Ames Tools Grant is an in-kind grant program from National Garden Clubs, Inc. in partnership with The AMES Companies, Inc. that provides gardening tools to nonprofit organizations, schools, and groups involved in community garden and garden therapy projects. The program began in 2014 and has been extended through 2026.

Eligible recipients may select tools with a retail value of up to $250, with many tools appropriate for children or gardeners who prefer cushion-grip handles. The program is a benefit available to NGC member garden clubs. Applications are available through the NGC Resources and Forms section on their website.

AMES Tools Grant | National Garden Clubs AMES Tools- A Corporate Sponsor of National Garden Clubs, Inc. National Garden Club, Inc.’s grant program with The AMES Companies, Inc. began in 2014. The AMES Companies has generously agreed to extend its in-kind grant program for 2026. Take advantage of this benefit of being an NGC member garden club.

You may select tools up to a retail value of $250 for your community garden or garden therapy club project. Details may be found below. Many tools are appropriate for children or gardeners who prefer a cushion grip handle.

Select “Resources and Forms” to find the Grant Application Form and the Item Selection Sheet. Garden tools with a total retail value of $5,000 are available for NGC gardening projects. Gardening projects performed and supported by NGC member clubs and scheduled to be carried out March 1 through September 30, 2026 are eligible.

Projects may be a joint venture with another organization, however the garden club applying must be a member of NGC. Awarded tools will be shipped to the successful applicants by May 31, 2026. 2026 AMES Grant Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2026, through March 1, 2026.

Application Process & Guidelines NGC Member clubs may apply for this in-kind grant during the first quarter of each year by sending a Grant Application Form and an Item Selection Sheet to the NGC Sponsors' Grant Chair by the deadline of March 1 of each year. Both Forms must be DOWNLOADED AND SAVED in order to fill in the required information. (You may need to install Adobe Acrobat, which is free.

Save the forms to your desktop and open them in Adobe Acrobat as they are not fillable with most internet browsers.) Fill in, save the changes and email the completed application form and item selection sheet to: @email Applications must be limited to the two pages: Your 2026 AMES Grant Application Form Your 2026 Item Selection Sheet Applications of more than these two pages will not be considered.

Photos/Diagrams should not be submitted with your application. The application form includes: Club Information, Contact Information, Project/Program Description (include location), Garden Club (and outside organization) Involvement, Need For Tools and how specific tools are going to be used, and Shipping Address (if your club is selected as a grant recipient).

The Item Selection Sheet must be filled in completely and correctly: Club Name, Name of Person (Garden Club Member) to send shipment to, Telephone Number for Delivery and the Garden Club Member's Shipping Address. Select the Quantity for each tool desired and place that number in the WHITE COLUMN (to the right of the Tool Description column). The form will automatically multiply and do a final total at the bottom of the WHITE COLUMN.

If you choose $0. 01 over the allowed $250 amount the Tool Selection Sheet will not be considered. DO NOT fill in the gray "For NGC USE" Only columns (Quantity/Total) on the right side of the form.

Doing so will also cause your form to be rejected. Remember - Any NGC club may apply for tools with a total retail value of NO MORE than $250. Clubs MAY NOT submit additional documentation pages for the project, nor should they submit photos/diagrams.

For selection of the AMES Tool Grant, the following will be used by the Grant Committee: Impact/Value/Scope of Overall Project - 30 Visibility within the Community - 25 Participation of Club Members - 20 Need/Planned Usage of Tools Requested - 15 Collaboration with Community Groups - 5 Correctly Completed Application Forms - 5 To learn more about AMES Tools visit their pages of the AMES Companies, Inc. AMES product lines: https://www.

homebyames. com/en-us/lg/ames/ For more than 250 years, AMES Tools have reshaped America, from the ground up. Each time someone holds an AMES tool, they see "EST.

1774," a visible reminder of the enduring passion that has gone into providing tools for two centuries and counting. GIVING BACK - to National Garden Clubs, Inc. Since 2014, AMES has been a proud sponsor of tool grants to National Garden Clubs, Inc. and its Member Clubs in their variety of gardening projects and opportunities from community gardening to gardening education classes that support civic and environmental responsibility.

By selecting "RESOURCES" you can learn how to take care of the tools and their warranty. Also on that page, select "LAWN and GARDEN" and you will find helpful articles under LAWN & GARDEN GUIDES: Outdoor Maintenance Guide There are numerous other gardening blogs, articles and videos on their website. For more information, contact the NGC Grant Manager: AMES Tools Grant Project, Debi Harrington .

AMES Companies Confirmation of Charitable Goods Receipt All successful applicants must deliver a completed Final Report no later than November 15, 2025.

Please include the following: A short, 1-page report describing the project, including any special tips about how the Ames tools were used Brief final financial report showing sources and uses of funds Copies of any project publicity generated by the applicant AMES Companies Confirmation of Charitable Goods Receipt Photos, which must include: The tools received from AMES being used, Before and after photos of the area planted, The garden in bloom, if appropriate, and Names and Release forms (permission to use photos) of individuals in photos; both the NGC Photo Release and the AMES Photo Release forms are required.