This collection of funding opportunities may suit those in Kansas’ food and farm system. We work to update this collection monthly as we build our Rural Roundup Newsletter, which showcases opportunities with upcoming deadlines.
Predevelopment Technical Assistance Grants - Deadline: September 25
This financial assistance is geared toward projects that are still in early concept or predevelopment stages and are not yet ready for full implementation. Project activities include but are not limited to: Market or feasibility research, Architectural design assistance or site planning, Community assessments and engagement, Business planning, Legal counsel.
Upward Mobility Mass Action Mini-Grant Program - Deadline: September 29
KHF will award grants of up to $10,000 each (including cost of travel expenses) to eligible Kansas nonprofit organizations for community-driven solutions that help Kansans facing financial hardship get ahead. This opportunity is designed to put the Blueprint for Upward Mobility into action.
For Farmers Grant - Deadline: October 12
Basic Grants
The For Farmers Movement awards 100+ grants a year that range from $500 to $1000, with up to $3000 for collaborative grants. Grants support projects like infrastructure, equipment, innovation, loss recovery and more. We have supported plenty of fencing, irrigation, cold storage, soil improvements, wash stations, repairs and more.
Transformational Grants
Larger grants ranging from $5000 to $10,000 support projects with meaningful impact on farm operations and the surrounding community.
Transformational grants are offered by invitation only to those who submit a concept through the basic grants program
Community Forest Program - Deadline October 13
The Community Forest Program is a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to tribal entities, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to acquire and establish community forests that provide community benefits. Community benefits include economic benefits through active forest management, clean water, wildlife habitat, educational opportunities, and public access for recreation.
Attraction Development Grants - Deadline: October 16
The Attraction Development Grant Program supports the creation of new or enhancing sustainable, market-driven travel experiences in Kansas. Its goal is to attract new visitors, influence travel decisions, and generate economic benefits through new jobs, capital investment, increased revenue, and higher visitation.
ALDI Community Gift Card Program - Deadline: October 31
The ALDI Community Gift Card (ACGC) program offers gifts valued between $100 and $1,000 to qualified nonprofits and schools committed to supporting after-school and out-of-school youth programs. This initiative also extends to food banks and pantries seeking to purchase essential products. Whether your mission focuses on youth development or addressing food insecurity in your community, we invite you to apply for support.
About the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation
The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that provide programs and resources to help strengthen diverse communities across the United States. Funding is focused on three areas: education, including nonprofits focused on education resources and opportunities supporting diverse communities across the country, as well as groups that focus on STEM, early childhood learning, and safety; engaging the community, including financial literacy, food insecurity, environmental conservation, animal welfare and advocacy, and health and wellness initiatives; and promoting equity, including building meaningful relationships with community organizations that support equity, justice, diversity, and inclusion.
KACD and local Conservation Districts promotes a variety of incentive programs for soil health improvement activities. One of our partnerships is with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) through the Climate Smart Commodities Initiatives. ADM partners with farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices, incentivizing a more sustainable future. ADM’s program provided financial rewards for regenerative practices as well as outcomes such as improved soil quality, giving producers the opportunity to sell crops with sustainable attributes at a premium.
Beginning Grower Support Program
We all start at the beginning. All experienced growers have experienced the commitment and effort it takes to get started and building toward a vision, perhaps a dream, in cultivating vegetables, fruit, herbs, ornamentals, etc. into a business enterprise. To give beginning growers some much-needed support, Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association—in collaboration with K-State Extension and Growing Growers—has stipend support for beginning growers to participate in training/networking opportunities of interest to you. If you are a new grower, you are eligible for up to $250 to cover registration, travel, and other costs associated with your participation in training/networking activities that can help you build toward your vision.
Ben and Jerry’s Grassroots Organizing Program
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s National Grassroots Organizing Program (NGO) offers two-year unrestricted, general operating support grants of up to $30,000 per year, with an average grant size of $20,000 per year, to small (budgets under $350,000), constituent-led grassroots organizations throughout the United States and its territories.
Cliff Family Foundation Funds for Operational Support
Deadline: Bi-Monthly or Twice a Year
These grants support daily operating costs and specific projects
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in Kansas
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Community Heart and Soul Seed Grant Program
Provides funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model to bring residents together to chart a course forward in a way that recognizes and honors the unique character of their town and emotional connection of the people who live there. Grants are $10,000, cash match is required
Recognizing that multi-generational problems require multi-generational solutions, we believe that developing and supporting visionary changemakers within native communities provides the most proven path for fostering long-term progress.
Emergent Fund is a rolling, monthly rapid response and emergent organizing grant for movement and frontline communities responding to urgent and specific unanticipated crises or opportunities to build power.
Thanks to the financial support of the KSI Foundation, the Enthuse Foundation is proud to award $5,000 to a woman CPG entrepreneur who has an environmental component to their business.
