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.
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.
Crop & Livestock Research Grants - Deadline: October 23
The Crop & Livestock Research Grant Program is a state grant opportunity funded by the State Water Plan Fund. The State Water Plan Fund is a statutory fund (K.S.A. 82a-951) that was created by the 1989 Kansas Legislature for the purpose of implementing the State Water Plan (K.S.A. 82a-903) and is to be used for the establishment and implementation of water-related projects or programs and related technical assistance.
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.
Better Food Policy Fund - Deadline November 2
The Better Food Policy Fund is a values-based fund that exists to support local, regional, or tribal groups who are working in the US to effect better food policy through civic collaboration.
We invest in US-based food policy councils, empowering community and government collaboration for better food policy. We provide financial resources to councils, communicate the value of food policy councils, and provide opportunities for shared learning.
National Trust for Historic Preservation - Deadline: November 12
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund supports the preservation and interpretation of historic places along the Route 66 corridor in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Eligible activities include restoration and rehabilitation of historic sites and structures, archaeological work, preservation education, acquisition of significant land and buildings, and obtaining professional expertise in architecture, planning, and related fields.
Rural Health Transformation Program - Deadline: November 13
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) serves to improve the health of rural Kansans by expanding primary and secondary prevention programs, securing local access to primary care, building a sustainable rural health workforce, enabling value-base care and harnessing data and technology.
Grants to Support Native American Tribal Libraries Nationwide - Deadline: November 13
The Institute of Museum and Library Services' Native American Basic Grants program assists federally recognized Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations. Tribal libraries serve as knowledge and resource centers to support the information needs and community wellness of their users. Eligible applicants are federally recognized Tribal governments.
Catalyst Grants for Sustainable Agriculture and Pollinator Health - Deadline: December 1
The One Hive Foundation's Catalyst Grants support emerging partnerships, pilot projects, early-stage initiatives, and community-based work advancing pollinator health and ecologically responsible agriculture in the U.S. and Canada. Priority areas include pesticide reduction advocacy, education for farmers and beekeepers, scientific research on pollinator health and biodiversity, and projects that translate research into policy and practice. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations.
Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program (CAGP) - Deadline: March 1
The Catalyzing Agroforestry Grants Program (CAGP) is a competitive, rapid-resource distribution grants program for land owners, managers, and community land project coordinators who seek to establish or expand agroforestry on all or a portion of the land they own, manage, or coordinate.
If your project application is selected, this program provides up to
$1500/acre for all field-based agroforestry practices: alley cropping, riparian forest buffers, silvopasture, urban food forests, and windbreaks, depending on project scale and scope.
For forest farming, the program will provide up to $1,000 for 1/4 acre and up to $500/acre for site preparation depending on project scale and scope.
FUND FOR WILD NATURE - Deadline: May 1st & October 1st
Examples of activities we fund include advocacy, litigation, public policy work, and similar endeavors. We do NOT fund basic scientific research, private land acquisition, for-profit enterprises, individual action or study, conferences, or organizations which receive government funding or support. Although we commend the work of wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife rehabilitation facilities, botanical gardens, zoos, learning centers, and habitat restoration, these are beyond the scope of our mission and for that reason we do not fund this type of work. We will only fund media projects that have a clear, significant strategic value to biodiversity and a concrete plan for dissemination of the final product. We strongly recommend reading about our grantees’ work to find parallels, if any, with your work. View recent grantees and past annual reports for more information.
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.
SEED grants are funded under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Act (KS Stat § 9-2324 [2021]), which was enacted in 2021 to promote and facilitate the development and growth of trust banks in Kansas; regulate fiduciary financial activities and custodial services and Kansas; and to locate trust bank office space in economic growth zones in rural Kansas.
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.
Rural Grocery Transition Specialist Program
Rural grocery stores are closing across the country, leaving rural community members with poor access to healthy food. There is a growing need for support to help rural grocery store owners transition their businesses to future owners in order to ensure rural community members don't lose access to healthy food.
This grant program helps farmers and ranchers explore innovative ideas and share what they learn with others. Farmers and ranchers can explore regenerative solutions to problems through on-farm research or demonstration / education projects. These grants are meant to fuel innovation for the whole farming and ranching community, and so grantees report on what worked, what didn’t, and what you would recommend for other farmers and ranchers pursuing similar solutions.
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.
SARE Research and Education Grant
For the 2027 funding cycle of the R&E Grant Program, NCR-SARE will again be accepting preproposals for long-term projects. Recognizing that some research/extension systems work is complex and requires collaborative interdisciplinary work that takes many years to complete, applicants will indicate that they are applying under the long-term option. Awards under this track are selected on an exceptional basis.The long-term option allows for additional funding in subsequent 3-year cycles with satisfactory progress. See the call for preproposals for details.
Youth Educator Grant projects give youth educators in the North Central Region opportunities to develop innovative ways to engage youth in learning about sustainable agriculture and share what they learn with fellow educators. Educators' approaches encourage young people to try sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option
Seed Grants and Mentorship for Early-Stage Nonprofits
We fund early-stage non-profits with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet demonstrated the efficacy needed for growth funding or a sustainable model.
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