Working Here Fund Grants

AgCountry Farm Credit Services, a cooperative lender serving portions of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, provides grant funding through its Working Here Fund to enhance rural America and agricultural communities. With a focus on supporting local nonprofit initiatives, the grant program emphasizes critical areas such as agriculture education, hunger relief, rural disaster relief, and rural health services. By leveraging its extensive regional presence, AgCountry aims to bolster the vitality and sustainability of rural life by investing in programs that offer immediate and long-term community benefits. The Working Here Fund offers three tiers of grant funding, tailored to project size and scope. Up to $5,000 is awarded quarterly for small-scale, short-term initiatives that do not require a formal strategic or business plan. These projects often support community gardens, food pantries, academic-year programming, or ag education efforts such as 4-H or FFA chapter activities. For mid-sized efforts with long-term goals and budgets exceeding $15,000, the program offers biannual grants of up to $15,000. These awards require a formal plan and are designed to support infrastructure or service expansions like greenhouses or essential community facilities. The highest level, with grants up to $25,000, is also awarded twice yearly. These awards are reserved for significant capital or renovation projects, such as food distribution facility improvements or agricultural education expansion, and require that the applicant fund at least 50% of the total project cost. Eligibility for the program is restricted to nonprofit organizations located within designated counties in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Specific counties are listed, with no availability beyond those geographies. Grants are primarily directed toward 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and organizations are restricted to one award per 12-month period and a maximum of $25,000 in funding over any five-year span. In keeping with the mission of AgCountry, proposed projects must directly align with at least one of the program’s four focus areas. Ineligible activities include political support, scholarships, religious programs, sports, fine arts activities, or any project inconsistent with AgCountry's values. Applications for the $5,000 tier are accepted quarterly, with the next deadline being September 30, 2025. For the $15,000 and $25,000 tiers, applications are accepted twice per year, with the upcoming deadline for both falling on December 31, 2025. Recipients are notified by email the following month—October 2025 for the quarterly awards and January 2026 for the semiannual awards. All applications must be submitted through GrantsConnect, and while the landing pages for the three tiers appear similar, applicants should ensure they are applying for the correct tier based on their project’s scope and budget. Review and selection of grant recipients is conducted by an AgCountry review committee. Applications must articulate how funds will be used to serve rural community needs in line with the fund’s four key focus areas. Funding decisions are made at AgCountry’s discretion, and partial or full awards may be issued. Past recipients are not guaranteed future funding, and all grant support is restricted to the approved purpose. For questions about eligibility or the application process, applicants may contact AgCountry Farm Credit Services via email or by phone at 800-450-9858. The mailing address is 1900 44th St South, Fargo, ND 58103. No critiques of submitted proposals will be provided, and applicants should adhere strictly to guidelines to ensure eligibility.

Confirm geographic eligibility and mission alignment. Choose the correct tier in GrantsConnect.