Criteria:Climate & Environmental Solution, Proposed Impact on the Business, Use of Funds & Execution Plan, Demonstration of Financial or Resource Need, Brand Viability
The Food System 6 EQIP Bridge Loan Program
Food System 6 (FS6)’s Bridge Loan Program helps producers overcome one of the biggest barriers to implementing EQIP projects: the upfront costs. Because EQIP reimburses producers after eligible work is completed, many farmers and ranchers must finance those costs themselves before receiving payment from NRCS.
FS6’s bridge loan fund provides 0% bridge loans to help producers begin implementing their contracts immediately rather than delaying projects or taking on expensive debt. There are no fees, no interest, and no penalties. Loans are repaid when producers receive their NRCS reimbursement.
Funding is now available for producers with active EQIP contracts in all 50 states. Farmers, ranchers, and landowners can find more information about the program and apply here, or get in touch with us at eqip@foodsystem6.org.
Kansas Department of Ag - Conservation Financial Assistance
The Division of Conservation (DOC), Kansas Department of Agriculture administers four voluntary cost-share programs, the Water Resources Cost-Share Program, the Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program, Riparian and Wetland Protection Program and the Sediment & Nutrient Reduction Initiative. These programs provide financial assistance to eligible landowners for conservation practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and/or conserve water.
Kansas Innovation Fund
Are you a visionary, a problem solver, or someone who is passionate about creating positive change in your community? Is your organization open to exploring new strategies and taking bold steps toward innovation? Have you come across ideas or projects from community members, youth or nonprofit staff that you are eager to implement but lack the necessary resources? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we invite you to consider applying for the Kansas Innovation Fund.
KHF will provide up to $5,000 for each approved idea/project. Our goal is to provide a funding opportunity for nonprofits looking to explore new strategies to solve complex issues.
Karma 4 Cara Microgrant Program
The K4C Microgrant Program is the bridge between ideas and action. By providing microgrants in varying amounts up to $1,000, K4C helps young citizen leaders execute and magnify their initiatives to help repair our world. Students 18 years of age and under may apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities throughout the United States.
Patterson Family Grant Opportunities
Projects that have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans will receive priority consideration. If you are unsure whether your program or organization qualifies for our grants, please review the applicant handbook or reach out through their Contact Us page.
Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF)
How
Farmers facing reimbursement delays can apply for an emergency grant to cover expenses.
If reimbursement arrives, the farmer repays the grant, allowing HSF to redeploy funds.
If no reimbursement materializes, the grant becomes non-recoupable, ensuring farmers aren’t left financially vulnerable.
Who
Organic and regenerative farmers in Midwest states experiencing public funding delays.
Farmers who have executed contracts for programs like EQIP, CSP, and RFSI but have not received expected reimbursements.
Farmers with immediate financial needs due to these delays.
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) provides loans to rural utilities and other companies who provide energy efficiency loans to qualified consumers to implement durable cost-effective energy efficiency measures.
The Partnership Grant program is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.
Examples of appropriate projects include: developing a curriculum about food storage for farmers and processors, on-farm testing of cropping system strategies or grazing systems, cooperative efforts to develop new marketing approaches, or investigations into new approaches to processing and/or adding value to sustainably produced farm products.
Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants
This grant provides grants to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged in a Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Presidentially Declared Disaster Area. To determine your eligibility, review the list of Presidentially Declared Disasters by State and County. This list is subject to change.
Small Meat Processing Assistance
The Flower Hill Institute is offering their services to help coordinate technical assistance for meat and poultry processing expansion. Once you have filled out form, you will be added to the database to receive all information on any new grant or loan opportunities. Someone will also connect with you to provide resources and guide you through your stage of the process.
T-mobile is investing $25M in 500 rural towns over 5 years to jumpstart projects and build stronger communities. Together, we can help upgrade tech at your local library, build new hiking trails, revitalize historic buildings, and so much more.
Deadline: Bi-Monthly or Twice a Year
The program, KC Grow, provides funding to growers in Kansas City, MO for:
Municipal water line tap and hydrant installation
Rainwater and storm water catchment systems
Supply lines from existing water supplies
Farm design/ development to maximize rain water catchment and soil management practices that improve the water holding capacity of the soil.
Waste Management Community Impact
Work with local leaders, organizations, and partners on initiatives that support meaningful community engagement. Categories include environmental stewardship, stustainable educaiton, community vitality, environmental justice, workforce and skills assessment, and supplier diversity
Each month, we award a $10,000 Amber Grant to one outstanding woman-owned business. All business categories, including non-profits, are eligible. Our judges review each application before deciding on one monthly winner.
Each monthly winner also qualifies for the year-end $25,000 Amber Grant.
Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities