SHOT Fund (Soil Health Opportunities & Tools) Grantmaking

SHOT Fund (Soil Health Opportunities & Tools) Grantmaking is sponsored by Regenerative Agriculture Foundation and Rural Climate Partnership. The SHOT Fund is a philanthropic initiative that provides grants and capacity support to farmer-facing NGOs and the farmers they serve.

SHOT Fund - Regenerative Agriculture Foundation SHOT: SOIL HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES & TOOLS A federal funding implementation initiative The SHOT Fund helps farmers access public funds to implement durable and high-impact regenerative agriculture practices.

The Soil Health Opportunities & Tools (SHOT) Fund is a new initiative that aims to fill gaps in conservation funding and put a thumb on the scale to advance the most durable regenerative practices and foster community-led agricultural change. By durable, we mean interventions that create the most enduring, long-term soil health benefits that deliberately shift away from conventional, monoculture agriculture.

By equitable change, we mean resourcing community-led efforts that promote strong local food and fiber systems and rural economies. We envision the SHOT Fund leveraging funding from philanthropy, loan funds, green banks, and the federal government.

The SHOT Fund will bring together technical and financial resources from philanthropic, nonprofit, and federal entities to provide needed strategic support to on-the-ground rural NGOs and the farmers they serve. Through technical assistance, capacity support, financing, and market innovations, the SHOT Fund will ensure public funding results in a more regenerative and economically diverse agriculture sector.

The SHOT Fund will help move public funds towards regenerative practices by providing each of the following: Capacity support to win public grants and reduce administrative hurdles Financing to overcome barriers to access public funding Technical assistance to implement durable and regenerative practices Market and supply chain support for food and fiber systems Our vision is to see $9M in philanthropic investments and $8M in revolving capital (either from private or philanthropic sources) over the next two years, which could be leveraged with USDA investments of $50-200M.

Without strategic intervention, existing public funding won’t meet its full potential to strengthen our agriculture system. Geographic Focus for the SHOT Fund in 2025 In 2025, we will prioritize funding in 19 states (pictured below) in the Upper Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest. This may expand as the SHOT Fund grows.

The SHOT Fund focuses on efforts that advance regenerative practices. Diverse cropping systems with crop rotations that improve soil health all while storing carbon, improving yield, and reducing fertilizer use. Perennial crops that reduce the need for tillage, require fewer fertilizers, and retain more nutrients.

Tree-based agriculture like reforestation, agroforestry, silvopasture, and mass timber that build soil health and have carbon storage potential. Well-managed pasture systems that minimize soil disturbance, reduce nutrient use, sequester carbon, and actively break down greenhouse gas emissions. Reduced use of agrochemical fertilizers and pesticides to avoid substantial emissions, increase soil health, and build resilience.

The SHOT Fund is made possible by the generous contributions from Builders Initiative, Campbell Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, McKnight Foundation, Tortuga Foundation, and Waverley Street Foundation. Regenerative Agriculture Foundation Minneapolis, MN 55407-9998 Thanks to our grantees who provided photos for the site. Special thanks to photographer Alicia Arcidiacono.

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