Current Funding Opportunities
JANUARY
FACT Fund-a-Farmer Animal Welfare Improvement Grant | Deadline: January 3rd
Goals: This program funds projects on farms looking to improve the lives of their animals, farmers pursuing or maintaining animal welfare certification, projects related to marketing, sales, and distribution of welfare-certified products, and more.
Eligibility Factors: This award is for commercial farms only.
Funding Limitations: Sixty $3,500 grants will be awarded.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be announced at the end of February 2026.
FACT Fund-a-Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant | Deadline: January 3rd
Goals: This program seeks funds projects on farms looking to develop business plans/feasibility studies for significant changes to an operation, including conversion to pasture or adoption of alternative breeds, install the infrastructure necessary to convert from non-pasture to pasture-based operation, install the infrastructure necessary to convert from non-pasture to pasture-based operation, and more.
Eligibility Factors: This award is for commercial farms only.
Funding Limitations: Two $10,000 grants will be awarded.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be announced at the end of February 2026.
2nd Annual Good Farmer Award U.S. | Deadline: January 16th
Goals: The goal of this award is to uplift farmers who are practicing ecologically sound methods, building on-farm biodiversity and promoting sustainability, resilience, and equity in their communities. Submissions should highlight active interest or current implementation in environmentally responsible practices that boost biodiversity, promote long-term resilience, garner community engagement, and advance sustainable and equitable systems.
Eligibility Factors: This award program seeks ‘Beginning Farmers’ based in the U.S. who have been in operation for 10 years or less.
Funding Limitations: The top award recipient will receive $10,000 from Davines North America to invest in equipment and initiatives that elevate their agroecological efforts, along with an all-expenses-paid trip (valued at $5,000) to the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC) in Parma, Italy—a premier research and training hub connected to the Davines Group Village.
The second-place award recipient will receive $5,000 from Davines North America to invest in equipment and initiatives that elevate their agroecological efforts, along with an all-expenses-paid trip (valued at $2,500) to Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA.
The third-place award recipient will be provided free access to Rodale Institute Education Resources, including online courses and workshops, and free registration at Rodale Institute’s annual field day in July 2026.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be announced on April 22nd, 2026.
The Fruit Guys Community Fund Grant | Deadline: January 30th
Goals: The FruitGuys Community Fund (TFGCF) helps small farms to implement innovative and sustainable farm practices that preserve and enhance the land and the landscape while respecting the farmer’s autonomy and need to make a living.
Eligibility Factors: This grant is available to small U.S. farms of 250 acres or less. For-profit farms must be active for at least 2 years. 501(c)(3) agricultural nonprofits in operation for minimum 3 years may apply; must submit 501(c)(3) documentation and board list.
Funding Limitations: Applicants may apply for grants up to $5,000.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be announced in May. Interim report due in August. Project must be completed by December, and final report is due January 2027.
February
Northeast SARE Research and Education Grant Program | Deadline: February 2nd
Goals: The purpose of the Research and Education grant program is to invest in education for farmers that leads to changes in farmer behavior, decision-making, and/or practices. These changes must increase the sustainability of farming in the Northeast United States. This grant program seeks innovative projects that improve existing practices or introduce existing practices to new farmer audiences.
Eligibility Factors: The Project Leader can be anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at: nonprofit organizations, for profit businesses (including farms) that provide agricultural consulting, veterinary services, etc., farms, farmers, farm employees and farming community groups, communities committed to building the capacity and resilience of sustainable agriculture, colleges and universities, cooperative extension, municipalities, State Departments of Agriculture, federal agencies like NRCS. Project activities must primarily take place in the Northeast region of the US.
Funding Limitations: There is no cap on total grant requests; however, requests typically fall between $30,000 and $250,000. A total of $1,560,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards announced May 2026. Earliest possible project start date: June 1st, 2026. Projects must be completed by November 30th, 2029.
Northeast SARE Research for Novel Approaches in Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program | Deadline: February 2nd
Goals: This program funds ‘proof of concept’ applied research projects that are designed to confirm the benefits and/or feasibility of new practices and approaches—i.e., Novel Approaches—in agriculture. Research for Novel Approaches Grant projects require an explicit connection to the needs and interests of farmers in the Northeast. All proposals must include documented interest among farmers and service providers in utilizing or promoting the novel approach should it be proven beneficial and feasible. This program encourages innovative solutions to challenges in farming and food systems in the Northeast USA, including but not limited to the areas of: marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, economic and social sustainability, ecological knowledge, projects related to climate and/or bioenergy work that provide direct or indirect benefits to farmers, ranchers, and private foresters, and more.
Eligibility Factors: The Project Leader can be anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at: nonprofit organizations, for profit businesses (including farms) that provide agricultural consulting, veterinary services, etc., farms, farmers, farm employees and farming community groups, communities committed to building the capacity and resilience of sustainable agriculture, colleges and universities, cooperative extension, municipalities, State Departments of Agriculture, federal agencies like NRCS. Project activities must primarily take place in the Northeast region of the US.
Funding Limitations: There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $30,000 and $200,000. A total of $1,300,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards announced May 2026. Earliest possible project start date: June 1st, 2026. Projects must be completed by November 30th, 2029.
Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant | Deadline: February 2nd
Goals: The Professional Development Grant program funds projects that help service providers improve the way they work with farmers through research-based education. These projects result in a change in practice or behavior by service providers that supports farmers in sustainable agriculture innovation.
