Best Community and School Garden Grants in California

Schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits running on-campus garden or cooking programs in California communities with a Sprouts Farmers Market can apply for the Sprouting School Gardens Grant, offering up to US $5,000 for direct program costs. Focused on horticulture, gardening, and school health, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation supports operations, supplies, and educator stipends.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in California can seek up to US $8,000 for projects that enhance natural environments, preserve local history and culture, or promote healthy, equitable communities. Schwemm Family Foundation supports horticulture, gardening, parks, green spaces, and related community projects, including community and school garden initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes.

Students and individuals interested in horticulture and gardening in California can receive travel funding to attend native plant conferences, workshops, or seminars. Focused on plant conservation and related topics, California Native Plant Society: Orange County Chapter invites applicants to seek up to US $500 to help cover registration, travel, and necessary supplies.

Eligible individuals, groups, and nonprofits in Orange County, California can apply for the Horticultural Grant, awarding up to US $500 for installing, enhancing, or maintaining California native plants in public or urban gardens. Projects with educational or demonstration elements, such as school or community gardens and outreach plant giveaways, may be supported.

California 3rd grade classrooms interested in horticulture and school gardening can access funding and free cabbage plants through the Bonnie Plants Foundation 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. Teachers, parents, and administrators may apply, and one student winner in each participating state receives US $1,000 in in-kind support for growing an outstanding oversized cabbage.

California horticulture and plant science students can access funding through the California Native Plant Society Orange County Chapter to support field research on native plants, including community or school garden-related studies. Awards of US $500 - US $1,000 may cover supplies, equipment, and travel, with preference for projects involving species or plant communities in Orange County.

Nonprofit and other eligible organizations with California specialty crop projects can seek US $75,000 - US $250,000 to enhance crop competitiveness and markets. California Department of Food & Agriculture supports horticulture, gardening, and other specialty crop initiatives, offering a two-stage application plus personalized assistance for small or limited-resource applicants, which may benefit community and school garden efforts.

K–12 educators in California can use this grant to create or enhance school gardens focused on native plants and plant habitats, funding materials like plants, literature, and garden supplies. Grants from California Native Plant Society help California horticulture and gardening projects give students hands-on experience with growing and caring for native plants, with awards up to US $500.

California schools seeking garden-based STEAM education resources can receive US $7,500 in in-kind support for outdoor learning spaces and nutrition education. Captain Planet Foundation provides raised beds, a mobile cooking cart, curriculum access, supplies, and online teacher training, helping school garden programs integrate hands-on horticulture and gardening into classroom learning.

California schools with horticulture and gardening programs can apply for California Fertilizer Foundation’s School Garden Grants, which provide US $1,200 to support educational garden projects. Funding helps enhance classroom curriculum with hands-on learning about agriculture, plant nutrition, and healthy soil, with priority for projects featuring edible plants and strong critical-thinking components.

Researchers studying California’s native flora in California can receive US $300 - US $1,500 for projects in botany, ecology, horticulture, conservation, and related fields. California Native Plant Society offers multiple student research awards, which may benefit academic work connected to community or school gardens using or conserving native plants.

California organizations planning nature-based urban greening projects in California can receive US $200,000 - US $5,000,000 to mitigate extreme heat and urban heat islands. California Natural Resources Agency provides funding for efforts like tree planting, green spaces, and green infrastructure that cool communities, support gardens and public spaces, and advance statewide climate resilience goals.

Nonprofit organizations in California operating or planning organic community gardens that feed low-income communities can receive US $3,000 to support their projects. Nature's Path Organic provides these grants to urban organic agriculture programs serving food banks, schools, shelters, and similar efforts, with a strong emphasis on gardens founded by and serving underserved communities.

College students in California studying horticulture, gardening, plant science, forestry, landscape design, or related fields can apply for scholarships from California Garden Clubs to support their education. With a mission to promote horticulture and conservation, California Garden Clubs provides $2,000 awards that may benefit students involved in community or school garden projects.

The Huntington offers approximately 140 short-term fellowships for one to three months, providing a stipend of $3,500 per month. These fellowships are accessible to scholars across various fields aligned with The Huntington's extensive collections. Accepted applicants include doctoral candidates, master’s students, faculty members, postdoctoral scholars, and independent researchers. The program encourages collaborative proposals and allows applicants to apply for multiple fellowships, fostering a rich academic environment and creative exploration.

The Lots of Compassion Grant, supported by KidsGardening and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, aims to transform vacant urban lots into thriving community gardens. By providing $20,000 to each of the 10 selected grantees, the initiative focuses on empowering under-resourced communities, fostering social connections, and enhancing mental health. The grant prioritizes organizations that involve diverse participants and demonstrate significant community impact, ensuring that the gardens not only flourish but also cultivate kindness and compassion.

The Barbara Thom Postdoctoral Fellowships at The Huntington Library support recent Ph.D. graduates revising their dissertations into monographs. With a stipend of $50,000 for nine to twelve months of residency, these fellowships encourage scholarly work in areas aligned with The Huntington's rich collections. Candidates must be nontenured faculty and actively participate in symposiums and working groups, fostering collaboration and innovation in their research endeavors.

The Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund, established in September 2021 by Herman and LaDonna Meinders, aims to support the floral industry by providing grants for reduced or free registration fees to industry events. With an initial contribution exceeding $500,000, the fund promotes educational initiatives that attract young talent and address industry challenges. Managed by the AFE Education Committee, it is expected to distribute over $10,000 in its first year, ensuring sustainable support for vital educational programs.

The Junior Gardener Program Grants, offered by the San Clemente Garden Club, support K-12 school gardens to foster healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship among students. Grants of up to $500 are available for new or existing programs that emphasize food growth, conservation education, and student involvement in garden maintenance. Priority is given to initiatives that promote life skills, habitat development, and scientific exploration, encouraging students to engage with their natural surroundings.

The Kubota Hometown Proud Grant is a community initiative that will award ten $50,000 grants in 2025, comprising $25,000 in cash and $25,000 in equipment vouchers. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for projects that enhance their communities, with applications opening April 3 and closing May 9, 2025. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2025, supporting impactful local initiatives across Kubota's operating districts.

The Mellon Fellowship at The Huntington Library supports scholars pursuing research relevant to its extensive collections. Offering a $50,000 stipend for nine to twelve months, the fellowship emphasizes continuous residence, participation in a symposium, and weekly working groups. Eligible candidates must hold a Ph.D. or defend their dissertation by the application deadline, with opportunities for international scholars. This fellowship fosters scholarship and creativity, enriching academic inquiry through diverse perspectives.

Urban Agriculture Resilience Program

In 2020, the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and the American Public Gardens Association (the Association) initiated the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program. Since its inception, the program has supported 131 urban agriculture projects nationwide, promoting public garden participation in collaborations that combine food growing and education while addressing food security challenges facing communities.

Over the program’s six years, we have awarded $2.7 million to 136 projects in 34 states and D.C. These programs have grown and shared over 750,000 pounds of produce, distributed more than 292,000 seedlings, and provided more than 53,000 hours of urban agriculture training to students, interns, and trainees.

2027 Urban Agriculture Resilience Program

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) are partnering to support public gardens and their partners to facilitate collaborative urban agriculture, community gardening, and other food-growing projects. Applications for a new cycle will open this fall!

The 2027 Urban Agriculture Resilience Program will comprise a small group of projects seeking to sustain and institutionalize their work. Participants will receive funding to help build their programs.

• Build urban agriculture capacity in public gardens community
• Provide funding ($5,000 to $20,000 per participant/project)
• Share models and lessons learned with the broader community of public gardens

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund, established in 2024 through a partnership with the American Floral Endowment (AFE), is dedicated to advancing floriculture research and education. With over 120 years of combined funding experience, it supports innovative projects across various fields related to floriculture. Grants are available for substantial research initiatives at U.S. universities and institutions, focusing on outcomes beneficial to the public, while ensuring projects are reviewed annually for renewal.

The ASCFG Research Foundation Grant, offered by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, aims to support innovative research projects that benefit specialty cut flower growers. The program, open to academia, government, and industry researchers, will distribute up to $30,000 in grants in 2026. Proposed research should last one year or less and can include multi-year projects. Recipients are expected to present their findings at ASCFG meetings, fostering collaboration and advancement in the cut flower industry.

Organizations in California and across the U.S. planning or improving youth garden programs can receive US $500 in supplies to support horticulture and gardening education. With a mission to improve kids’ lives through gardening, KidsGardening provides seed packs, tools, curriculum, and specialty container or vertical garden awards, prioritizing under-resourced, high-impact programs serving at least 15 youth ages 0–18.

The Ames Tools Grant, initiated by the National Garden Club, Inc. in partnership with The Ames Companies, provides NGC member clubs the opportunity to select tools valued up to $250 for community gardening projects. Eligible projects must be conducted by NGC clubs between March 1 and September 30, 2025, and may involve collaboration with other organizations. Selection criteria include community impact, member involvement, tool necessity, and project uniqueness.

California public and charter elementary or middle schools planning youth gardens focused on water conservation can access funding through KidsGardening’s Waterwise Garden Grant. Eligible San Diego County schools serving at least 15 under-resourced youth may receive US $1,000 - US $2,250 plus an irrigation kit to install or improve educational gardens.