2025 CalAgPlate Grant Program

2025 CalAgPlate Grant Program is sponsored by California Department of Food and Agriculture. Supports agricultural education, career awareness, and leadership development projects for K-12, post-secondary, and adult education levels.

2025 CalAgPlate Grant Program - California Grants Portal The CalAgPlate program funds projects that support agricultural education, agricultural career awareness and development, agriculture career training, and agriculture leadership development to assist students at the kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12), post-secondary, and adult education levels.

Supporting these educational and training areas will provide participants with further agricultural opportunities. The CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture anticipates that up to $200,000 will be awarded to projects to support agricultural education and training.

Grant amounts range from $2,500-170,000. The maximum grant duration is one (1) year, six (6) months and grant funds cannot be expended before January 1, 2026, or after June 30, 2027. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested.

* NOTE: Non-profit programs administered or managed by a university, such as the 4-H Youth Development Program are exempt from this limitation. Tier 1 grant awards range from $10,000 to $170,000 per project. Tier 2 – Local/Community/State Agricultural Education Programs Up to 15 percent ($30,000) of available funding will be awarded to eligible Local/Community/State Agricultural Education Programs.

This Tier is open to non-profit organizations, as well as state, local, and Indian tribal government agencies within California which promote and administer agricultural education and leadership programs targeting K-12, post-secondary, and adult education. Individual schools and school districts are encouraged to partner with eligible non-profit organizations.

Institutes of higher learning are ineligible to directly apply*, however, they can partner with eligible organizations on a proposed CalAgPlate project. Tier 2 grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 per project. Funding Category I: Agricultural Education In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that enhance and benefit agricultural education opportunities for students and educators.

Examples: • Agricultural curriculum development and implementation• School/community garden enrichment programs• Interactive agriculture learning experiences, outdoor agricultural education programs (e.g., farms/ranches)• Agriculture demonstrations/activities (e.g., exhibits).

Funding Category II: Agricultural Career Awareness, Development and Training In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that advance, promote and support agricultural career development and training for high school and college students.

Examples: • Interactive training experiences and mentorship programs• Practical career preparation and career advancement opportunities• Outreach programs and career expos• Informational workshops for next-generation/beginning farmers.

Funding Category III: Agricultural Leadership Development In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that provide leadership experiences and skills for participants that encourage agricultural leadership development. Examples: • Agricultural leadership conferences• Agricultural leadership training programs• Education tours focusing on agricultural policy issues/areas.

Non-profit organizations, as well as state, local, and tribal government agencies within California which promote and administer agricultural education and leadership programs targeting K-12, post-secondary, and adult education. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicant organizations may only submit one grant proposal to the CalAgPlate program.

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.

The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards.

Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.

Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Letter of Intent Required?

Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent. Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.

The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee.

Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). Advances & Reimbursement(s) Recipients are required to submit invoices at least quarterly, but no more frequently than monthly for reimbursement of actual expenses incurred to support approved project activities.

Invoices must include documentation to support reimbursement requested. 501(c)(3) organizations may be eligible to receive an advance payment to cover anticipated project expenditures up to 25 percent of the total award, and must be submitted to CDFA for approval. State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

For questions about this grant, contact: Office of Grants Administration, 1-916-657-3231, grants@cdfa. ca.

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