Search Through Organic Farming and Agriculture Grants in the U.S.

Our Story

The 1treellion movement mobilize people to cool the Earth. We are building a community for our planet. A community around trees.

We aim to plant trees…trillions of them... to cool the planet.

​We have waited long enough for someone else to repair the damage done to our planet. It is up to us to be the change.

It is not enough to “just” plant a tree. We have to collectively change course, and to do this we need to come together to raise both funds and awareness. There is magic in music, togetherness, and trees (trillions of them). When we intertwine our branches we grow in unimaginable ways.

You don’t have to feel alone in your desire for change, you’ve come to the right place.

Our Mission

Trees are the natural climate solution. It is our conviction that this can be done BUT we need to act with determination NOW.

It is our mission to collectively raise enough funds to make a meaningful global impact by bringing communities together to plant 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) trees and cool the Earth.

There are many initiatives and organizations that aims to plant trees. Our lives literally depend on that and only a few of them have succeeded. We plan on doing what we do best - generate a movement and raise a 1treellion.org Global Fund to support those organizations.

1treellion Grant

There are many stories about tree, from the children’s book The Giving Tree written in 1964 by Shel Silverstein, to The Overstory by Richard Powers. They all showcase our relationship we have with trees.

They are an integral part of our planet. In fact, they are the 2nd largest nation on it (counting the ocean as the first). 

Air - trees filtering the air we breathe, by absorbing harmful carbon and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Water - Trees filter the water we drink. According to the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations, a mature evergreen tree can intercept more than 15,000 liters of water every year. Their intricate root systems act like filters; removing pollutants and slowing down the water’s absorption into the ground. This process prevents harmful waterside erosion and reduces the risk of over-saturation and flooding.

Shelter - Trees provide animals shelter from the weather and from enemies. It provides us human shelter from the sun on a sunny day. Even dead trees provide shelter and food for many insects. Sustainable tree farming provides timber to build homes and shelter, and wood to burn for cooking and heating.

​Food - Trees provide food in the form of fruits, nuts, leaves, bark, and roots.

Health - Trees are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. In addition adults with 30% or more of their neighborhood covered in some form of tree canopy had 31% lower odds of developing psychological distress. The same amount of tree cover was linked to 33% lower odds of developing fair to poor general health. Not to mention that the shade provided by tree coverage helps protect our skin from the ever-increasing harshness of the sun.

Climate - Trees help cool the planet by sucking in and storing harmful greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, into their trunks, branches, and leaves, and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. In cities, trees can reduce overall temperature by up to eight degrees Celsius. With more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities—a number expected to increase to 66% by the year 2050—pollution and overheating are becoming a real threat. Fortunately, a mature tree can absorb an average of 48 lbs of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live. Don’t just take our world for it, scientists have proven it time after time.

Biodiversity - trees provide habitat to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of plants, mammals, birds, insects, and fungi. Depending on the kind of food and shelter they need, different forest animals require different types of habitat. Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home.

Jobs - Trees provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people. From arborists, to loggers, researchers, the job opportunities provided by the forestry industry are endless.

Where We Plant

There is a need for 3.4 trillions of trees to be planted all over the world. From Brazil to America, Canada, Europe… trees are needed everywhere.

Different location has it’s own types of trees.

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Animal Welfare Fund

The Animal Welfare Fund aims to effectively improve the well-being of nonhuman animals, by making grants that focus on one or more of the following:

• Relatively neglected geographic regions or groups of animals
• Promising research into animal advocacy or animal well-being
• Activities that could make it easier to help animals in the future
• Otherwise best-in-class opportunities

Additional information about the Animal Welfare Fund

The Animal Welfare Fund supports advocacy, research, and movement-building work aimed at improving the wellbeing of nonhuman animals, primarily farmed and wild animals. This includes corporate and policy advocacy, research, and the promotion of alternative products.

EA Funds: Animal Welfare Fund

What problem is the Animal Welfare Fund working on?

