Best Community and School Garden Grants in Connecticut

Grassroots community groups in Connecticut launching new environmental or gardening projects can apply for New England Grassroots Environment Fund’s Seed grants, with awards of US $500 - US $1,000 for early-stage work. Volunteer-driven groups with small budgets, including those without formal nonprofit status, may find support for community and school garden initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations in Connecticut with urban organic agriculture projects feeding low-income communities can apply for Nature's Path Organic’s Gardens for Good grants. The program awards US $3,000 to organic community gardens managed without toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs. Gardens founded by and serving underserved or underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply.

Schools, school districts, childcare centers and homes, and supporting organizations in Connecticut can receive up to US $50,000 to develop or expand farm-to-school and school garden programs. Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s CT Grown for CT Kids Grant supports local food in child nutrition programs, hands-on nutrition education, and stronger connections with local farmers.

Early childcare education providers and networks in Connecticut can seek funding to build farm-to-school and garden-based learning programs, including raised beds, indoor growing systems, and local food integration. Grants from Connecticut Department of Agriculture support horticulture and gardening projects, nutrition education, family engagement, and farm field trips for young children, with awards from US $5,000 - US $50,000.

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.

The Garden Club of Houston, established in 1924, promotes gardening and environmental conservation through various community initiatives. Their funding supports nonprofit organizations and government entities, focusing on projects that enhance public landscapes, educational resources, and community gardens. Grants are not awarded for operating funds or endowments, with preference given to projects within the greater Houston area. This commitment to civic improvement underscores their mission to foster a love of gardening and environmental stewardship.

Schools, homeschooling families, and education organizations in Connecticut can receive support to install hydroponic classroom gardens that enhance STEM and nutrition education. Rise Gardens provides resources for year-round, hands-on horticulture learning, integrating NGSS-aligned lessons, entrepreneurship projects, and community-building activities that can strengthen local community and school garden programs.

Students pursuing horticulture or floriculture degrees who aim to work in commercial cut flower production may receive US $1,000 scholarships plus a one-year membership, supporting education that can benefit community and school gardening in Connecticut. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers offers two annual Dave Dowling Scholarships for eligible two-year, four-year, and graduate students.

Universities, colleges, and federal research institutions in Connecticut conducting floriculture or related horticulture and gardening research can access funding through the American Floral Endowment’s Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund. Grants support research and educational projects in floriculture and allied fields, and may benefit community and school garden programs connected to university-based studies.

Connecticut schools with 3rd grade classes can access funding through the Bonnie Plants Foundation’s cabbage program to support hands-on horticulture and gardening education. Eligible teachers, parents, and administrators receive free oversized cabbage plants, and one participating student in each state can win US $1,000 in in-kind support for their standout cabbage.

Nonprofit and other tax-exempt organizations transforming vacant lots into gardens in Connecticut can apply for KidsGardening’s Lots of Compassion Grant, awarding US $20,000 to each of 10 grantees. Focus is on under-resourced communities, limited prior funding, and projects serving at least fifteen participants, which may include community or school garden initiatives.

Nonprofit floral industry organizations in Connecticut can apply for American Floral Endowment’s Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund to support reduced or free registration for retail floral educational events. Programs focused on horticulture, gardening, or retail floral education, including community or school garden-related training, may be eligible through AFE’s annual educational grants process.

Connecticut horticulture and gardening nonprofits with local community projects can access funding through Kubota for community gardens, parks, playgrounds, and other public spaces. This national program awards up to US $50,000 per grantee in cash and equipment to 501(c)(3) organizations leading impactful, community-driven revitalization and greening efforts.

Academic, governmental, industry, and 501(c)(3) researchers working on horticulture and gardening projects in Connecticut can seek funding to conduct plant science research benefiting specialty cut flower growers. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Research Foundation offers competitive one-year grants totaling US $30,000, with topics open and collaboration with growers under farm conditions encouraged.

Schools, youth programs, and other organizations in Connecticut planning a new or expanding an existing garden that serves at least 15 youth can receive US $500 in gardening supplies through KidsGardening’s Youth Garden Grant. With a mission to support horticulture and gardening education, KidsGardening prioritizes under-resourced programs where the grant will significantly expand learning opportunities.

NGC-member garden clubs in the U.S., including Connecticut, can apply for National Garden Clubs’ Ames Tools Grant, receiving up to US $250 in in-kind tools for horticulture and gardening projects. Eligible projects include community or garden therapy initiatives scheduled March 1–September 30, 2026, and may involve collaboration with other local organizations.

Garden clubs that are members of National Garden Clubs in Connecticut can receive funding for horticulture and gardening projects, including community and school gardens, with awards up to US $2,000. National Garden Clubs supports projects such as beautification, community and school gardens, environmental practices, and public horticultural or environmental education events, including joint ventures with other organizations.

The Sarah Bradley Tyson Memorial Fellowship, established in 1928, honors Sarah Tyson's commitment to women's agricultural education. It offers an annual scholarship to a full-time graduate student in agriculture or horticulture at an accredited U.S. institution. Eligible candidates must have relevant experience in these fields. This fellowship not only supports academic advancement but also aims to empower women pursuing careers in agriculture, reflecting Tyson's legacy of fostering education and community involvement.

Connecticut horticulture and gardening students can access funding through Rochester Area Community Foundation’s GardenScape Professional Association/Ted Burnett Memorial Scholarship, which awards US $1,000 for higher education expenses. Students in floriculture, horticulture, nursery management, landscape design, or landscape architecture programs may benefit, especially those interested in community and school gardening initiatives.

Erie County, Ohio students pursuing post-secondary education in fields like horticulture, environmental science, or agricultural business can apply for the August Corso Scholarship Fund, administered by Erie County Community Foundation. Scholarships support study at accredited nonprofit colleges, universities, or vocational and apprenticeship programs in the U.S. and may be renewable up to four years.

Connecticut students pursuing horticulture and gardening studies can access funding through Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland for college-level education. Eligible applicants are Washington County, MD residents who are graduating high school seniors or current college students majoring in a horticultural field. This scholarship may benefit those involved in community or school garden projects as part of their studies.

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.