil health, carbon sequestration, and the long-term productivity of protected farmland.

WFAPP also seeks to protect properties that support farming operations in areas of the State that support and anchor a viable agricultural economy, that benefit beginning farmers or underserved communities, and that provide multiple public benefits such as protection of wildlife habitat.

Purpose of the FoundationThe purpose of Ekhagastiftelsen is to promote human health by supporting the development of better food, natural medicines and healing practices, and to support research for a healthier way of life, which in itself may have a disease preventive effect.A central idea is to focus more on preventive active care than reactive care to combat symptoms. The same applies to the agricultural and food areas where the focus should be to find methods that can prevent various problems instead of focusing on their manifestations. The focus should not be on tackling problems, but rather finding ways to prevent their occurrence.Prioritized Research AreasIn accordance with Gösta Videgårds wishes and interests the foundation supports certain specific research areas. Better and Healthier FoodFor Gösta Videgård an important goal was the improvement in quality of agricultural products through agriculture without toxins and artificial substances. The foundation therefore supports research and development based on the principles of organic and biodynamic food production or other methods and orientations that promote this goal. Research should be in line with IFOAMs (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) principles of organic production.Examples of research that can be supported is how such crops that currently require pesticides can be grown organically in a qualitative and efficient way to produce better and healthier food.Research on improved preparation and storage of food, as well as the analysis of food quality can receive support.Nutrition and Way of LIfeGösta Videgård was very interested in significance of the diet for humans. The Foundation therefore supports research into the role of the diet in the treatment of diseases and strengthening the body's resistance.Examples of funding can be research into which type diet and food the body needs, the impact of different food choices on bodily functions and related nutritional issues.Healthier lifestyles, a cleaner environment and a more active outdoor lifestyle was also important to Gösta Videgård and he wished that the foundation should work to promote such development. Ekhagastiftelsen can therefore support scientific research in this area.Complementary Medicine and Natural MedicinesGösta Videgårds had a keen interest in complementary medicine and its goal of curing diseases by using the body's own innate healing abilities and utilize natural healing powers. He appreciated and also practiced the basic idea of avoiding artificial chemicals as far as possible.Ekhagastiftelsen recognizes that today support for this area of research can be extended to include also other medical research where the mindset is to utilize natural methods and medicines, and for example, can go under the names integrative, biological or alternative medicine.There are mental and psychological aspects in complementary medicine, and research in this direction can also be supported. However, our view is that research on the physical impact and bodily functions have higher priority than research on mental health and psychology.Which Applications Can Receive Grants?The main focus should be on scientific research and primarily applied research. Basic research in areas such as for example molecular biology and genetic research can be supported if it clarifies causal relationships that can be considered to be of direct value for further research related to foundation's purpose.In addition to funding scientific research, the foundation can, to a lesser extent, grant funding for projects designed to have research findings put into practice, for example, training activities, documentation projects, book projects or conferences. Such applications must contribute to a development in line with the foundation's purpose.The foundation also welcomes applications for planning grants. These can be for organizing seminars / workshops on the issue that the applicant wants to study, in order to get a better basis for a definite application (which can also be directed to other funding bodies) and as part of a dialogue between scientists and the scientific advisory council.Ekhagastiftelsen wishes primarily to support strategic and innovative projects of a pilot nature, as well as research that is highly newsworthy and that not just confirms previous findings. The foundation also supports participatory research projects, in which, for example, farmers and scientists work together to identify research questions and methods, and jointly evaluate the results.

EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:

• Improved water and air quality;
• Conserved ground and surface water;
• Increased soil health;
• Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;
• Improved or created wildlife habitat; and
• Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

How It Works

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP.  Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.

Benefits

Some of these benefits include:

• Reduced contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations.
• Efficient use of nutrients, reducing input costs and reduction in nonpoint source pollution.
• Improved soil health, which mitigates against increasing weather volatility, improves drought resiliency and can positively affect climate change.
• Implementation of climate-smart practices that improve carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building resilient landscapes.

