Best Organic Farming and Agriculture Grants in Kansas

Agricultural producers, non-industrial private forest owners, Tribes, and water management entities in Kansas can apply for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to fund conservation practices on working lands. This USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program offers technical and financial assistance to improve soil health, water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and climate-smart, sustainable agriculture practices.

Agricultural producers and landowners in Kansas can apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program to receive US $1,500 - US $4,000 annually for sustainable agriculture and conservation practices on working lands. This USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program supports soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and climate-resilient organic and conventional operations through customized five-year conservation contracts.

Agriculture professionals partnering with at least three independent farms or ranches in Kansas can receive up to US $50,000 to conduct on-farm sustainable agriculture research, demonstrations, and education. Focused on sustainable agriculture and agroecology, North Central Region SARE supports projects like improved cropping or grazing systems, value-added processing, marketing, and food security efforts.

Agricultural educators and nonprofit groups working on sustainable farming training in Kansas and other North Central states can seek support for professional development projects. With a mission to strengthen sustainable agriculture education, North Central Region SARE provides competitive grants up to US $120,000 for outcome-based, cross-agency training that uses farmers and ranchers as educators.

Universities, nonprofits, and other research and education teams in Kansas and the broader North Central region can seek funding for sustainable agriculture projects that improve food or fiber systems. Grants from North Central Region SARE support applied research with strong farmer or rancher involvement and outreach on topics like soil health, crop diversification, grazing systems, and urban agriculture, with awards up to US $250,000.

Farmers and ranchers in Kansas seeking to test sustainable agriculture practices can apply for North Central Region SARE’s Farmer Rancher Grant Program to support on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects. Grants from North Central Region SARE support sustainable agriculture and agroecology in Kansas, including work in soil science and insect pest control, with awards up to US $30,000.

Kansas graduate students conducting sustainable agriculture research can access funding through North Central Region SARE’s Graduate Student Grant Program, with awards up to US $20,000. Projects must be part of a master’s or Ph.D. degree program, last up to 36 months, and benefit agriculture in the North Central Region, including organic and agroecological practices.

Our Mission and Vision

The Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation exists to foster innovative sustainability initiatives that make a positive impact on our planet. We want to find solutions to the complex challenges facing our world today.

Our vision is to facilitate positive action toward sustainable and innovative solutions in agricultural and environmental sectors that reduce carbon footprints and minimize risk for our communities.

Grant Programs

Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation administers projects directly funded by donors that help reduce carbon footprints through carbon positive practices and emission offsetting. The foundation holds open application periods for projects in the contiguous United States, Puerto Rico and Canada that focus on reducing environmental risk through regenerative agricultural practices, habitat restoration and using natural energy sources to make our communities more sustainable.

Reducing Carbon Footprints

The foundation supports projects that work to reduce carbon footprints through the following initiatives.

Habitat Reclamation

• Restoration of habitats creates spaces for native flora and fauna and microorganisms to survive. Natural landscapes are integral to functioning ecosystems and increasing biodiversity, not to mention creating habitats for pollinator species like bees and butterflies that we so desperately need for agricultural success.

Regenerative Agriculture

• Regenerative agricultural practices have a far-reaching impact on the industry and our lives. We aim to reduce carbon emissions by fostering projects that innovate row crop sustainability and dairy, beef, pork and poultry operations to create practices that are sustainable for years to come.

Renewable Energy

• We care about carbon positive practices that harness renewable resources like solar, wind and biomass for improved efficiencies and overall reduction in use. Organic matter often sourced from agricultural production, garbage and tree pruning can be converted to energy in various ways, recycling it back into the agricultural operation that created it or fueling our communities.

Soil

• Soil sequestering practices have wide-reaching benefits like restoring and building organic matter in the soil and increasing biodiversity. It boosts water infiltration and retention and reduces erosion. Through practices like no till, applying organic matter like manure and biochar, and planting cover crops, we improve soil health as well as take CO2 out of the atmosphere.

Tree Planting

• Planting trees is a simple act that makes a huge impact in our urban, suburban and rural communities. They provide shade, release oxygen and improve air quality, improve soil quality and biodiversity, all of which contributes to offsetting carbon emissions.  

• Water
• We want to find ways to protect and restore the integrity of our water resources. We aim to fund projects focused on practices that create efficiencies and reduce the agricultural production impact on water quality and benefit our communities by conserving one of our most important natural resources. 

John Harsch Regenerative Agriculture Grant

Funding for projects adopting best regenerative agricultural management practices that impact one or several of these areas:

• Improve water quality
• Reduce soil erosion
• Increase soil health index
• Reduce synthetic fertilizer use
• Increase effective manure use as a fertilizer
• Increase biodiversity
• Reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions

About the Healthy Soils Program Block Grant

Through the Block Grant model, CDFA's Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS), partners with regional organizations to administer local grant programs that support farmers and ranchers implementing healthy soils practices.

Block Grant Recipients work directly with producers in their region by providing outreach, technical assistance, and support throughout project implementation. These organizations manage the local application process, recommend projects for funding to CDFA, establish agreements with producers who carry out soil-health practices on their operations, and manage funded on-farm projects.

By working through trusted regional partners, the Block Grant model helps ensure funding reaches producers along with locally informed support and technical expertise, thus expanding the adoption of soil-building practices across California.

The Generation Regen Challenge, presented by BMO, aims to promote regenerative agriculture in Canada and the U.S. by providing $200,000 to innovative social enterprises and non-profits. This initiative seeks to enhance local farming practices, soil health, animal welfare, and biodiversity, while ensuring food security for underserved communities. By supporting projects that restore ecosystems and sequester carbon, the challenge encourages a sustainable agricultural future. Applications are open to eligible organizations focused on impactful solutions in their communities.

Graduate-level plant science and sustainable agriculture researchers in Kansas can access funding through the Botany in Action Fellowship to support plant-based scientific research and outreach. Grants from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens provide US $6,000 plus travel to Pittsburgh for science communication training and opportunities to share findings with public audiences.

Nonprofit organizations in Kansas focused on health, hunger relief, or sustainable agriculture can apply for Herbert Foundation support. Herbert Foundation provides Kansas charities with grants for medical research, health education, disease prevention or treatment, and hunger-related work such as nutrition assistance, advocacy, and agriculture education that strengthens food access and farming systems.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored groups working on sustainable, justice-focused food systems can apply for Stray Dog Institute’s US $2,500 - US $10,000 grants, including in Kansas. Funding supports food system transformation efforts such as sustainable agriculture, farmer advocacy, environmental policy, and related research, outreach, and movement-building work in the U.S. and internationally.

Nonprofits, individuals, and institutions working on animal welfare advocacy, research, or movement-building, including sustainable agriculture and farmed animal issues in Kansas, can apply for funding from the Centre for Effective Altruism’s Animal Welfare Fund. With a mission to alleviate nonhuman animal suffering globally, it offers up to US $200,000 for high-impact, often early-stage projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and research institutions working on sustainable agriculture and pollinator health can seek up to US $75,000 for research, education, advocacy, and capacity-building projects, including work in Kansas. With a mission to promote pollinator health and ecologically responsible agriculture, One Hive Foundation supports efforts across the U.S. and Canada that advance these goals.

Nonprofits and community organizations working in sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and related community services in Kansas counties where The Andersons operates may be eligible for this support. With a mission to enhance quality of life, The Andersons Charitable Foundation provides funding for agricultural education, environmental stewardship, social services, education, arts, health, and community development programs.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving veterans through agriculture, education, environment, or related programs can seek up to US $100,000 for new or expanding initiatives. With a mission to empower women to make transformative grants, Impact100 Global Veterans provides funding for projects, including sustainable agriculture efforts, that fully expend funds within two years.

Nonprofit organizations and public institutions working on sustainable agriculture and agroecology projects in Kansas and other U.S. regions can access funding through the Biophilia Foundation; awards range from US $5,000 - US $25,000. Grants support private land conservation, ecosystem restoration, restorative economies, and conservation policy, with particular interest in the arid Southwest and Chesapeake Bay.

Graduate students researching drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health can receive US $3,000 to advance projects with timely, actionable outcomes for the water industry. Focused on water-related environmental challenges, this American Water Works Association scholarship may benefit students whose work connects to sustainable agriculture and agroecology issues in Kansas.

The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Pre-Applications program, funded by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, seeks innovative proposals to combat Huanglongbing (HLB) and its associated diseases. This initiative aims to ensure sustainable citrus production in the U.S. through collaborative strategies that leverage existing knowledge. Funded projects will focus on developing actionable solutions for growers to effectively manage and prevent HLB infections, ensuring the health of citrus crops in the near future.

Researchers studying community-led development and sustainable agriculture in Kansas or Latin America and the Caribbean can receive US $20,000 fellowships to conduct rigorous, field-based research. The Social Science Research Council and Inter-American Foundation support projects on issues like economic opportunity, migration, social inclusion, disaster resilience, and community philanthropy that generate actionable insights for local organizations and funders.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on regenerative and organic farming and related sustainable agriculture work in the U.S., including Kansas, can apply for general operating support from the Clif Family Foundation. Grants of US $5,000 - US $50,000 prioritize grassroots groups advancing equitable food systems, climate justice, and healthy, sustainable communities.

The Regenerative Agriculture Foundation Grant supports organizations that promote regenerative practices, emphasizing the value of people, plants, animals, and the planet. With a focus on BIPOC-led initiatives, the foundation encourages systemic change in agricultural systems through collaborative funding. Grants are available to U.S.-based organizations that align with RAF's vision and engage in transformative efforts. The competitive grantmaking process is by invitation only, ensuring targeted support for impactful projects.

The LFF: Nature-Based Climate Action Grant aims to support initiatives that leverage natural systems to combat climate change. By funding projects focused on tree planting, prairie restoration, and carbon sequestration, the program seeks to engage communities and enhance understanding of climate challenges. Ideal applicants include rural organizations working to create measurable environmental impacts while fostering collaboration and policy change. This grant represents an opportunity for organizations ready to take significant strides in addressing the climate crisis.

The USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USADPLC) invites research proposals for pulse crops, focusing on breeding, nutrition, crop management, and product development for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Projects should adopt a transdisciplinary approach to tackle complex challenges, with average awards around $30,000. Researchers are encouraged to leverage industry funding for matching grants. Note that equipment purchases over $10,000 are not eligible. Compliance with specific proposal guidelines is essential.

The Anderson-Rogers Foundation Grant supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations focused on environmental protection, animal welfare, climate change mitigation, and social support. Established in 2001, this family foundation prioritizes innovative projects and general operating support for small organizations facing financial constraints. Note that applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry, as the foundation does not fund scholarships or grants to individuals or religious organizations, nor does it support organizations outside the U.S.

The Harry Chapin Foundation grants support 501(c)(3) organizations in the U.S. focused on self-sufficiency. They prioritize grassroots programs in the arts, community education, and environmental sectors, with a budget cap of $750,000. Grants are typically awarded for one year, with renewals requiring a new proposal each year. Organizations using fiscal agents or applying for individuals are not eligible. The foundation is dedicated to improving lives through sustainable initiatives.