Grants

Updated 5/2025

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Due: Rolling Basis (Year-Round)

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries.

Silos & Smokestacks Field Trip Award Program

Available throughout the 2024-2025 school year 

The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) Field Trip Program is a grant initiative designed to help schools in the 37 county heritage area fund the transportation costs associated with field trips to designated SSNHA Heritage Sites and farm sites giving students the opportunity to learn about America’s agricultural heritage firsthand. The award funds 75% of the total amount of transportation costs to and from the school and the selected SSNHA Heritage Site or farm site. Award not to exceed $350.00.

Rural Technology Funds

Due: Every 30-60 days

Rural Tech Fund provide grants for Rural Technology Education projects and Assistive Technology projects.

Aquaponics Grants

Grants for your school to set up an aquaponics system.
White-Reinhardt Mini Grants 

Opens: March 2025

Due: June 13, 2025

The White-Reinhardt Grant Program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Organizations and individual schools can work with their local Farm Bureaus to apply. Grants are available on a competitive basis. 

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the Foundation in cooperation with the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. It was established to honor two former chairs of that committee, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in the national effort to improve agricultural literacy.

Chrysalis Fund

Open: March 2025

The Chrysalis Fund fosters the future of entomology through grants to K-12 teachers and other educators who use insects in the classroom to get kids excited about science.

Who can apply? K-12 teachers or other educators and organizers of educational programs

When is the grant application period? 

The application period for the 2025-2026 academic opens March 2025. 

What are the grant-funding levels? The amount of funding available in any year is set by the ESA Education and Outreach Committee. The same scoring rubric is used for reviewing all applications. The three levels for grant applications are:

  • Micro-grants (less than $500)

  • Regular grants ($500-$999)

  • Large grants ($1,000-$2,500)

Kids Gardening.org & Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day

Due: June 16, 2025

Through the Lots of Compassion initiative, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is pledging to provide up to $1 million from Compassion Flower product sales to support community garden transformations over the next five years. Now in its third year, ten grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded.