Community and School Garden Grants for Nonprofits

Community and School Garden Grants for Nonprofits is sponsored by GrantStation. A database featuring active funding opportunities for community and school garden projects, accepting requests from new grantseekers.

Greenhouse & Garden Grants for Schools and Nonprofits | Growing Spaces® Schedule a Tour & Save 4% · Book Your Tour Today Why geodomes?

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All Articles Step Inside Cactus Jack's From Plant Market to Greenhouse Bar Hillside Gardens turned their 33' Growing Dome into more than a greenhouse. By day, it’s a lush indoor plant market. By evening, it becomes Cactus Jack’s, a greenhouse tequila bar for weddings, private events, and summer concerts.

Step Inside Cactus Jack's → Save the date! Join us at one of our 2026 community events where you can learn more about our Growing Dome greenhouses. What's on the calendar?

the Modern Homesteading Conference (June), Rhythms on the Rio (August), and our Fall Open-House (September). See All Upcoming Events → About Us Contact Us Meet the Team Employment Opportunities Schedule a Tour Meet the Growing Spaces Team! Each team member at Growing Spaces is dedicated to customer support and making sure every Growing Dome greenhouse customer is successful.

We're here to guide you through the process step by step. Let us help you build the perfect greenhouse for your climate. Top 10 Activities, Attractions, and Dining In Pagosa Springs Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is a hidden gem nestled in the San Juan Mountains, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty and rejuvenation.

Our campus has all 6 sizes of Growing Domes available to tour year-round. FAQ Dome Owner Resources School & Community Garden Grants Growing Dome Enthusiasts Facebook Group YouTube Channel Contact Us Are you new to the Growing Spaces Community? Looking for ideas on how to heat your greenhouse or design your raised beds?

Our Facebook Group puts you in touch with Growing Dome Owners and aspiring greenhouse gardeners across North America. A great place to cultivate first-hand knowledge. Visit Our Facebook Group → Visit Our YouTube Channel Be inspired and learn more about year-round gardening.

Our Dome Sweet Dome features take you on private tours of Growing Domes, while we also tackle gardening topics like pests, starting seeds, irrigation, and soil health. Visit Our YouTube Channel → Funding and Grants for Your Greenhouse or Garden Project Funding support for schools, nonprofits, and community groups pursuing a Growing Dome project, plus a directory of external funding programs we’ve found useful.

Apply for the Growing Dome Award Selective annual Growing Dome award for schools, nonprofits, and community organizations pursuing food security, education, or therapeutic projects. Up to $20K in product and installation value. Plan your project with our toolkit Free downloadable templates: budget worksheet, logic model, project timeline, outcomes menu, letters of support.

Used by our grant applicants and by nonprofits applying to other funders. Get an in-kind letter for your external grant If your funder accepts vendor discounts as in-kind match, we can document our standing 6% nonprofit discount as such in a manufacturer letter for your application. Explore other funding programs Explore our curated directory of garden, greenhouse, and community grant programs that we’ve found useful.

Organized by program type, award amounts, and including high level guidance for success. Growing Spaces' greenhouse grant program. Since 2013, Growing Spaces has awarded Growing Dome greenhouses to schools, nonprofits, and community organizations across the country.

The program has changed over the years as we learned what helps a project actually get built. This is its current form: one annual Growing Dome Award, plus tiered runner-up benefits, chosen through a real selection process. Growing Dome Award Growing Spaces Endorsed Project (Finalists) Runners Up Awards (per cycle) You won.

We loved your project and your mission, and we want to help you build it. We want to see this project happen. You weren't this cycle's award recipient, but your plan impressed the committee and we're behind it.

Your application stood out. The committee wanted to recognize your project and keep the door open. Up to $20,000 credit & 12% Discount* Cash credit towards a Growing Dome kit + options & accessories.

Award amount not to exceed 50% of the retail price. Additional 12% discount granted on the remainder of your Growing Spaces quote (shipping, install, etc). Discount applicable to your full Growing Spaces quote (all products and services).

One time only. Discount applicable to your full Growing Spaces quote (all products and services). One time only.

Planning and design support Free Design support, product fit review, up to $300 engineering credit Standard quote and planning In-Kind Letter to assist further grant applications. Commemorative plaque for your completed dome.

"Growing Spaces Endorsed Project" icons for your materials Award commits to installation within 12 months of announcement Discount good for 9 months from announcement Discount good for 9 months from announcement When your dome is up and growing, we'll tell the story together across multiple channels. We'll link directly to your donation page and help your community see what you built.

When your dome is up and growing, we'd love to feature you on our blog. Link exchange appreciated but not required. Nothing required.

A link back to us is always appreciated. Award offer expires; reapply next cycle Tier expires; reapply next cycle Tier expires; reapply next cycle *All eligible nonprofit applicants receive the free Grant Kit and the standing 6% Cultivator nonprofit discount. You can take the 6% as a price reduction on your quote, or have it documented as third-party in-kind match for an external grant, whichever your funder accepts.

The tiers above are runner-up and award benefits for selected applicants. Because each tier already exceeds our standing discounts, tier benefits replace the standing Community Cultivator discount rather than adding to it. div>*:last-child]:!

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mb-0"> Who can apply The Growing Dome Award is open to U.S.-based organizations in these categories: 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing Public schools and school districts Federally recognized tribal organizations Government entities (municipal, county, state) Fiscally sponsored projects of an eligible organization, with sponsor verification Organizations anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to apply.

For-profit businesses, individual applicants, and unverified entities don't qualify. International applicants aren't eligible at this time. What makes a strong project The Award is designed for projects that are ready to move.

The strongest applications have most of this in place: A site you own, lease long-term, or are actively pursuing A plan and funding for the parts the Award won't cover: site prep, foundation, install, utilities, and Year 1 operations A realistic timeline — install complete within 12 months of the award announcement A staff member, teacher, or program lead who'll own the project after install A specific community, student group, or population the project will serve You don't need every box checked to apply.

If two or three are still in motion, the Grant Kit is built to help you work through them before the next cycle. Readiness gets you in the running. Beyond that, we choose for: A compelling story.

Who does the project serve, and why it matters now Mission fit with food security, education, therapeutic use, or community resilience Projects in places or categories we haven't supported recently A willingness to share what you build, through a case study, a site visit, or as a reference for future applicants We're a small team running a small program. One Growing Dome Award per cycle, plus runner-up tiers.

We look for projects where the Award will make a real difference, not where it would be one of many funding sources. Every application gets a full read. Our selection is led by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), who reviews each project in depth and brings it to the selection group.

From there, the Growing Dome Award and runner-up tiers are decided together. We weigh the story, the mission fit, the readiness of the project, and whether the Award will make a real difference. We can't fund every good idea, and a strong project that isn't selected this cycle is genuinely welcome to apply again.

values in the calendar to refresh dates. Applications are assembled offline using our Grant ToolKit, then emailed to [email protected] by the cycle deadline. The kit includes the templates and worksheets we ask applicants to complete: budget, project timeline, outcomes, site readiness, letters of support, and a project narrative.

We confirm receipt within a few business days. Get the Grant ToolKit → The Growing Dome Award runs on a single annual cycle. Growing Dome Award annual cycle Within 12 months of announcement *Applications received outside the open window are held for the next cycle.

Step Inside the SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab’s Living Classroom Garden & Greenhouse Grant Programs School Community Veterans and Disability Organic, Horticulture, & Hydroponics Other Grant Resources ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Quick, smaller awards ($500–$1,500) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ KidsGardening: Youth Garden Grant Typical award: $750 plus tools and seeds (2026 program details list up to fifty awards).

Best for: starting or refreshing a school or youth garden with immediate needs (soil, tools, seeds, basic infrastructure). KidsGardening + The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation: GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant Typical award: $750 to $1,500 (2026 program design and specialty awards). Best for: gardens or greenspaces that directly engage youth (including school-based programs).

Herb Society of America: Samull Grants (K–6 herb gardens) Typical award: $500; eligibility includes K–6 classrooms with 10+ students, with a set number of awards (15 are referenced for 2026). Timing: applications are described with an Aug 1 to Oct 1 window (for the following academic year). Best for: small, teachable herb gardens tied to curriculum.

California Fertilizer Foundation: School Garden Grant Program (California only) Typical award: $1,200; the program FAQ describes 24 grants per year and lists deadlines (Jan 15 and Jun 15 are referenced). Best for: California schools that can tie the garden to learning objectives and sustain it beyond the initial build.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mid-size school garden funding (roughly $3,500–$10,000) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Whole Foods Market Foundation: Garden Grant Typical award: $3,500 for a new or existing edible educational garden at a K–12 school in the U.S. or Canada.

Timing: the program notes it reopens annually in late winter, with disbursements sent in the fall. Best for: a defined, shovel-ready set of improvements (beds, soil, irrigation, tools, learning materials). Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation: Sprouting School Gardens Typical award: $5,000 to $10,000 (per program-level description and prior year announcement).

Eligibility notes include: public schools or 501(c)(3)s, in states where Sprouts operates; school-campus focus; “ideal” proximity guidance for school garden applicants. Best for: schools that can show student impact and direct program expenses, not just a one-time build.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In-kind garden packages and programs (high value, not cash) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Captain Planet Foundation: Project Learning Garden What you receive: a Project Learning Garden package and mobile kitchen cart, valued around $6,000.

Eligibility: elementary schools only (per their application framing). Best for: elementary schools that want a full “garden + learning” package rather than piecemeal purchases. What it provides: modular garden beds plus mini-grants; describes a short application process and a package that can include beds, seeds/soil, irrigation, and storage.

Availability: opportunities are offered in partnership with districts/local orgs and are not always open everywhere. Best for: schools in active Big Green regions or where a district partner can activate a cohort.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Large and regional opportunities (>$10,000) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Colorado Garden Foundation (Colorado only): Annual Grant Program and Major Grant Program Structure: their program materials describe a one-page letter of intent process with an Aug 30 deadline.

Award size: materials describe Annual and Major grant tracks, with Major materials describing up to $75,000. Best for: Colorado schools/districts and partners with larger capital or multi-year programming needs. USDA: Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program Scope: supports farm-to-school activities including school gardens and agricultural education.

Award size: $100,000 to $500,000 for 2026, but changes from year to year. Fit note: eligibility is broad but some applicant types must apply as part of a partnership. Best for: greenhouse-scale projects, district-wide programs, or strong nonprofit + district partnerships.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ National Head Start Association: GroMoreGood Garden Grants (Head Start only) Program description: includes garden grants/kits/curriculum/training for Head Start programs.

Note: Deadlines and award amounts vary by year. Confirm the current cycle on the program page.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ America in Bloom: CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up Best for: Public-facing community greening (gateways, tree canopy, significant landscapes).

Funds: Tree canopy improvements, landscaping, flowers and plants that build community pride and environmental stewardship. Key requirements and watch-outs: Will not fund more than 50% of costs, and requires at least 50% match (cash or in-kind). Excludes hard landscaping (paving stones, fencing), urban furniture, play structures, and annual maintenance (but you must show how maintenance will be handled).

Tip: Show multiple funding sources and a maintenance plan, and emphasize public visibility and long-term sustainability. SeedMoney Challenge (crowdfunding + challenge grants) Best for: Community gardens, food bank gardens, youth gardens that can activate local donors quickly. Funds: You keep 100% of what you raise.

You also compete for challenge grants that scale with fundraising performance. Key requirements and watch-outs: This is fundraising, not a traditional application-only grant. Outcomes depend on outreach capacity.

Tip: Treat it like a 30-day campaign. Prepare photos, a clear budget, and a donor list before you start. National Garden Bureau: Therapeutic Garden Grant Best for: Therapeutic garden programs housed in community orgs, clinics, veteran facilities, senior centers, rehabilitation programs.

Funds: Five selected gardens receive awards. First place $3,000; second place $1,500; three additional recipients $1,000 each. Key requirements and watch-outs: Placement is determined by online voting, so community engagement and storytelling matter.

Tip: Build a simple outreach plan for the voting window (partners, email list, local press, social posts). Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF): Orchard Donations Best for: Community gardens or nonprofits that can host and maintain a small orchard long-term. Funds: Orchard-oriented support (trees and program design vary by program).

Key requirements and watch-outs: Must commit to caring for the orchard in perpetuity as part of a charitable mission. Site must support roughly 15–20 trees, spaced about 15 feet apart. Tip: Document irrigation access, stewardship plan, and who owns or controls the site for the long term.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Broader community funding that often covers gardens ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keep America Beautiful: MLK Community Improvement Grants Best for: Community improvements along or near an MLK corridor where a garden strengthens public space and neighborhood pride.

Funds: Beautification and transformation projects. Their own examples include community gardens and green spaces. Key requirements and watch-outs: Eligibility includes KAB affiliates, nonprofits, and local governments; partnering with a local KAB affiliate is encouraged and may strengthen the application.

Location must be along or near an MLK corridor. Tip: Frame the garden as a public place upgrade with clear community benefit, stewardship, and visibility. AARP: Community Challenge Best for: Fast, visible community projects that improve public places and benefit residents (especially adults 50+).

Funds: “Quick-action” improvements, including the “creating vibrant public places” category (parks, open spaces, community amenities). Gardens can fit if framed as public space. Key requirements and watch-outs: They prioritize speed and feasibility.

This is not a long, multi-year build. Tip: Keep scope tight and implementation-ready (site secured, partners named, volunteer plan defined). Walmart: Spark Good Local Grants Best for: Community gardens needing tools, soil, compost, bed materials, signage, small infrastructure, or programming expenses.

Funds: Local cash grants awarded by facilities (stores, clubs, distribution centers) to organizations serving that facility’s service area. Key requirements and watch-outs: Requires a Spark Good account and verification via Deed. Applications run in cycles, and there are limits on how many applications an organization can have pending/approved at once.

Tip: Apply to the closest facility, keep the ask concrete, and show clear local benefit with a short budget list.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Larger “program funding” options (good for greenhouse-scale community work) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ USDA: Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Best for: Larger urban/suburban initiatives that combine food access, education, workforce training, and production (including community gardens and greenhouses).

Funds: Planning and implementation activities. The USDA FAQ explicitly includes community gardens, greenhouses, and controlled-environment production among examples, and lists many eligible expense types (including materials/supplies and certain construction). Key requirements and watch-outs: This is a federal process.

Expect reporting, compliance, and a strong partner story. Tip: Lead with the community need, the coalition, and measurable outcomes. Treat the garden as part of a system (education, access, jobs), not the whole story.

USDA: NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) Best for: Food security nonprofits building a sustainable program (gardens plus distribution, training, local food systems). Funds: Planning Projects ($25,000–$50,000) and Community Food Projects ($125,000 minimum up to $400,000 over four years). Both include a 1:1 match requirement; projects also require evaluation.

Key requirements and watch-outs: “One-time infusion” framing means you must show a path to self-sustaining operations after the grant. Tip: If you are not ready for a full project, start with a Planning Project to build partnerships, model operations, and lock in your match strategy.

Veterans and Disability Garden Grants USDA NIFA: Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (AgVets) Competitive Grants Program Best for: Nonprofits running hands-on farm or ranch training programs for veterans, including pathways for service-disabled veterans (training, workforce readiness, employment prospects).

Funds: Onsite, hands-on training plus classroom education to build practical and operational farm/ranch skills. Key requirements and watch-outs: Applicant must be a nonprofit organization (as defined in the NOFO). Recent cycle shows no match required, but federal reporting and compliance are part of the deal.

Always check the current NOFO and the linked Grants. gov listing for up-to-date dates and rules. Tip: Treat this like a workforce pipeline proposal, not a “garden build.

” Lead with outcomes (number trained, placements, certifications), partners (host farms, extension, employers), and how you will recruit and retain veterans through the full program. National Garden Bureau: Therapeutic Garden Grant Program Best for: Programs serving veterans, people with disabilities, and trauma-impacted populations through structured therapeutic horticulture.

Eligible applicants include veteran facilities and rehabilitative facilities. Funds: Expansion or continuation of a therapeutic garden program. Key requirements and watch-outs: Must be a 501(c) nonprofit with a defined therapeutic garden program in place for at least one year, plus a five-year commitment for the garden to remain on the property.

Requires a Registered Horticulture Therapist on staff or in an advisory role. Selection includes a social voting component after finalists are chosen, and finalists submit a one-minute video. Tip: This one rewards clarity and credibility.

Document your therapeutic model, staffing credentials, monthly reach, and outcomes, then have a lightweight plan for rallying votes if you become a finalist. Farmer Veteran Coalition: Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund Best for: Individual veterans in their early years of farming or ranching who need a specific piece of equipment or supplies to grow production. Funds: Items purchased through approved third-party vendors.

Awards are not paid directly to the veteran. Key requirements and watch-outs: Requires proof of service and a business plan. The application emphasizes experience, personal investment, and a clear explanation of how the purchase will materially advance the farm business.

Tip: Pick one bottleneck purchase and quantify the impact (time saved, revenue enabled, acreage brought online, safety improvement). Avoid “wish list” budgets. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Quality of Life Grants, Direct Effect (Tier 1) Best for: Nonprofits making accessibility upgrades and inclusive community spaces that benefit people living with paralysis, including accessible garden spaces and adaptive infrastructure.

Funds: Specific budget items that clearly impact individuals living with paralysis and their families. Eligible project examples include “accessible community spaces” and “facility accessibility modifications. ” Key requirements and watch-outs: U.S.-based organizations only (and projects must be in the U.S.).

Direct Effect projects must be completed within 12 months after the award is received, and reporting is required. Practical tip: Position an accessible garden as an accessibility and participation project, not a beautification project. Name exactly what changes remove barriers (paths, table heights, bed access, tool adaptations), and how many participants will benefit.

DAV Charitable Service Trust: Veteran Grants Program Best for: Veteran-serving nonprofits providing services for sick, wounded, homeless, or at-risk veterans, including therapeutic or recreational activities and education or training. Funds: Programmatic support for veteran initiatives (often needs-focused).

Key requirements and watch-outs: They note they do not generally fund capital items, including acquisition or maintenance/rehabilitation of property. That means this may be a better fit for programming, tools, training, or therapeutic activities than for major construction.

Tip: If you use this for horticulture, frame it as a therapeutic or rehabilitative program with measurable participation and wellbeing outcomes, with a tight budget tied to program delivery. Organic Farming, Horticulture, and Hydroponics Grants If you are a youth program or school-adjacent program: start with FFA Living to Serve, then Wild Ones (native habitat education), then state-level specialty crop funding.

If you are a grower (or a nonprofit that actively farms): start with SARE (producer-led trials) and NRCS EQIP (season extension or organic transition support). If you are an organization proposing research or education for organic producers: look at USDA NIFA OREI (large, partnership-heavy) and Herb Society of America (small, focused research).

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ National FFA: Living to Serve Grants Details: U.S. | Cash | Multiple grant sizes and time horizons ( mini-grants up to $500; semester up to $1,200; yearlong up to $3,000; state-level days of service up to $8,000) Best for: Middle/high school FFA chapters (and alumni/collegiate chapters for some options) funding a defined service project that can include food access, sustainability, or garden build-outs.

Funds: Service-learning projects by scope (one-day events through full-year projects). Key requirements: Project must map to one of four focus areas (community safety; hunger, health and nutrition; environmental responsibility; community engagement).

Tip: This is a strong fit when you can describe a tight project plan, named partners, a short timeline, and clear deliverables (beds installed, pounds grown/donated, student hours, workshops delivered).

Blooming Prairie Foundation: Organic and Natural Foods Grants Best for: Nonprofits working on development, research, or education in the organic industry and cooperative community; also projects advancing organic/natural products or cooperative development. Funds: Organic and natural products development, research/education, and cooperative development in the natural products or organic industry.

Key requirements : They cannot grant to individuals or organizations that are not tax-exempt; 501(c)(3) status (or IRC 7871 tax exemption) is required. Tip: Lead with why your project accelerates organic adoption or organic market capacity, then tie it to measurable community outcomes and a realistic budget narrative.

Herb Society of America: Research Grant Best for: Small, self-contained research projects that deepen knowledge and use of herbs, especially when the project can produce a clear write-up and shareable findings. Funds: The organization describes this as a research grant intended for small projects over a short period; the published program guidance also outlines allowable and non-allowable costs.

Key requirements: Their published program guidance indicates applicants are U.S.-based and the recipient is affiliated with a nonprofit fiscal agent. Confirm the current-year deadline on the program page and instructions because posted materials can differ.

Tip: Propose one precise research question, a lean methodology, and a dissemination plan that goes beyond “publish a report” (for example: a short grower-facing guide, workshop, or extension-style handout). Wild Ones: Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program Best for: Pollinator gardens, rain gardens, native plant habitat, sensory or nature play spaces that engage youth directly in planning and planting.

Funds: Native plants and seeds for hands-on youth learning spaces. Key requirements: Must use native plants; the program explicitly notes it does not fund vegetable gardens. Tip: A simple maintenance plan (who waters, who weeds, what happens over breaks) is often the difference between “good idea” and “fundable project.

” California ReLeaf: Urban Forestry Grants Details: California | Cash | Smaller minimum awards with technical assistance; multiple programs with rotating open periods Best for: California-based community groups doing tree planting and care, outreach/education, volunteer development, or green jobs training as part of community greening.

Funds: Pass-through grants designed to make urban forestry funding more accessible for smaller groups, including technical support. Key requirements: California focus; specific program rules vary by grant round. Tip: They prioritize community engagement and thoughtful placement for multi-benefit impact.

If you can show community leadership and stewardship, you are speaking their language.

SARE: Producer-Led Sustainable Agriculture Grants Details: U.S. (regional) | Cash (often reimbursement) | Recent maxima vary by region (example: Western Farmer/Rancher up to $35,000; North Central $15,000 individual / $30,000 team; Southern Producer $20,000 individual / $25,000 organizations) Best for: Testing a specific growing innovation (including organic systems, controlled environment agriculture, season extension, water/energy efficiency, soil health) and sharing results with other growers.

Funds: Producer-driven research plus outreach, with reporting and knowledge-sharing expectations. Key requirements: Eligibility and mechanics vary by region; SARE commonly frames funding around research and education (not general operating support), and some programs require a technical advisor.

Tip: Write the proposal like an experiment: one change, measurable outcomes, and a clear plan for sharing results (field day, short guide, local workshop). USDA NRCS EQIP: High Tunnel Initiative Details: U.S. | Cost-share assistance (technical and financial) | Season extension infrastructure Best for: Growers extending the season for vegetables, starts, herbs, and nursery crops; often pairs well with organic transition plans.

Note: Eligibility varies by state and local NRCS office. If you are exploring EQIP support for season extension infrastructure, contact your local NRCS office to confirm which structures and practices qualify in your area. Funds: NRCS describes this as targeted assistance to promote use of high tunnels for benefits including longer growing season.

Key requirements: Details vary by local NRCS office and state payment schedules; typically requires producer eligibility and conservation planning steps. Tip: If hydroponics is in view, clarify whether your plan is a high tunnel plus hydroponic system inside, or a separate indoor facility; EQIP tends to be strongest for the season-extension structure itself.

USDA NRCS EQIP: Organic Initiative Details: U.S. | Cost-share assistance (technical and financial) | Organic and transitioning producers Best for: Certified organic farms, or farms transitioning to organic, seeking support for conservation practices that improve soil health, pest management systems, and resilience. Funds: NRCS describes this as