Community Farming Giving Circle Grant

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by supporting organizations that foster community and environmental well-being. Within its grantmaking strategies, the Foundation has established several giving circles, including the Community Farming Giving Circle, to honor Rachel M. M. Hunt’s passion for botany and ecological health. The Community Farming Giving Circle specifically aims to improve access to local, organic, and regenerative food systems while investing in farmers committed to serving their communities. The Circle’s mission is grounded in promoting holistic health and building meaningful connections between people and the land. It prioritizes projects that address systemic inequities in nutritious food access, empower community-based leadership, steward land through ecological practices, and transform faith lands into sustainable agricultural spaces. Eligible organizations for this grant are expected to have community leaders in decision-making roles or show strong community input. They must also have a 501(c)(3) status or provide an equivalency determination to confirm tax-exempt eligibility. While the geographic focus is primarily the United States, international projects may also be considered. The ideal applicants are organizations with project or organizational budgets in the low to mid six-figure range. The Foundation also considers pilot projects or beta initiatives of larger organizations, especially those that are underfunded yet demonstrate promising outcomes. The grant size ranges between $15,000 and $30,000, with an emphasis on providing significant support without fostering dependency. While the Foundation prefers to fund unrestricted general operating costs, grants for specific projects are also welcomed. Selected grants may be multi-year depending on the scope and impact of the proposal. Evaluation metrics are flexible and project-specific, designed to measure sustainability, partnership quality, and implementation efficacy. For the November 2025 meeting, applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) between June 2 and July 11, 2025. Submissions must be made through the Foundation’s online application system, which allows for profile creation and updating. Applicants will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt and can expect a response within 45 days after the LOI deadline regarding the status of a full proposal invitation. For questions or technical assistance, applicants may contact the Foundation at 412-281-8734 or via email at info@rahuntfdn.org during standard business hours from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time.

Preference is given to organizations where the funding will be significant but not create dependency. Unrestricted funding requests are encouraged.