Maine Initiatives

• Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs)
  • Technical service providers (TSP) or other third-party service providers (Providers) for NRCS can carry out planning, design, implementation, and monitoring tasks for NRCS conservation program purposes (previously known as Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs)). NRCS has reorganized and renamed CAPs into three new categories—Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs). NRCS broke these activities out to clarify which phase of the NRCS conservation planning process the TSP/Provider will be supporting.
• Climate Smart Agriculture
  • Agricultural producers play a critical role in fostering a healthy environment through climate-smart management practices that conserve natural resources, build healthier soils, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). When row crop producers adopt conservation practices such as no-till or plant diverse cover crops, for instance, they’re building healthier soils while also sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.
• Irrigation Assistance
  • Under the 2008 Farm Bill, priority will be given to water conservation or irrigation efficiency applications that will reduce water sue or where the producer agrees not to use any associated water savings to bring new land under irrigation production.
  • Maine NRCS will set aside at least $1,000,000 each year in financial assistance funding for eligible applicants across the state.  These dollars will be used to fund projects that address irrigation efficiency and assist producers to comply with Maine Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 587 In-Stream Flows and Lake and Pond Water Levels regulations.
• On-Farm Energy Initiative
  • The EQIP On-Farm Energy Initiative enables the producer to identify ways to conserve energy on the farm through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP), also known as an on-farm energy audit; and by providing financial and technical assistance to help the producer implement various measures and practices recommended in an on-farm energy audit.
• Organic Agriculture Initiative
  • Maine has received funds for an organic initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production.
  • Successful applicants will receive funding to implement conservation practices that have been identified as needed to improve natural resource conditions.
• National Water Quality Initiative
  • The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. 
  • NRCS will help eligible producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. 
  • Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces.
  • In Maine, two watersheds were selected to participate in this initiative:  The Cross Lake Watershed in northern Aroostook County and the Sheepscot River Watershed in Lincoln County.
    • The Cross Lake Watershed includes Daigle Brook, Dickey Brook and Cross Lake subwatersheds.
    • The Sheepscot Watershed includes Sheepscot River and Dyer River subwatersheds.
• Pollinators
  • Whether you are a farmer who relies on native bees for pollination, or a forestry producer interested in conservation, consider applying for funding through an NRCS cost-share program today.
• EQIP State Aquatic Restoration Pool
  • The state aquatic restoration pool provides the opportunity for stream connectivity and or instream habitat projects.
  • This pool is available statewide and focuses on perennial streams lacking appropriate base conditions.
  • The state pool is focused on implementing solutions to two core resource concern practices, with select other supporting practices that may be executed in conjunction with the core practices.

The Co-operative Research Programme’s (“CRP”) main aim is to strengthen scientific knowledge and provide relevant scientific information and advice that will inform future policy decisions related to the sustainable use of natural resources, in the areas of food, agriculture, forests and fisheries.

The objective and work of the CRP are anchored in both a policy and scientific environment in the fields of food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which, more than ever, are developed in a multidisciplinary environment. This happens so as to respond to the varied demands from a range of stakeholder groups with interests in these fields, and to take into account that the world is globalised and food production systems are interlinked.

Events (Conferences, Workshops, Symposiums)

The CRP sponsors international events to inform policy makers, industry, and the academic world about innovative research, scientific developments, and new opportunities.

Applications are invited from research scientists working in agriculture, forestry or fisheries for funding towards an event (conference, workshop, symposium, etc) to take place in a member country of the Co-operative Research Programme. The aim of the Event Sponsorship scheme is to inform policy makers, industry and academia about current and future research, scientific developments and innovations in these areas.

CRP Research Themes can be found here.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture, and housed at the Maine Department of Agriculture. Our goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society so that they will become citizens who support wise agricultural policies and local agriculture endeavors.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by the Maine Agricultural specialty license plate, grants and private sponsors. Last year programs were utilized by over 77,000 Maine students. Grants were distributed to educational programs for over $60,000 in four different categories including; School Gardens and Greenhouses, Agricultural Awareness and Agricultural Leadership.

MAITC was established in 2007 as a Public Instrumentality working directly with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many Maine agricultural businesses and organizations.

MAITC promotes the understanding of the food and fiber system in Maine and the nation, by providing information of agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.

Agricultural Awareness Grant – Up to $1,000

Suitable projects will promote an understanding of the food and fiber system in the state and the nation through the infusion of agricultural concepts into Pre K – 12th grade level curricula.