The EA Animal Welfare Fund's mission is to alleviate the suffering of non-human animals globally through effective grantmaking. Their grants portfolio prioritizes interventions that can collectively have the highest impact and help the greatest number of animals. By contributing to the Animal Welfare Fund (AWF), you'll support grants focused on:

• Reducing suffering and improving the lives of animals in factory farms
• Bringing factory farming to an end
• Positively affecting other groups of animals on a large scale (such as insects and wild animals, for example)
• Supporting these goals by researching and piloting novel approaches and interventions

What projects does the Animal Welfare Fund support?

The Fund focuses on projects that primarily address farmed animals, as well as projects that could affect other large populations of nonhuman animals.

Some examples of projects that the Fund could support:

• Supporting farmed animal advocacy in Asia
• Advocating against the use of cruel practices within the industrial agriculture system, such as battery cages for egg-laying hens
• Policy advocacy to increase government research and development (R&D) budget that goes to alternative protein
• Researching ways to improve the welfare of invertebrates
• Policy advocacy to increase government R&D budget that goes to alternative protein
• Movement building in neglected countries and regions with large-scale animal farming
• Growing the field of welfare biology in order to improve our understanding of different ways to address wild animal suffering

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

Our Grants

RAF provides grants to organizations whose work promotes our vision of a world where the inherent value of people, plants, animals and the planet are honored and stewarded in a way that regenerates both human and natural communities.

Our Grantmaking Process

Much of RAF’s grantmaking is conducted with participatory grantmaking processes, including our farm bill advocacy support and Restorying Regenerative Agriculture. RAF has one annual distribution of its general grantmaking, conducted by invitation only, in the summer.

RAF was created as an intermediary funder for multiple reasons:

• To provide pooled funds and other tools to support collaborative funding into regenerative agriculture from across multiple sectors. Regenerative agriculture may not be the central focus of foundations that prioritize grantmaking in climate, public health, racial equity, and rural economic development, but regenerative agriculture is an important vehicle for advancing all of the goals.

• To encourage funders to see their work as part of an ambitious, transformational vision for agricultural systems. Agriculture is inherently a risk-averse sector dependent on annual cycles, and consequently change tends to be slow and incremental. Yet for many reasons, our ecosystems and our communities need systemic solutions, and fast. RAF seeks to create connections and partnerships between these short-term and long-term efforts, assuring that we collectively learn from the project work and celebrate each small step while continuing to envision long-term transformation.

• To serve funders as a repository of information and guidance about opportunities to advance regenerative agriculture. RAF staff, board, and partners maintain relationships with nonprofit organizations and networks across the country and are happy to talk with funders about grantmaking.

Regenerative Agriculture Foundation Funds:

• domestic organizations located within the United States and Tribal Nations
• organizations advancing RAF’s vision of a world where the inherent value of people, plants, animals and the planet are honored and stewarded in a way that regenerates both human and natural communities
• bold, on-the-ground efforts frequently outside the prevailing agricultural practices that are underappreciated as climate solutions
• a racial & climate justice emphasis on BIPOC-led and/or BIPOC-serving organizations

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Nature-Based Climate Action Program

A program to demonstrate and promote tree planting, prairie restoration, and other nature-based solutions to climate mitigation in rural areas.

The Nature-Based Climate Action Program supports projects that use natural systems to address climate change, the threats of extreme weather and habitat loss that contributes to the extinction of vital species. Natural systems solutions – which include the preservation or restoration of critical eco-systems such as forests, prairies and wetlands – have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration by as much as 20 percent of US greenhouse gases.

The Nature-Based Climate Action Program is intended to support such direct action. If your organization is ready to take bold steps to address the climate crisis, we would like to hear from you.

Focus of Support

We seek measurable environmental impact in the form of carbon drawdown and habitat restoration. Because the science supporting carbon sequestration and storage is nascent, and because we see opportunity to enhance public understanding of the challenges, we are interested in projects that can:

• Increase community engagement and support for action to combat climate change;
• Promote broad community understanding and policy change with respect to climate change and habitat loss;
• Contribute to climate science in ways that increases the effectiveness of future land uses or action; and,
• Model action for other organizations and communities.

Examples of projects we would welcome from nonprofit organizations include (but are in no way limited to):

• Purchases of targeted land tracts for restoration or preservation of high plant diversity that may greatly increase carbon capture;
• Large scale carbon farming demonstrations using trees, prairie or wetlands that monitor drawdown and contribute to climate science;
• Projects that activate communities, stimulate media coverage, and encourage greater understanding of climate change by the public;
• Tree planting projects in small cities and towns;
• Large scale demonstrations of regenerative agriculture directed at advancing policy or supporting market-based change like the creation of a viable carbon market.

Our Vision

Sustainability involves economic viability, environmental sensitivity, and social responsiveness, with emphasis on working with and preserving nature. Innovation involves creativity and new ideas that make this world a better place to live.

The foundation seeks to foster environmental restoration, preservation and education with emphasis on seed moneys that lead to establishing demonstration projects that link rural and urban settings. Projects could orient toward use of resources in sustainable ways, integration of food production, technology, economics, and community development in harmonious ways with the natural world, preservation of wildlife habitat as well as the diversity of wild and domestic plants and animals, and conservation of wilderness and open space. Of interest might be projects designed to restore and maintain biological diversity of flora and fauna or establishment of seed banks, sustainable land use, or appropriate technology for alternative energy resources. Efforts to find space in tight urban areas, bring the countryside to the city in the form of gardens, landscaping, and space are encouraged. Likewise, efforts to provide space and alternative living to urban people in a rural area are welcome.

A particular concern is with sustaining agriculture through organic, biodynamic, permacultural and other processes, training young people to be farmers, and linking farms to communities through community supported agriculture. Another area of need would be support for small alternative presses and periodicals that focus on issues and problems and their resolution and desire to impact broadly on society with their creativity and new ideas.

The foundation sponsors Laguna Wilderness Press that publishes books featuring the work of concerned artists, photographers, and environmentalists. Its books move in two directions: (1) to depict nature and pristine wilderness areas through photography and essay; (2) to focus on changing landscape and the impact of urban growth, technology, and development on natural beauty and resources.

With its interest in LWP and its home base in southern California, the foundation desires to direct attention to environmental groups and concerns in Laguna Beach, especially preservation and restoration of areas under conservation in the open space known as the Laguna Greenbelt or Wilderness and including the Laguna Bluebelt; projects that expand open space in the inner greenbelt, promote community gardening, including in its schools, restore wherever possible the canyon creeks to their natural setting, and help to establish the legacy of a unique place and its traditions of village diverse planning and vision, plein air painting, and historic homes and sites.

Project Types

Projects could orient toward use of resources in sustainable ways, preservation of wildlife habitats, conservation of wilderness, integration of food production, technology, economics, and community development in harmonious ways with the natural world. Also, another area of interest is support for small alternative presses and periodicals that show creativity and new ideas, and focus on issues and problems.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists Site Host RFP

The United States of America will host the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) in 2026. The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprised of 19 sovereign countries, the European Union, and the African Union. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) are seeking a site host for the 2026 G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (G20 MACS). This event will bring together agricultural chief scientists from the G20 member countries and invited guests to discuss critical global research priorities, foster international collaboration, and contribute to sustainable global food security.

Highly competitive proposals will demonstrate the unique value the lead site host can bring to the G20 MACS and the U.S. agricultural research and development community, will assemble a consortium of partners to share in the site host's responsibilities, and will minimize the overall cost of the event for the U.S. government.

Additionally, the site host should demonstrate its ability to collaborate with and engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including a consortium that may include universities, state and local departments of agriculture, 1862, 1890, 1994-Land Grant Institutions and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), non-profit organizations and/or private sector sponsors. Such partnerships can enhance the event’s impact, ensure diverse representation reflective of the U.S. agriculture research and development community, and ensure that the outcomes align with the evolving needs of the agricultural community.

The G20 MACS presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the site host(s) to engage and network with a unique group of individuals and showcase their operations and surrounding areas – including through field excursions to research, cultural and historical locations

Mishler Brown Grant

Helen Mishler loved farming and preserving its heritage. In her estate, she made plans to preserve one of the oldest farms in Elkhart County. A cabin constructed in 1838 on five acres of land near Nappanee is still standing and Mishler assured that it will be preserved where it sits near a large ginkgo tree.

In addition to preserving her family’s homestead, she also established the Mishler Brown Fund as part of her legacy. The fund will honor her life by granting to nonprofits that work in agriculture and preservation.

Size Of Grants

Available dollars from this grant will be awarded in individual, or multiple awards annually. We often make grants to multiple organizations in a single cycle. The most important consideration is that the size of your request is in line with the scope of the project you are proposing.

Conagra Brands Foundation

The Conagra Brands Foundation is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to the communities where we live and work. We also encourage employee participation in advocacy efforts to increase understanding of food insecurity, and support broadscale research, so that people throughout all sectors of society can develop meaningful strategies to address the issue. 

The Foundation grants funds to highly effective nonprofits across the country that are inclusive in offering people of all ages and diverse identities essential programs and services that are aligned with our core focus areas:

• food access,
• nutrition education,
• cooking skills,
• healthy and active lifestyles, and
• select urban agricultural programs that have a clear community focus and provide entrepreneurial skills to help individuals participate in the farm to fork economy.

Community Impact Grants

The Foundation supports select nonprofit organizations that align with our core focus areas. This includes a broad array of initiatives that address food insecurity and have a clear community focus and provide entrepreneurial skills to help individuals participate in the farm-to-fork economy.

In addition, nonprofits must have a fully inclusive non-discrimination policy that pertains to employees, volunteers, clients, and others. The non-discrimination policy must clearly provide protections for each of the following characteristics:

• sex,
• race,
• color,
• religion,
• ethnic or national origin,
• gender,
• sexual orientation,
• gender identity or expression, age,
• pregnancy,
• leave status,
• disability,
• veteran status,
• genetic information,
• and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state, or local law.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

About the Grant

This year’s eligible projects will help incentivize, build the case for, and provide the means necessary to shift the United States food system away from factory farming to practices that benefit animals, farmers and all those impacted by our current food system.

Currently more than 9.5 billion chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, and other land animals are slaughtered every year for food in the United States. The vast majority of these animals are raised on “factory farms,” where they are confined in huge numbers in barren, industrial settings. These facilities are not just inhumane to animals, they threaten the livelihoods of farmers, are environmentally unsound, and jeopardize public wellbeing. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA is calling for increased transparency in animal agriculture, an end to the cruelest factory farming practices, and adequate funding for a more humane food system.

All projects should include a public dissemination component to inform and educate about the project impact. This could be in written form (such as policy reports, whitepapers or articles), digital content (social media or campaign websites) or audio/visual (such as videos, photos, webinars, podcasts or infographics).

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans. Acting effectively on that belief requires a commitment to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome all voices to participate in our advancement of these values in the interest of working together to improve the lives of animals in need.

For more informations, please see FAQs.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

Who We Are

The Food and Farm Communications Fund is a multi-funder collaborative and pooled grant program organized around a shared belief in the role of strategic communications and narrative to build power and embolden transformative change in our food and farm systems. We believe that working together, with the long view in mind, will help us to invest our time and resources strategically. We find strength in our networks, yet know we have much to learn. To that end, we maintain an open application process and take cues from those closest to the problems we seek to address.

Background

Food & Farm Communication Funds’ Wildseeds Grants program is our primary offering for non-profit, grassroots organizations.

Wildseeds, inspired by the wisdom of writer Octavia Butler, speaks to our community’s commitment to justice and systemic transformation while ensuring thriving communities. Wildseeds possess a resilience that enables them to resist, spread, and flourish, just like our movements. Through Wildseeds Grants, we resource movement organizers by investing in solutions that support the development of their ideas, amplification of their messages, and their long-term movement infrastructure.

The Wildseeds Grants program funds community organizations, strategists and media makers working to uplift frontline stories, build power, and embolden transformative food and farm systems change. We do this all in an effort to grow deeper roots with our grantee partners by making sure they have the infrastructure, communications skills, and strategic support they need to thrive now and forever.

Wildseeds Grants support strategic communications efforts including, but not limited to:

• Base building communications projects that increase connectivity and grow collective power
• Integrated communications planning
• Communications-based professional development for staff/ leadership/ members
• Implementing or upgrading communications tools
• Development of content or creative media initiatives including videos, zines, websites, etc.
• Sourcing short-term communications staffing support or outside consulting
• Narrative development, message framing, and integration
• Campaigns, events, or experiences that use communications to foster engagement around food and farm issues
• Language justice planning and implementationFFCF will prioritize projects that are grounded in:

Range and Term of Wildseeds Grants

Wildseeds Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000 over a one-year term. The Fund is able to make a very limited number of two-year commitments for projects requiring a longer timeframe of support. Two-year requests are capped at a total of $75,000 over two years. Grant amounts are contingent on demonstrated need, alignment with the Fund’s purpose and criteria, as well as the Fund’s giving capacity in any given year.

White-Reinhardt Grant

The White-Reinhardt Grant Program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs.

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the Foundation in cooperation with the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. It was established to honor two former chairs of that committee, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in the national effort to improve agricultural literacy.

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special funding opportunity from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture® in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau® Women’s Leadership Committee. It was established to honor two former chairs of that committee (Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, leaders in the national effort to improve agricultural literacy) by enlarging agricultural literacy efforts across the United States. The project grant is one of two components of the fund.

About First Nations Development Institute

Since 1980, First Nations Development Institute, a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. First Nations invests in and creates innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities. Founded in 1980, First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through mid-year 2024, First Nations has successfully managed 3,473 grants totaling $85 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa.

The Native Farmer Professional Cohort is facilitated in partnership with two First Nations programs, Stewarding Native Lands and Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments.

Native Farmer Professional Cohort 

The First Nations’ Native Farmer Professional Cohort aims to strengthen the farming and land stewardship skills of 12 Native farmers and support them in accessing resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). The focus of the Native Farmer Professional Cohort is to improve soil health, water quality, local food systems, and land stewardship in alignment with Native values. Participants will learn about conservation planning, business planning, Native agricultural traditions, and natural resource management.

The cohort is a 12-month enrichment opportunity designed to support knowledge-sharing and networking among Native farmers. The cohort includes virtual webinars, fieldwork, and three in-person training sessions. Participants must also complete a project evaluation and submit a one-page reflection at the program’s conclusion. By the end of the 12-month program, participants will:

• Deepen their understanding of traditional land stewardship practices to improve Tribal lands.
• Receive three specialized trainings on conservation and business planning.
• Establish a peer network with Native beginning farmers.

First Nations seeks applicants who are:

• Committed to participating in the cohort for the 12-month cohort period.
• Committed to implementing stewardship initiatives aligned with cultural values.
• Interested in developing their management and leadership skills and learning more about traditional land stewardship practices.

Award stipends are intended to support the participation of selected Native farmers in the cohort activities. In addition, participants will receive individualized technical assistance to deepen their work and boost farming, ranching, and conservation operations. Travel and other costs for participation in the cohort are covered by First Nations.

Background

Thornton ("Tawny") S. Glide, Jr. and his wife, Katrina ("Scatter") Dangberg Glide, were long-time residents of the T.S. Glide Ranch in Yolo County, California. They owned and operated farms and ranches in and about Northern California. Their interests were horses and other animals, farming, preserving open spaces, and civic endeavors. 

Upon their respective deaths in July 1995, they established the Thornton S. Glide, Jr. and Katrina D. Glide Foundation, a perpetual California charitable trust. Its purpose is to provide benefits for qualified organizations committed to animal protection organizations, other land and wildlife conservancy groups, agricultural purposes, preservation of land in its natural state, and opera, symphony, and other similar civic organizations.

Danone Institute of North America: Sustainable Food Systems Initiative

Overview

Danone Institute North America announces a request for proposals for a new award as part of its partnership with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR). Danone Institute North America (DINA) is a nonprofit innovation center managed by Danone North America, a subsidiary of the global food and beverage company Danone, which has a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Danone believes that the health of people and the health of the planet are inseparable. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to build public-private partnerships that fund bold food and agriculture research. Over the past decade, FFAR has funded hundreds of grants and worked with more than 550 partners across the food and agriculture value chain to advance agricultural innovation The two purpose-driven organizations have partnered to expand DINA’s current Sustainable Food Systems Initiative grant program into a new grant program that demonstrates the link between agriculture, the food supply, and health.

Initiative Description and Scope

The DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative (SFSI) Focus on Food is a competitive program co-funded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) that will select and fund up to three US or Canadian-based transdisciplinary teams in 2025. Projects may focus on designing and pilot testing action-oriented, community-based programs or etiological research aimed at understanding the factors that influence individuals or groups to:

• enhance or adopt sustainable food systems,
• improve access to the local food supply,
• build community self-sufficiency for meeting food need, or
• support soil health and climate related activities.

Projects that reach underserved local populations will be given priority consideration. Teams designing community-based programs also must identify and evaluate pre-specified outcomes of their work that support impact and show the potential for scalability or wider use.

Funding from this initiative can be used for various types of replicable, scalable projects and can include pilot studies, feasibility testing, needs assessments or quantitative or qualitative methods to understand factors influencing individuals or groups to engage in enhancing or adopting more sustainable food system approaches. Each selected team will receive a USD $50,000 SFSI Focus on Food grant to implement its project and amplify its message to a broader audience over a two-year period. Teams may use this grant mechanism to supplement current funding from other sources, but new project aims must be developed for the SFSI Focus on Food funding.

As part of SFSI Focus on Food, selected teams must participate in a four-day in-person program June 22-26, 2025, in Boulder, CO. The objectives of this program are to provide expertise and support for enhancing SFSI Focus on Food projects through project-specific communication and evaluation assistance, and to facilitate the development of a community of practice among award recipients to share ideas, offer support, and create a grassroots movement toward sustainable food systems that improve the climate, human health, and nutrition. Programming will include content on the relationship between sustainable food systems and human health and nutrition; a communications training; presentations and panels of community stakeholders involved in the sustainable food ecosystem; and panels and group discussions among the selected teams. Some portions of programming will overlap with recipients of SFSI nutrition grants and other programming will focus exclusively on issues around climate, soil health and sustainable food systems. The Danone Institute North America will cover the costs of this in-person programming, including transportation, meals and lodging for up to four team members.

The in-person program will be followed by virtual team presentations from SFSI and SFSI Focus on Food recipient teams on their project’s communication plan to a panel of experts. The team that presents the strongest communication plan as determined by the panel will be awarded an additional USD 10,000 prize to apply toward expanded communications.

The awards will cover a 24-month period for the active project and evaluation by the team regarding the project’s impact. Throughout this period, the teams will receive assistance by Danone Institute North America Board members to facilitate implementation, evaluation, and communication of their projects. Opportunities to stay connected with other award recipients will also be provided. The outcomes of funded projects will be communicated to the Danone Institute North America networks and broader groups of external stakeholders.

Specific Objectives of the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative:

• Support innovative, actionable North America-focused food supply initiatives to promote sustainable food systems that reflect the interconnectivity of community, health of people, and health of the planet.
• Focus on areas of interest that could include:
  • exploring farmer, health professional, or community understanding of and/or attitudes regarding the connection between soil health, nutrient density, and human health;
  • assessing knowledge, attitudes and understanding regarding the impact of sustainable agriculture on healthier food systems and communities;
  • pilot-testing ways to close food systems gaps that prevent equitable and sustainable access to healthy food in local communities;
  • creating local farms in urban deserts; empowering local farmers to work within their community to improve access to healthy food;
  • researching or applying use of indigenous practices and their impact of sustainable agriculture;
  • research that supports an underserved population’s access to healthier food systems/sustainable agriculture.
• Foster a new generation of transdisciplinary thought leaders working together and advocating for food systems solutions that can build community capacity and benefit soil health, food access, equity, as well as the health and nutrition of community members.
• Amplify the understanding of the relationship between sustainable food systems, planetary health, and human health among key decision-makers and the public.
• Forge new networks and collaborative relationships among Danone North America, Danone Institute North America, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, academic institutions in North America, community groups involved with food sustainability issues, health of community members, and broader food systems disciplines.