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

CHS is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products. 

Agricultural and cooperative education: AG leadership

The CHS Foundation supports agricultural leadership and cooperative education projects that build a robust, diverse pipeline for agriculture and help people understand the value of the ag cooperative business model.

Background

CHS is a global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, we’re committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping our owners and customers grow their businesses.

General inquiriesWe consider other requests that benefit the agriculture or cooperative industry.

We are a private family foundation on a mission to improve the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas now and in the future.

What We Fund: Our Program Areas

Texas is diverse. So is our giving.

We provide grants throughout Texas within our program areas and also our initiatives in education, environment, homelessness, and mental health.

Arts and Culture

Our founders were passionate about the arts’ ability to illuminate and reflect our communities, reimagine conversations, promote public engagement, and preserve memories. We support organizations throughout the state that provide opportunities for all Texans to experience and benefit from the arts. Our most significant partner is Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.

Civic and Public Affairs

Communities thrive when effective civic leadership and healthy public systems are supported by a strong network of nonprofit organizations. We assist communities in developing leadership talent, promoting civic and public collaboration, supporting nonprofits through management and capacity-building, and improving processes and infrastructures for delivery of services to all residents. We also recognize the importance of animals and the role they have in many people’s lives. We fund projects that improve their welfare and enhance the human-animal connection.

Education

The link between quality of education and quality of life is undeniable. Knowledge empowers choices that influence our social and family environment, health and mental well-being, home and community, and career and income. Each additional year of schooling increases earnings by 8-10%. In addition, early reading, high-quality instructors, access to resources, and high expectations for all students improve life-long study skills and academic achievements.

Environment

With our population in Texas expected to increase by 73% to 51.5 million people in 2070, the impacts on our environment will be significant. We focus on preserving our rich ecological and biological resources for future generations while meeting our growing needs.

Health

Access to quality health care is essential. Health and mental health programs that offer a chance to rethink what can be accomplished with new knowledge and technology ultimately lead to Texans living healthier lives. We invest in programs and initiatives that promote innovation in services and delivery and strengthen the ecosystem of health and mental health care.

Human Services

In communities across Texas, people face overwhelming challenges and times of personal or family crisis. We support programs and agencies that thoughtfully weave compassion and respect into the support systems that improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable Texans. We also place emphasis on supporting efforts that reduce homelessness in the Dallas area.

What We Fund: Initiatives 

Five initiatives are linked to our long-term goals, and requests in these areas receive additional consideration in the review process.

Postsecondary Completion

The changing economic landscape requires a shift in the kind of preparation offered to connect Texans to jobs, career paths, livable wages, and economic and social mobility. By 2030, 60% of the Texas workforce will need a postsecondary credential to be gainfully employed, a driving factor for the state’s higher education plan. We aim to ensure that awarded postsecondary degrees, credentials, and certificates align to real-time labor needs, are affordable for all Texans, and offer value to students and society. We are working with our partners to increase postsecondary completion rates beyond current projections to meet current and future workforce demands.

Educator Preparation

Quality teachers are consistently identified as the most important school-based factor in student achievement. On average, a high-performing teacher increases student learning by 50% more than expected growth over the course of a school year. Texas has hundreds of educator preparation programs of varying quality and varying levels of accessibility to aspiring teachers. The teacher pipeline must be robust to meet the needs of a growing state with a growing student population. We are working with our partners to define, build, and scale models of high-quality educator preparation. 

Water Conservation

Texas has grown rapidly, and the state’s population is projected to expand by 70% from 2020 to 2070. While this growth can fuel robust economic development, ensuring the vitality of Texas’ cities, industries, and agriculture while also protecting natural resources will require careful water management. As water demand increases, state water supplies will drop by 18%. The state water plan suggests that water conservation strategies could meet 30% of future water supplies. 

While conservation success can be determined in part by policies, everyday water users are the conservation decision makers, and how they value water is the most crucial element of achieving an overall demand reduction. We are working with our partners to advance water conservation, with the goal of reducing the planned use of water by 30% by 2030.

Depression

Depression is the most common mental illness in the U.S. In North Texas alone, 300,000 adults and children experience depression annually. We know that mental health treatment works: two-thirds of individuals who receive evidence-based, measurement-based care get better. However, less than one in 10 receive this type of care. 

