Agricultural Leadership Grant - Category 4 is sponsored by Maine Agriculture in the Classroom. These grants support leadership development activities for middle and high school students enrolled in agriculture courses, providing skills to become future leaders in agriculture and natural resources.

CATEGORY 4 - June 2026 Agriculture Leadership Grant Applications CATEGORY 4 - June 2026 Agriculture Leadership Grant Applications Agriculture Leadership Grants: Funding will be available to nonprofit organizations within the state of Maine or serving students within the state of Maine.

These grants are in support of leadership development activities for students already enrolled in agriculture courses at the Middle or High School level, in formal and informal education settings, providing these students with the skills to become future leaders in the agriculture and natural resources field. Grants are intended to support organized leadership programs rather than an individual student.

Matching contributions are encouraged and may consist of; use of facilities, volunteer time, in-kind contributions, community involvement, salaries, etc. Before starting, please make sure you have selected the correct application for the grant category you wish to apply for. Please note that you are not able to save your grant application and return to it later.

It is suggested that you write your responses in a document and copy them into the text boxes when you are ready to submit your application. A template can be found on our website. Examples of funded grants, our mission, more information on eligibility, the application and review process, and reporting guidelines can all be found at www.

MaineAgintheClassroom. org For additional information, contact Willie Sawyer Grenier at maitc@maine. gov or 207.

287. 5522 All applications are due by 11:59PM on June 26, 2026 . Online grant applications, including all required uploads, must be submitted by the application deadline.

For questions regarding this process, please email marcia. maitc@gmail. com .

The maximum duration of the grant(s) will be one year. Final reports are due one year from the application deadline but may be submitted sooner (see reporting requirements for details). Funding awarded may not be consistent with the funding request.

After each successful submission you will be taken to a thank you page confirming your submission. Applicants will also receive a confirmation email with a copy of the submission. Please save a copy of this email for your records.

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive a confirmation, your application has not been submitted. If this happens please email marcia. maitc@gmail.

com . Please enter a valid phone number. Format: (000) 000-0000.

School or Organization Name (must be nonprofit) * School or Organization Address * Proof of Nonprofit Status (501(c) Number (or can attach letter) Proof of Nonprofit Status - attach letter here Browse Files Drag and drop files here Funds Requested (up to $1,000) * Number of Students Impacted * How often and how long are students or educators engaged?

* (Example: 100 students, one hour per week for 12 weeks = 1,200 student hours) Co-Project Director(s) Name(s) Co-Project Director(s) Email(s) Brief Project Overview – 1 short paragraph for media use – 50 words or less * Proposals will be assessed for eligibility and scored based on a rubric of 135 total possible points.

The following scoring rubric will be applied: 20 points – Leadership & Development Opportunities Is the project effective to achieve agricultural leadership goals in grades 7-12? Does the project provide agricultural leadership development opportunities?

20 points – Increased student effectiveness in leadership areas Does the project increase student effectiveness in leadership areas such as teamwork, goal-setting, communication, and time management? 20 points – Exploration of areas of potential career interest Does the project assist students with potential agricultural careers?

20 points – Opportunities such as competitions and scholarships Does the project develop students in grades 7-12 through opportunities such as competitions and scholarships. 20 points – Increased student awareness and connections to students from similar programs Does the project increase student awareness and connections to other students in similar programs?

20 points - Budget and Schedule When are different components of the project taking place? Does the timeline include duty assignments? Is the timeline practical and reasonable?

What is the effectiveness of the budget? Does the project include matching funds, actual or in-kind? 15 points – Extra credit for Letters of Support Short description of the project, including date(s), estimated attendance, and target audience – 1 page maximum * Please address the following: Leadership & Development Opportunities (20 Points) * Is the project effective to achieve agricultural leadership goals in grades 7-12?

Does the project provide agricultural leadership development opportunities? Please address the following: Increased student effectiveness in leadership areas (20 Points) * Does the project increase student effectiveness in leadership areas such as teamwork, goal-setting, communication, and time management?

Please address the following: Exploration of areas of potential career interest (20 Points) * Does the project assist students with potential agricultural careers? Please address the following: Opportunities such as competitions and scholarships (20 Points) * Does the project develop students in grades 7-12 through opportunities such as competitions and scholarships?

Please address the following: Increased student awareness and connections to students from similar programs (20 Points) * Does the project increase student awareness and connections to other students in similar programs? Timeline (Combined with budget for 20 Points) * When are different components of the project taking place? Does the timeline include duty assignments?

Is the timeline practical and reasonable? If you created a table for your timeline, you can upload it here. Browse Files Drag and drop files here Budget - inclusion of matching funds is preferred.

(15 Points) Use the Grant Budget Worksheet below. Budget Expenses must equal Funds Requested above. * What is the effectiveness of the budget?

Does the project include matching funds, actual or in-kind? Match can include space, educator time, resources, etc. Grant Budget Worksheet - Download the file, complete and save as a PDF. Complete the Grant Budget Worksheet and upload here.

Browse Files Drag and drop files here Up to 3 Letters of Support (Optional, up to 15 points of extra credit on the scoring rubric) Browse Files Drag and drop files here MAITC GRANT APPLICATION TERMS & CONDITIONS: By signing and submitting this proposal the applicant(s) certifies that the information contained herein is true and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and accepts the obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council in effect at the time of the award.

*All information is mandatory. Applications with missing information may be eliminated from consideration. Grant checks will be written to, and mailed to, the school or organization with Attention to the Project Director.

Unsigned applications will not be considered. By signing and submitting this proposal the applicant(s) agree to the reporting requirements of the grant. A final report is due 1 year from the submission deadline (may be submitted sooner).

Reports will be submitted via an online form. Short written report up to 2 pages including outcomes, assessment results, and numbers of students, teachers and volunteers involved directly or impacted indirectly, and the duration.

2 – 6 photographs with releases for printed and online use, A signed copy of the photo release A copy of materials developed (if applicable), Copies of or links to any media coverage Photos or explanation of how you credited funding for the project to the Maine Agricultural License Plate *Applicants will not be eligible for additional funding before the final report is submitted for their previous award.

Applicants that do not submit a final report for funding will not be eligible for future funding from this program. Grant winners will all receive materials to be used during events and for students involved in the project. In an attempt to credit the real funders, Maine Ag Specialty License Plate owners, please be sure to use these and distribute them during the funding year as part of your agreement when you accept this grant funding.

Project Director Signature * Co-Project Director Signature Co-Project Director Signature