Eligibility Factors: The Project Leader can be anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at: nonprofit organizations, for profit businesses (including farms) that provide agricultural consulting, veterinary services, etc., farms, farmers, farm employees and farming community groups, communities committed to building the capacity and resilience of sustainable agriculture, colleges and universities, cooperative extension, municipalities, State Departments of Agriculture, federal agencies like NRCS. Project activities must primarily take place in the Northeast region of the US.
Funding Limitations: Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000 and about 5-6 projects are funded annually.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards announced May 2026. Earliest possible project start date: June 1st, 2026. Projects must be completed by November 30th, 2029.
Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant Program | Deadline: February 23rd
Goals: The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant applies social science research and education projects that strengthen farming and food systems at the community level. These projects explore innovative approaches to improving the health and sustainability of agricultural communities in the Northeast. This program supports projects that are grounded in community partnerships and informed by the lived experiences of farmers. It encourages collaboration among farmers, service providers, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-create solutions that are responsive to local needs and scalable across the region.
Eligibility Factors: The Project Leader can be anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at: nonprofit organizations, for profit businesses (including farms) that provide agricultural consulting, veterinary services, etc., farms, farmers, farm employees and farming community groups, communities committed to building the capacity and resilience of sustainable agriculture, colleges and universities, cooperative extension, municipalities, State Departments of Agriculture, federal agencies like NRCS. Project activities must primarily take place in the Northeast region of the US.
Funding Limitations: Northeast SARE’s Administrative Council allocated approximately $3,300,000 to fund projects for this cycle of farming community grants. There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $50,000 and $250,000.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards announced April - May 2026. Earliest possible project start date: June 1st, 2026. Projects must be completed by November 30th, 2028.
MAY
NATOORA Farm Fund | Deadline: May 31st
Goals: The Farm Fund grants are open to farmers who are 35 and under in Australia, Europe, the U.S. and the UK who are committed to agroecological cultivation methods. Applicants should demonstrate how their project reinforces soil health, cultural & identity, biodiversity, innovation, accessible scale and education, and how a grant would reinforce the long-term resilience and impact of their work.
Eligibility Factors: Applicant must be aged 35 or younger at the time of application and based in Australia, Europe, the U.S. or the UK. Must be farming on a small scale (less than 100 acres) and proposing a horticulture project growing directly in the soil. Previous recipients are ineligible until 5 years have passed since last successful application. Projects must have a clear long term plan.
Funding Limitations: $150,000 total funding available. Grants will be awarded at $30,000, $15,000 and $8,000 levels.
Anticipated Timeline: Finalists will be contacted in late June of 2026. Awards announced October 2026.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS, NO DEADLINE
Dairy Promotion Grant for Farmers
Goals: This grant program provides funding to eligible individuals and organizations for activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible applicants include:
- Dairy farmers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (applicants must be associated with the production of cow’s milk)
- Retired dairy farmers or agriculture advocates, in partnership with an active dairy producer
- Agriculture organizations (FFA, Farm Bureau, 4-H, etc.) within our five state region
Funding Limitations: $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply at least six weeks prior to your event or activity. Applicants will be notified by email of approval or denial, as well as the total funding amount. You can expect a decision within three weeks of submitting your grant application. Approved applicants will receive funding approximately two weeks after we receive your completed grant paperwork, which includes an LOA, W9, and other documents. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. Grant recipients are required to submit a grant report after completion of the event or activity to remain eligible in the next calendar year.
Goals: The Black Farmers Learn educational subsidy will pay tuition or registration fees of up to $500 for Black farmers or land stewards who wish to expand their knowledge or skills via a self-identified training program. This program honors education from structured sources available to the public; this includes schools, farming institutions, land or agricultural collectives, and conferences or training that offer to deepen skills and increase farming capacity.
Eligibility Factors: This program is available to Black farmers or land stewards who are members of the Northeast Farmers of Color (NEFOC) Network and are pursuing publicly available, structured education programs.
Funding Limitations: This program will pay tuition or registration fees up to $500.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications are accepted the first week of every month.
Goals: The goal of this award is to support farmers' self-care needs. Examples include dinner with friends and family, deep tissue massage, gym or yoga membership, therapy sessions, family fun day and more.
Eligibility Factors: Farmers and ranchers operating in the contiguous United States, including all U.S. territories, have an annual farming income of $1,000 or more, and have never received a Real Farmer Care self-care award before.
Funding Limitations: Awards are $100 per applicant. Grants will be distributed via Visa/Mastercard e-gift cards.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications will be accepted and reviewed in the order in which they are received. Funds will be awarded when available and award distribution will occur in seasonal rounds. Applications submitted after the initial window or beyond fund availability will be considered for funding in future rounds.
Black Farmer Fund Rapid Response Fund
Goals: The goal of this award is to provide financial support to Black Farmers and Food Business Owners experiencing a one-time emergency.
Eligibility Factors: Black Farmers and Food Business Owners operating in the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Rhode Island). The business must be in operation for at least one year. The business has demonstrated engagement, work and support with community members.
Funding Limitations: Up to $10,000 awards granted for general emergencies. For 2025 Funding Freeze/Cancellation emergency award maximum is $50,000.
Anticipated Timeline: Four rounds of funding available per year. See website for timeline.