With appropriate training and support, primary care physicians can screen, identify, and provide effective behavioral and mental health treatment and referrals to their patients, which could fill this gap in care. In fact, at least 80% of individuals diagnosed with depression can be treated by their primary care physician. We are working with our partners to integrate evidence-based practices into primary care at large healthcare systems, with the goal of ending untreated depression in North Texas by 2030.

Homelessness

Thousands of individuals experience homelessness every year in Dallas and Collin counties. Our neighbors face several challenges as they try to exit homelessness, such as affordable housing shortages, increased cost of living, and limited access to resources that help them remain housed. Access to adequate housing provides the safety needed to survive and the stability needed to thrive. We are working with our partners to make homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Our goal is to house 6,000 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by 2025.

Types of Funding

• Specific programs or projects account for almost 85% of our total giving
• Although not a significant part of our funding, we will consider
  • Capital projects aligned with our initiatives and green building guidelines
  • Program-related investment loans
• Endowment and scholarship grants are rare

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)

Affordable, ongoing financial assistance for projects in the state water plan. Passed by the Legislature and approved by Texas voters through a constitutional amendment, the SWIFT program helps communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program provides low-interest loans, extended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments, and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

Eligible SWIFT projects are recommended water management strategy projects with an associated nonzero capital cost in the most recently adopted state water plan at the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration. Alternative water management strategy projects are not eligible unless the regional and state water plans are amended to include them as recommended projects prior to the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration.

Eligible projects include conservation and reuse, desalinating groundwater and seawater, building new pipelines, developing reservoirs and wells fields, purchasing water rights, as well as numerous other strategies. Only the project components specified in the plan are eligible for SWIFT financing. For example, if the project is listed in the plan as "construction of a well field," but does not list a pipeline for delivery of that water, the pipeline would not be eligible for the SWIFT program.

Recognizing the benefit of conservation and the needs of rural Texas, the legislation creating the program encourages SWIFT funding of projects for rural communities, agricultural water conservation, water conservation, and reuse projects.

What type of financing is available?

The SWIFT program offers a variety of loans and terms to support the diversity of strategies recommended through the planning process. Grants are not available in the program. Funds can be used for planning, design, acquisition, and construction costs. In order to qualify for multi-year commitments, a borrower must close on a portion of the commitment in the first year.

The types of SWIFT assistance are found here. Entities may use any or all of these different structures available to finance their projects.

Advancing Sustainable Communities

Since 2002, we’ve been empowering local communities with sustainability solutions. Through nonprofit partnerships and sustainability grants, we’ve delivered projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mission

"Choose wisely. It's a small planet." That's how it all started back in 1997, when a crew of like-minded folks in Vermont set out on a mission: to use the power of consumer choice and help change the way power is made. Over 20 years later, we’re proud to be a carbon-neutral company that continues to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we help make the planet a cleaner, greener place to be.

Sustainability Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based nonprofit looking to make a positive environmental impact and you want access to a network of sustainability experts, it’s time to plant seeds of sustainability in your community.

Eligible Sustainability Initiatives

In addition to supporting rooftop solar installation projects, we've expanded our mission to support other sustainability initiatives that include but aren't limited to:

• Clean Transportation
• Education and Awareness
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Resource Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture

We’re open to new, creative ideas from nonprofit organizations interested in utilizing and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Selection Process - Impact Measurement

We measure environmental, social and financial impacts:

• Environmental impact calculations consider how the project is more impactful for the planet than the alternative.
• Examples: CO2 prevented (renewable versus traditional generation methods), miles not driven, gallons of water conserved, green space created, pounds of waste diverted.
• Social impact calculations assess how the project will elicit change in the community.
• Examples: results of an email or newsletter story about the project, number of students impacted through curriculum, attendee numbers on sustainability tours.
• Financial impact calculations assess how the project will save your organization money, and how those savings can further support your mission.
• Example: a solar array would save your organization $2,000 per year, resulting in 100 more meals distributed to the homeless or 30 more children receiving free tuition.

Award Amounts

Donation amounts depend on a number of factors, including evaluation of the environmental, social, and financial impact of the donation. Past donations have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.

Through Perdue Farms Perdue, Harvestland and Coleman Natural food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.What We Support

• We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on agriculture and the environment, education, fighting hunger and poverty, health and social services, and public safety
• We also support organizations that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities
• We may give additional preference to organizations in which our associates have direct involvement, but the overarching consideration is the betterment of the community

Perdue Farms is a fourth-generation, family owned U.S. food and agricultural company. We were founded on trust—a value that carries through everything we do. Through our two operating divisions, Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness, we’re making steps every day toward our goal of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. Our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger.

We're Committed to Being Careful Stewards. Stewardship is one of our company's core values. Our stewardship platform, "We believe in responsible food and agriculture®," challenges us to continually improve. Learn more about the progress we've made in the areas of food, environment, animal care, people, community and our partners.

What we support

We believe in putting our resources where there is a direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.

• We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on agriculture and the environment, education, fighting hunger and poverty, health and social services, and public safety
• We also support organizations that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities

Our Responsibility

• Food Producing: Quality Food
• Environment: Protecting the Environment
• Animal Care: Providing for the Welfare of Animals
• People: Caring About Others

About Us

You may not know it, but the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) touches your life almost every day. From the grocery store you visited today to the salsa you’re eating at dinner, TDA was there to help. From the healthy lunches at your child’s school to the scales used to weigh your luggage at the airport, TDA was there, too. From our role as the state consumer protection agency to administering school lunches and marketing Texas products, the TDA is a diverse and busy place. We work hard every day to serve you. 

Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP)

The purpose of SHIP is to help small rural hospitals of 49 beds or less, and do any or all of the following:

• enable the purchase of equipment and/or training to help hospitals attain value-based purchasing provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• aid small rural hospitals in joining or becoming accountable care organizations, or create shared savings programs per the ACA
• enable small rural hospitals to purchase health information technology, equipment and/or training to comply with meaningful use, ICD-10 standards, payment bundling, and care transitions.

The State Office of Rural Health (SORH) (within TDA) will be the official grantee of record and act as a fiscal intermediary for all hospitals applying for SHIP funding. Applications will be screened for eligibility and completeness. The Texas State Office of Rural Health will compile all eligible applications and submit one SHIP application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 

FY 2023 SHIP Funding Priorities

Hospitals must first meet SHIP funding priorities before using resources to support investments in other areas. SHIP funding priority areas include:

SHIP funds should be prioritized by participating Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) in the following manner, one or both, in no particular order:

• 1) Hospitals must meet MBQIP  participation requirements in order to improve hospital quality outcomes.
• Non-federal tribal hospitals may use another culturally sensitive federally managed measure of hospital quality outcomes.
• ICD-111 coding readiness and/or implementation activities.
• If a CAH has implemented both MBQIP and ICD-11 activities, then that hospital may select a different activity listed on the SHIP Allowable Investments  contained within the hospital application. 

SHIP funds for non-CAHs should be prioritized in the following manner: 

• ICD-11 coding readiness and/or implementation activities If a Prospective Payment System hospital has implemented ICD-11 activities then that hospital may select a different activity on the SHIP Allowable Investments 
  • If a CAH or non-CAH (PPS hospital) is currently using all hardware, software, equipment, and/or trainings listed on the SHIP Allowable Investments , the hospital may select an alternative hardware, software, equipment, and/or training provided:
    • the purchase will optimally affect the hospital’s ability to transform its practice and participate in a Medicare Shared Savings Program or an ACO, increase value based purchasing objectives, aid in the adoption of ICD-11, and/or support care transitions/coordination.
    • Hospitals are encouraged to align SHIP purchases in ways that ensure the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment2 of all patients by addressing Social Determinants of Health3 (SDOH) to improve the quality of healthcare provided; and 
    •  The hospital receives permission from both its SORH SHIP Director if in a state and the state/territory’s SHIP Director’s FORHP Project Officer.

Texas Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by—

• leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
• assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops;
• expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and
• addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. 

TDA encourages organizations to develop projects to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the industry:

• Food Safety
• Marketing
• Nutrition
• Plant Health
• Value Added/Industry Development

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture). See lists of eligible and ineligible crops from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.

Proposals for grant funds should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

TDA anticipates approximately $1.2 million will be available for Texas projects.

Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) 

The mission of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is to advance our state economically and culturally by investing in a creative Texas. TCA supports a diverse and innovative arts community in Texas, throughout the nation and internationally by providing resources to enhance economic development, arts education, cultural tourism and artist sustainability initiatives.

Arts Respond Project

This competitive grant program provides project assistance grants on a short-term basis and may include administrative costs directly related to the project.

Projects must address ONE of the following priority areas:

EDUCATION

Intent: Projects that use art to promote innovations in K-12 public education.

Designed for projects that impact Pre-K-12 public school students during the school day. Projects must be aligned with the TEKS and conducted in conjunction with school officials. Projects may occur in a school setting or off-site (field trip). Before and after-school projects are not eligible.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Intent: Projects that use art to improve human health or functioning.

Designed for projects that focus on health related topics, serve specific populations, or occur in a health care or human service setting (hospital, clinic, senior activity center, women’s shelter, homeless shelter, etc).

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Intent: Projects that use art to diversify local economies, generate revenue, and attract visitors and investment.

Designed for projects that focus on job growth or cultural tourism (festivals, gallery walks, art fairs, etc).

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Intent: Projects that use art to prevent delinquency and recidivism in youth and adults.

Designed for projects that focus on at-risk youth or incarcerated populations (after school program, juvenile detention center, adult prison, alternative learning center).

NATURAL RESOURCES & AGRICULTURE

Intent: Projects that use art to understand and/or improve the ecological and agricultural environment.

Designed for projects that occur in rural counties (festivals, fairs, exhibitions, performances) or focus on natural resources (oil, water, green art, ecological issues).

What we do

For 33 years, the Chamiza Foundation has continued its commitment to support the continuation of Pueblo culture. The Board of Directors, members of the Phillips family and staff carry out the work of the Foundation and are undeterred in their dedication to the mission. This has ensured the Chamiza Foundation’s continued relevance to Pueblo communities now and for generations to come.

Although a family Foundation, from the beginning, at least half of the Chamiza Board has consisted of Pueblo members. Currently, the board of eleven members includes eight Pueblo members. Pueblo members continue to guide grantmaking decisions into areas where support is most needed.

The Foundation is committed to a grassroots approach to grantmaking that supports leadership in Pueblo communities and their efforts to effect positive and innovative change that sustains culture and traditions.

The Chamiza Foundation is dedicated to on-going collaboration and long-term relationships with Pueblo communities.

Funding Priorities

• Language preservation and revitalization programs.
• Traditional architecture and building.
• Sustainable agriculture: traditional food ways and cooking practices; understanding of plants and their medicinal uses.
• Traditional arts and crafts instruction: intergenerational programs.
• Tribal and ancestral history; oral histories and storytelling.
• Youth education and leadership: traditions and elements of ceremonial life; ecology and environmental stewardship; innovative uses of technology. Special consideration is given to programs that include a language component.
• Intercultural Exchange and Education

Program Emphasis

The Foundation provides grant support for programs that directly relate to some aspect of the preservation and/or continuity of Pueblo culture and traditional lifeways. Chamiza Foundation grant awards vary in size, on average from $3,000 to $15,000, but no matter the size, each has the potential for great impact.

Investing in the future of the cooperative system

The CHS Foundation supports cooperative education projects that develop and enhance understanding of the ag cooperative business model through education, professional development, and practical experience.

Program priorities and guidelines

The CHS Foundation will consider programs that:

• Educate the next generation about the agricultural cooperative business model
• Demonstrate a history of success and/or increase in growth or demand
• Incorporate technology and new, innovative approaches
• Target middle school, high school, college-age students and young producers
• Clearly identify strategies for engagement with key audiences and outline goals with measurable outcomes
• Use funding to support program-related costs
• Have a national or state level reach within the main CHS trade area (Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming)

Mission

Mrs. Littauer was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and was a descendant of the Cetti family, a prominent Fort Worth family. She earned a degree in journalism and worked in New York as an editor. In 1952, she moved to Connecticut and became an active community volunteer and was involved in city government.

As a result of her passion for teaching, she also worked with troubled youth and was honored with numerous awards for her civic endeavors. Mrs. Littauer established the Educational Trust in 1969 and remained involved in grant decisions until her death in 1989.

Program type

• Arts, Culture, & Humanities;
• Education;
• Food,
• Agriculture, & Nutrition;
• Health;
• Housing & Shelter;
• Human Services.

Guidelines

The Trust considers requests primarily from charitable organizations that provide services to Tarrant County and is particularly interested in, but not limited to, charitable organizations that focus on:

• Scholarships that enable needy, but worthy boys and girls and young adults to attend school, college or university, with a particular emphasis on making scholarships; available for attending schools of journalism;
• Promotion of art, education and good citizenship;
• Alleviating human suffering;
• Medical care and treatment for all needy persons, including hospitals and clinics;
• Providing care, education, recreation and/or physical training for needy, orphaned or disabled children;
• Care of needy persons who are sick, aged or disabled;
• Improvement of living and working conditions of all persons.

Community Foundation of West Texas

Established in 1981, the Lubbock Area Foundation changed its name to the Community Foundation of West Texas in September 2015. The Foundation is one of more than 700 community foundations in the United States today. We serve the following counties that make up the Texas South Plains area, Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry, and Yoakum by offering people a variety of ways to touch their community through philanthropic giving.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of West Texas is proud to award over 100 scholarships to South Plains area students each year. We work closely with the groups or individuals who have so graciously established scholarship funds to help out their community. We believe in creating a lasting impact in a student's life that they will cherish forever. Helping South Plains students today creates a stronger future for them tomorrow and beyond. 

Danny Gunn Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Melinda Gunn in memory of Danny Gunn, a dedicated agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. Danny Gunn was proud of his students’ accomplishments and throughout his life impacted innumerable lives throughout his teaching career.

Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program

Agricultural water conservation projects that may be eligible to apply include but are not limited to: irrigation monitoring equipment and software, irrigation scheduling practices, irrigation conveyance efficiency improvements, rainwater harvesting for agricultural irrigation, precipitation enhancement for agriculture, managed aquifer recharge for agricultural irrigation, demonstrations and technology transfer, and regenerative agricultural practices.

Projects awarded funding must further water conservation in the state and support the implementation of water conservation and water management strategies in the state water plan (Texas Water Code §§ 17.900–17.902; 31 Texas Administrative Code § 367.5). To receive consideration, projects must meet the eligibility criteria and achieve the following goals:

• Improve agricultural irrigation efficiency through irrigation system improvements
• Enhance agricultural resilience to weather extremes and climate variability
• Promote innovation in agriculture by incorporating the latest water conservation technological advancements

The project description, scope of work, and deliverables should incorporate as many of the following actions and objectives as possible to illustrate how the project will achieve the aforementioned goals:

• Quantify actualized water savings with proven methodology and provide baseline water usage prior to project implementation
• Engage agricultural producers and water managers through educational outreach in the form of field days, workshops, seminars, or demonstrations in classroom settings and on farms involved in the projects
• Promote the adoption of innovative water conservation practices and technologies that result in improvements to irrigation efficiency and soil health
• Identify methods to measure and report water conservation performance metrics such as water usage, soil water holding capacity, and infiltration
• Determine the long-term sustainability, feasibility, and profitability of the conservation practice(s) by quantifying the return on investment
• Build upon the success of existing agricultural water conservation efforts
• Leverage funding support from  local, state, federal, and private industry partners

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

The goal of the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, as well as by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low-to-moderate income. In awarding funding pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 487.351(c), the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) shall give priority to eligible activities in the areas of economic development, community development, and rural health to support workforce development.

The objectives of the TxCDBG Program are:

• To improve public facilities to meet basic human needs, principally for low- to moderate-income persons;
• To improve housing conditions, principally for persons of low-to-moderate income;
• To expand economic opportunities by creating or retaining jobs, principally for low-to-moderate income persons; and
• To provide assistance and public facilities to eliminate conditions hazardous to the public health and of an emergency nature.

Downtown Revitalization and Main Street Programs (TX)

The Downtown Revitalization Program provides funding for infrastructure improvements to promote pedestrian-centered economic activity. Funded projects will be located on public property within the designated downtown district or Main Street area and meet the criteria for elimination of designated slum & blight conditions or provide city-wide benefit to low-to-moderate income persons. 

Funding

$1,000,000

Minimum Match Amount $20,000

GRANTS

In keeping with the mission of the Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo provides grants to 501(c)(3) charities and accredited institutions of higher education to support programming that benefits youth, supports education, expands agricultural horizons, and/or preserves and honors pioneer heritage and cultures. To date, the Show has presented over $89 million in research, grants, and educational programs to more than 100 organizations and institutions in Texas.

Dick Laursen Memorial Scholarship

The Dick Laursen Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Dick Laursen, a life-long irrigation specialist. Dick was born in 1942 into a Nebraska ranching/farming family. He began his career as a purchasing agent for a pivot manufacturer; then moving on to Rain Bird Ag before partnering to open SWISH, Inc., an irrigation company. With his partners, Dick spent the rest of his life building SWISH, until his death in 1998. TAIA will award scholarships based on the applicant’s qualifications.  Scholarships will be available to registered, full-time students either entering college or continuing a college education.  Graduate students are also eligible. Scholarship funds will be given to the student's selected college to use towards enrollment expenses. 

