Best Garden Grants for Nonprofits in South Carolina

Nonprofit, producer, industry, and community-based organizations in South Carolina working on horticulture, gardening, or other specialty crop projects can seek funding to enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry. With a mission to strengthen specialty crops, South Carolina Department of Agriculture provides project support for activities that broadly benefit these crops.

South Carolina schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits running on-campus garden or classroom cooking programs can receive up to US $5,000 for program operations, supplies, and educator stipends. Focused on horticulture and gardening, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation supports campuses located in states and communities served by Sprouts Farmers Market stores.

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship, established in 1989, offers financial support to students pursuing degrees in horticulture across 16 southeastern states. Administered by the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund, this scholarship honors the legacy of Sidney B. Meadows, a dedicated advocate for education in the horticultural industry. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria related to academic standing and residency, with preference given to those intending to work in the field after graduation.

Nonprofit organizations operating organic community gardens that feed low-income communities in South Carolina can receive US $3,000 to support urban agriculture projects. Nature's Path Organic provides funding for gardens managed without toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs. Eligible projects include those serving food banks, shelters, school feeding programs, and similar initiatives across the U.S. and Canada.

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

About Us

Some say natural is the new normal – but at Sprouts, there’s nothing new about natural foods! Back in 2002, we opened our first store in an effort to make natural foods accessible to everyone. Up until then, grocers offering fresh, organic choices were either too expensive to shop or too hard to find. We wanted to be different! No more weaving through a maze of narrow aisles without anyone offering to help. No more ingredient lists featuring 40 unpronounceable chemicals. And most of all, no more spending an entire paycheck for food from the honest effort of a farmer – not a factory.

To us, being different is good!

People thought we were crazy when we wouldn’t sell the country’s top-selling sodas, snacks and candy. But we believed that eating clean and living healthy was more than just a trend. At Sprouts, it’s our passion. And we knew that by focusing on farm-fresh produce and other healthy, affordable items, we could create a grocery experience where you didn’t have to be wealthy to eat healthy!

So think of Sprouts as all of the very best parts of a real farmers market under one roof, open every day of the week. With our commitment to value in every department, and knowledgeable and friendly team members, we’re confident that once you shop Sprouts you’ll think different is good too.

Today we have grown to more than 380 stores with approximately 31,000 team members. It’s these individuals who are the key to our success. They’re the ones who put good at the heart of everything we do at Sprouts … every day, in every community, with every guest.

Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation: Event Sponsorship

Thank you for considering Sprouts to support your organization. We value the opportunity to partner with local nonprofit organizations in the communities where our stores operate and are happy to lend a hand when we can.

Request Guidelines

Every day, Sprouts receives numerous donation and sponsorship requests. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret we cannot approve every request.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities planning horticulture, gardening, or public landscape projects can access funding via Garden Club of Houston. This national grant prioritizes the greater Houston area, but South Carolina groups with eligible projects in conservation, civic improvement, education, or public gardens may be considered.

Schools and education organizations in South Carolina can use this grant to create hydroponic classroom gardens that support STEM, STEAM, and nutrition education. Rise Gardens provides U.S. educational settings with tools for hands-on gardening, NGSS-aligned science and engineering lessons, entrepreneurship projects, and community-building activities that may benefit garden-focused programs.

Students pursuing horticulture or floriculture degrees in the U.S., including those in South Carolina, can apply for the Dave Dowling Scholarship to support careers in commercial cut flower production. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers awards US $1,000 and a one-year ASCFG membership to two eligible students each year.

Universities, colleges, and federal research institutions conducting floriculture and horticulture research in South Carolina can access funding through American Floral Endowment’s Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund. Grants support research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields like plant pathology, entomology, and agricultural economics, including equipment when tied to a defined research project.

South Carolina school garden educators working with 3rd grade students can access funding through the Bonnie Plants Foundation’s 3rd Grade Cabbage Program, which provides free cabbage plants and a chance at US $1,000 in in-kind support. Public, private, and homeschool teachers, parents, and administrators may enroll eligible 3rd grade classes in this national horticulture and youth development program.

Focused on horticulture and gardening, KidsGardening invites South Carolina nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations to apply for Lots of Compassion grants. Eligible U.S.-based groups working with under-resourced communities can receive US $20,000 to transform vacant lots into community gardens serving at least fifteen participants, with priority for higher-need, larger-impact projects.

Nonprofit and charitable organizations serving Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina can seek funding for horticulture and gardening projects, including sustainable community and backyard gardens. Focused on community well-being, the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area also supports related health, education, and human services initiatives, with awards up to US $15,000.

Nonprofit floral industry organizations in South Carolina offering retail floral education events can apply for the American Floral Endowment’s Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund. This fund provides grants or scholarships to reduce or waive registration fees for retail florists, supporting horticulture and gardening education through industry conferences, workshops, and similar programs.

South Carolina horticulture and gardening nonprofits with local community projects can access funding through Kubota for up to US $50,000 in combined cash and equipment support. 501(c)(3) organizations planning gardens, parks, playgrounds, or other public green spaces may be selected as one of ten winners nationwide to partner with a local Kubota dealer.

Academic, governmental, industry, and 501(c)(3) researchers working on horticulture and plant science projects that benefit specialty cut flower growers in South Carolina can seek funding for one-year research efforts. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Research Foundation will award one or more competitive grants totaling US $30,000, with collaboration with growers encouraged.

Nonprofit and community organizations in South Carolina planning new or expanding existing youth garden programs can receive US $500 in gardening supplies to serve at least 15 children ages 0–18. With a mission to support horticulture and gardening education, KidsGardening provides U.S. and territory-based programs with tools, seeds, and curriculum, prioritizing under-resourced communities and high-impact projects.

NGC-member garden clubs in South Carolina can apply for National Garden Clubs’ Ames Tools Grant, receiving up to US $250 in in-kind garden tools for community gardens or garden therapy projects. Eligible projects run March 1–September 30, 2026, and may involve partnerships with other local organizations.

GardenScape Professional Association/Ted Burnett Memorial Scholarship

To award scholarships to residents of the Genesee-Finger Lakes region who are students of horticulture/landscaping.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $1,000; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

August Corso Scholarship Fund

Scholarships shall be awarded to residents of Erie County, Ohio pursuing a post-secondary education. Preference shall be given to students pursuing a degree in Horticulture, Environmental Science or Agricultural Business. Financial need is a consideration for the scholarship award.

Scholarships are available for students planning to attend an accredited nonprofit college or university, or planning to receive licensure, accreditation, or a certificate from a nonprofit vocational or apprenticeship program in the United States.

The scholarship may be renewed for a second, third, and fourth year.

The Hagerstown Garden Club Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, supports Washington County residents pursuing education in horticulture. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors and current college students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship honors the legacy of the Hagerstown Garden Club and is part of a broader initiative to enhance community life through educational opportunities, fostering both personal and professional growth in the horticultural field.

Our Mission

KidsGardening creates opportunities for kids to play, learn, and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder.

We want every child to experience the unique transformation that occurs when they spend time caring for a garden, be it outside, in a classroom, or in a cup on the kitchen windowsill. Since 1982, KidsGardening has served as a premier support provider for youth garden programs nationwide.

We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

Growing the Future Intergenerational Garden Grant

In celebration of Miracle-Gro’s 75th anniversary, Miracle-Gro and KidsGardening are partnering to fund 75 intergenerational youth garden grants in 2026.

Intergenerational gardens provide opportunities for older gardeners to pass along traditions, knowledge, and skills to the next generation or share the experience of developing skills if new to gardening. In turn, young people bring their curiosity, wonder, and contagious enthusiasm for learning and life, exciting everyone involved in the growing process.

The 2026 Growing the Future Intergenerational Garden Grant is designed to support gardens that intentionally bring children and older adults together through shared gardening experiences.

Funding Priorities

The selection of winners is prioritized based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening considers a variety of factors when determining needs, including:

• Socioeconomic & Sociodemographic Factors: How does the program exist within or engage a community that has been systematically denied resources, whether physical assets and money or representative leadership and community services? Organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors are given priority.

• Program Funding and Support: Does an organization have access to consistent, substantial monetary support or prior grant funding? Or are pre-existing resources (financial or otherwise) limited? Organizations experiencing the latter are given priority.

• Impact: Will grant funding dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants? Does the intended impact reflect the needs of the community? Organizations working with more than 50 youth will be given priority.

Award Packages

Grantees will receive:

• A $500 cash award check
• A $250 coupon to purchase essential gardening supplies from ScottsMiracleGro.com

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Peter and Huberdina Weller Scholarship

• Graduating senior, graduating early college student, or current college student from a high school within the greater Community Foundation service area
• Enrolling/enrolled at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Financial need (must submit the page of the FAFSA Submission Summary showing the Student Aid Index amount)
• GPA of 3.0 or greater
• Intention to pursue educational opportunities and a career in horticulture or the biological sciences with an emphasis on botany
• All other qualifications being equal, tie-breaking consideration will be given to students of color
• Previous recipients of the award are encouraged to reapply.

The West Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarship, established in 2001, supports students from Ottawa, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, or Allegan County pursuing careers in horticulture or the green industry. Administered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, awards consider financial need and academic achievement. Applicants, including high school seniors and college students, must submit transcripts and additional required documents. This scholarship aims to foster education and partnerships within West Michigan's green industry.

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

Bob Boggeri Farms Fund

Open to students planning to pursue a degree in Ag or Horticulture. Must be a FFA member and demonstrate financial need. Preference given to students from Hughson.

Award Amount:

• $1,000

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

Robert Woolley Scholarship

Open to graduating seniors from Stanislaus County attending a four-year university to study horticulture.

Award Amount:

• $10,000

Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors. Applications are accepted from mid-November until mid-March. Scholarship award recipients will be announced at the high school awards ceremony. 

Van Cott Family Memorial Scholarship

Established in memory of Kermit Van Cott and his son Forrest to provide tuition assistance to a graduating Senior from one of the High Schools in Susquehanna County, with priority given to Blue Ridge, who will major in Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Horticulture, Botany, Forestry, or Agriculture and who will matriculate at college or a post-secondary degree program.