The maximum duration of the grants will be one year.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture, and housed at the Maine Department of Agriculture. Our goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society so that they will become citizens who support wise agricultural policies and local agriculture endeavors.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by the Maine Agricultural specialty license plate, grants and private sponsors. Last year programs were utilized by over 77,000 Maine students. Grants were distributed to educational programs for over $60,000 in four different categories including; School Gardens and Greenhouses, Agricultural Awareness and Agricultural Leadership.

MAITC was established in 2007 as a Public Instrumentality working directly with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many Maine agricultural businesses and organizations.

MAITC promotes the understanding of the food and fiber system in Maine and the nation, by providing information of agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.

School Garden & Greenhouse Grants

Suitable projects will promote an understanding of the food and fiber system in the state and the nation through the infusion of agricultural concepts into Pre K – 12th grade level curricula.

The maximum duration of the grants will be one year.

What is the Maine Trails Program?

The Maine Trails Program (MTP) is a statewide initiative to support the design and development of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation. Created by the Maine Legislature in 2024, the program is administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. With $30 million in state funding available through 2034, the program supports motorized, nonmotorized, and multi-use trails across Maine. Up to $7.5 million per year may be awarded to trail projects to leverage at least $3 million in public and private matching contributions. To ensure transparency and community input, the Maine Trails Advisory Committee—made up of representatives from both motorized and nonmotorized trail interests—provides guidance to the program and helps evaluate and recommend eligible projects for funding.

Goals for Maine Trails Program

• Trails that provide linkages with existing or planned networks.
• Trails that serve a broad range of users.
• Proposals that address landowners' concerns.
• Trails that will be sustainable in relation to anticipated usage.
• Proposals that provide accessible trails, in terms of proximity and design.
• Proposals that enhance tourism and economic development.
• Proposals that facilitate trail use for all ages and abilities.
• Projects that are well planned.
• Trails that are destination oriented.
• Trails that further SCORP or other established planning goals.
• Multiple use trail projects that address conflicts between user groups.
• Proposals that have documented matching resources.
• Projects that rehabilitate existing, well-used trails.
• Trails that provide high levels of user safety.
• Proposals that plan for operation and maintenance needs.
• Projects that will last.

Building Resilience in Agriculture

Today, about half of the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture, and about a third of the population’s livelihoods rely directly on agriculture. Yet, agricultural systems around the world are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and unless farming communities have the tools to be resilient and adapt, these impacts can lead to global and local disruptions in livelihoods, ecosystem health, culture, and the supply of food.

Based on climate models, agricultural systems will face increasing challenges related to weather, climate, pests and diseases, deteriorating soil quality, and other changing conditions. These agricultural systems rely on the stewardship and innovation of farming communities worldwide. Farming is an occupation and livelihood where people have been innovating to adapt and thrive ensuring food security and supply since time immemorial. While the toolbox of solutions to address risks and build resilience is vast, approaches might be in the earlier stages of piloting, or are applied on local scales because the expertise is maintained by traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Opportunity Overview

This funding opportunity is made possible through an impact-driven collaboration between the National Geographic Society and Pepsico.

This funding opportunity will support innovative projects that apply science and innovation in a real-world context, focused on feasible, nature-positive solutions. The projects should have measurable outcomes on the resilience of farms, farming communities, and natural ecosystems in the farming landscapes to the realities of changing climates and extreme weather events. The projects will demonstrate, measure, and support practices and approaches that are regenerative. The project’s main goals must aim to make farms, farming communities, and natural ecosystems more resilient and demonstrate two or more of the following outcomes:

• Soil Health: Build the health and fertility of the soil to support a healthy and productive ecosystem above and below ground.
• Climate Mitigation and Adaptation: Increase resilience to climate change impacts, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Watershed Health: Improve watershed health through reducing nutrient runoff and the quantity of water needed for farms and communities to thrive.
• Biodiversity: Protect and improve biodiversity across agricultural landscapes – examples include forest conservation and restoration, bees and other pollinators for crops as well as improving the soil microbiome.
• Improved Livelihoods: Improve livelihoods in locally contextualized ways, ensuring farmers’ access to training, decision making and resources to implement sustainable agricultural practices and achieve improved farm performance.