Value: $500 per semester / $4000 total maximum / 4 year maximum

Mission

The mission of The CH Foundation is to significantly improve human services and cultural and educational opportunities for the residents of the South Plains of Texas.

The Foundation supports initiatives, driven by innovative, energetic leadership that are designed for long-term viability.

History of The CH Foundation

The CH Foundation owes its existence to the incredible generosity of Miss Christine DeVitt, but the story of her accumulated wealth goes back almost 125 years to the Mallet Land and Cattle Co.

Christine’s father was David DeVitt. He was a newspaper reporter from New York who first came to Texas in 1880 to seek his fortune. Although he had no practical experience in the livestock business, David Devitt grew a small investment into a 100,000 acre cattle operation over a period of 20 years. As can be imagined, there were many highs and even more lows in the cattle business, but nevertheless, the Mallet Ranch was established in 1895.

Today the Mallet Ranch encompasses approximately 50,000 acres of pasture and another 5,000 acres of farm land and is mostly located west of Lubbock in the southwestern quarter of Hockley County. The ranch comprises one of the largest blocks of virgin high plains prairie still in existence.

The Mallet Ranch was over forty years old when oil was discovered and the first oil well came into production in 1938, four years after the death of Christine’s father. The ranch is now dotted with more than 1,000 oil wells which have produced millions of barrels of oil.

Although the Mallet owes its preservation as a ranch partly to its remote location, it was largely the unique personality of one of its principal owners, Christine DeVitt, who inherited a part of the ranch, as well as a part of its oil royalties, that insured its survival. Christine’s insistence that her mother and sister, Helen DeVitt Jones, hold onto her beloved ranch even during the Great Depression brought about the DeVitt family wealth. And, because Christine never married, most of her wealth is now invested in The CH Foundation. The result has meant that over $161 million in grants has been poured back into the Lubbock area.

Due to Christine’s documented procrastination and eccentric ways, most of her contributions during her lifetime were not made until December 31st of each year. Even though she was extremely frugal in her own lifestyle, many friends and distance relatives remember Christine for her personal generosity. Genuinely interested in the development and education of children and young people, she provided funds for the education of numerous individuals, especially the children of her Mallet Ranch associates and others with whom she came in contact. Large contributions to educational institutions demonstrated her interest in education in general. And, large personal contributions in the area of music–both performance and education–show her strong arts interest. As a young woman, she taught music in the Fort Worth public schools, and she also taught private piano lessons. Christine lived to age 98 and died in Lubbock on October 12, 1983.

Christine founded The CH Foundation in 1969, and the Foundation was funded at the time of Christine’s death in 1983.

Research & Education Grant

Southern SARE is requesting pre-proposals for either Systems Research Projects or for Education Projects and Activities that address issues of sustainable agriculture of current and potential importance to the region and the nation.

Maximum funding amount for Systems Research Projects is $400,000, and maximum funding amount for Education Projects and Activities is $50,000. Pre-proposals with smaller funding requests are welcomed and encouraged.

Southern SARE accepts proposals from applicants in the Southern region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Proposed projects must focus on Southern SARE’s program objectives in developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing farming systems toward sustainability, as defined by the Congress in the 1990 Farm Bill. Under that law, “the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs;
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

Gulf Coast Chapter AWMA Undergraduate Environmental Science and Engineering Scholarship

The Gulf Coast Chapter AWMA Undergraduate Environmental Science and Engineering Scholarship provides financial assistance to students seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree in a field related to STEM. Students who are attending a college or university in Texas full -time and demonstrate academic strength are welcome to apply.

Funding for precision ag and data analytics projects

All requests for funding from colleges and universities are accepted and evaluated during an annual, competitive grant process. Online applications are available April 15 to May 31. Each year, the CHS Foundation board of trustees selects new funding priorities. The 2023 funding priorities are data analytics and precision agriculture with a focus on agronomy or ag mechanics/engineering.

