News and Opportunities

Louisiana Farm to School Institute Team Applications

We are excited to announce that Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program will host the first Louisiana Farm to School Institute next year! The Institute will help bring teams together to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan for their school.

Team applications are now open for schools or districts who want to take advantage of this professional development opportunity to enhance their farm to school programming. Applications will be open until January 26, 2024. 

2024 Farm to School Grants

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts.

The fiscal year (FY) 2024 Farm to School Grant awards projects of 24 months in length for funding up to $500,000. Applicants are required to provide matching support of at least 25 percent of the total project budget in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. The RFA offers three tracks – Implementation, State Agency, and Turnkey – to support a variety of projects and implementation stages.

Learn more and apply today! The application deadline is January 12, 2024.

Roots & Shoots Project Grant

Youth, educators, community groups/organizations, group leaders…any Roots & Shoots member who is interested in starting (or continuing) a community-action project to positively impact people, other animals, and/or the environment we all share..

Learn more and apply today! The application deadline is November 23, 2023.

2024 Youth Garden 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. In 2024, fifty programs will receive award packages consisting of a cash prize and a variety of gardening tools and supplies.

Learn more and apply today! The application deadline is December 15, 2023.

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation

Grants for community improvement projects and public education. The Foundation provides funding only to 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and public agencies (no private schools) in communities where Lowe’s operates stores and distribution centers. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation requires that all applicants take an eligibility test. Organizations that pass will be considered, but not guaranteed a grant. Grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000.

Rolling application cycle

Salad Bars to Schools

Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is a comprehensive grassroots public health effort to mobilize and engage stakeholders at the local, state and national level to support salad bars in schools. Their vision is to significantly increase salad bars in schools across the country until every child has the choice of healthy fruits and vegetables every day at school. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is an initiative of the Food Family Farming Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, and Whole Foods Market to support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.

Rolling application cycle

National Education Association Foundation Grants

Student Success Grants, offered by the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation, are for projects that help students learn how to think critically and solve problems in order to improve student learning. Learning & Leadership Grants, offered by the NEA Foundation, are for professional development opportunities for individuals or groups. Grants are available to current members of NEA who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. Preference is given to proposals that incorporate STEM and/or global learning into projects, which can include farm to school activities. Two levels of funding are available: $2,000 and $5,000. Apply for a Student Success Grant here or a Learning & Leadership Grant here.

Captain Planet Project Learning Garden

Schools can apply now to win a Captain Planet Foundation Project Learning Garden through partnerships with grocery retailers around the country. Grand Prize Winners will receive a one-year supply of DOLE Fruit Bowls and a Project Learning Garden provided by Captain Planet Foundation, including: 5 garden beds or garden expansion (for schools with an existing garden), mobile garden cooking cart, standards-based Learning Garden lessons and lesson supply kits, and online teacher training. Learn more about the Project Learning Garden and apply here.

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars

FTPF and Dreyer’s are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called “Communities Take Root,” and your town could be next! They invite your community to apply for this exciting opportunity to grow fresh fruit, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships and build community food security—all through the simple act of planting fruit trees. FTPF is currently accepting the first 100 qualified applications for the next round of the program, which involves a public online vote to select the final recipients. * FTPF provides all plants, related materials and equipment, community workshops and training, and our team will work with your community volunteers to install the orchard. Recipients must have the appropriate space and commitment to the orchard to qualify. Download the application here and submit via email only. *Schools are not eligible to apply. Please visit the Fruit Tree 101 Grants page for more information about the school orchard program.