Data analytics

The CHS Foundation will consider initiatives that prepare students to collect, analyze and understand data sets to optimize the agricultural supply chain. Priority given to projects that:

• Drive students to innovate and develop new technology
• Prepare students to collect and analyze data from multiple sources
• Expand students’ understanding of data architecture and systems
• Feature collaborative approaches that combine elements of statistics, economics and computer science
• Offer hands-on learning for students

Precision agriculture

The CHS Foundation will consider university and college initiatives that prepare students to design, operate and maintain technology, machinery and systems for agriculture. Priority given to projects that:

• Develop or enhance agronomy, precision agriculture, or ag mechanics/engineering degree programs, curriculum and classes
• Recruit students to pursue degrees and careers in precision agriculture, agronomy, ag mechanics or engineering degree fields
• Drive students to innovate and develop new technology
• Provide students hands-on experiences

Dr. Paula Andree Windham

Dr. Paula Andree Windham was a pillar of the Oplin, Texas community. She was known to be a trailblazer, a ranch woman, scholar, woman of faith, and defender of love. This generous fund set up in her name creates opportunities to address issues and improve quality of life in rural communities throughout West-Central Texas.

About

The Windham Fund allows the Foundation to move rural grantmaking forward, specifically for outlying communities in the greater West-Central Texas region. The Windham Fund was established to support special projects, capacity building, and capital projects to build on and ensure a higher quality of life.

Areas of Focus

• Arts and Culture
• Community Development and Leadership
• Education related to Agricultural Education and Ranch Management
• Health and Human Services
• Quality of Life

CHS Inc

CHS (fomerly is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products. 

CHS invests in programs that strengthen hometown communities and develop future generations of ag leaders through CHS community giving and the CHS Foundation. These initiatives support CHS sustainability efforts and long-term focus on people and rural communities

CHS community giving serves cooperative communities through support of cooperative matching grants, Twin Cities projects, volunteerism and industry support.

CHS Foundation

The CHS Foundation builds ag career pathways and educates rural youth through support of ag safety.

Teacher Grants

The CHS Foundation will award up to $50,000 to help teachers to implement a project at their school that will engage students in experiential agricultural education. We know teachers have big ideas we want to help bring those to life for students in rural communities.

Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires States to develop a program to protect the quality of water resources from the adverse effects of nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution. NPS pollution is all water pollution that does not originate from regulated point sources. Types of regulated point sources include wastewater treatment facilities, municipal stormwater systems, and concentrated animal feeding operations. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall flows off the land, roads, buildings, and other features of the landscape. This diffuse runoff carries pollutants into drainage ditches, lakes, rivers, wetlands, bays, and aquifers. Common NPS pollutants include:

• Fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from spills, roads, urban areas, and energy production;
• Sediment from construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks; and
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and leaking septic systems.

The Texas NPS Management Program is the State's comprehensive strategy for addressing NPS pollution. The program publication is updated every five years. The most recent revision was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Governor in April 2022. The Texas NPS Management Program is jointly administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The Texans Feeding Texans Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program was established to help supplement and extend the applicants current home-delivered meal program for seniors and/or disabled Texans. 

County Role

Counties can bring TDA dollars to their communities by making qualifying grants to meal providers. County grants should be based on the county seniors as reported by the census: 2020 Census Numbers per County.

• A grant equivalent to $0.25 per county senior as reported in the 2020 census qualifies meal providers for funds under the Program.   
• County grants at rates less than $0.25 per county senior will qualify providers for correspondingly smaller TDA grants.

If a county has multiple meal providers, the individual county qualifying grants will be totaled to determine the County's overall participation level. 

Meal Provider Role

A nonprofit or governmental agency that delivers meals to homebound elderly (60 or older) or disabled individuals are eligible to apply for a grant through the Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program. In order for providers to qualify, they must:

• Receive a grant from the county in which meals are delivered, documented through a signed county resolution form. 
• Deliver meals during the previous fiscal year to homebound elderly (60 or older) or disabled individuals.
• Complete a required application with accurate meal numbers.

Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Role

TDA staff will work with meal providers and their counties to ensure all qualified applicants receive funding. 

The Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program (TFRLCP) complements Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD's) mission to conserve natural resources by protecting working lands from fragmentation and development. TFRLCP maintains and enhances the ecological and agricultural productivity of these lands through Agricultural Conservation Easements.

The TFRLCP supports responsible stewardship and conservation of working lands, water, fish and wildlife, and agricultural production through: 

• Generating interest and awareness in easement programs and other options for conserving working lands. 
• Leveraging available monies to fund as many high-quality projects as possible.
• Highlighting the ecological and economic value of working lands and the opportunities to conserve working lands for the future.