Community Building Grant Program

The Community Building Grant Program, administered by Compeer Financial, is designed to provide financial support for construction and renovation projects that strengthen rural communities and promote agricultural education and engagement. The program emphasizes infrastructure development—specifically brick-and-mortar projects—that foster community gathering, education, and agricultural display across Compeer Financial’s 144-county service area. These projects are envisioned to become vital hubs within rural areas, offering accessible venues that support farmers, their families, and broader community interests. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. Through its philanthropic initiatives, it aims to invest in long-term viability and enrichment of rural regions. The Community Building Grant Program aligns with this mission by funding facilities that encourage collaboration, address food insecurity, and host educational or agricultural programming. Grants awarded through the program range from $2,500 to $10,000 per project. Eligible projects include community centers, fairgrounds, facilities for agriculture education, and buildings serving local food security needs. However, funds cannot be used for projects already underway, debt payments, fundraising campaigns, or for-profit or commercial undertakings. Compeer may also extend pledges of commitment to projects in early planning phases, with actual funds disbursed upon groundbreaking. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. Projects must be located within Compeer’s designated service area and situated in a rural community or directly serve agricultural or farming needs. The initiative must fulfill an identified community need and demonstrate broad community support through documented financial and non-financial commitments. Eligible applicants include public entities, community-based nonprofits, school-affiliated groups, collaborative organizations, and government units. The application process is open year-round until all program funds are exhausted for the calendar year, with no specific pre-application deadlines. Applications must be submitted online via Jotform, which allows users to save their progress and submit once finalized. After submission, applicants will receive an email confirmation and a copy of their completed form. Evaluation criteria are based on community impact, alignment with program purpose, geographic eligibility, funding need, and demonstration of community support. Ineligible projects include health care facilities, public safety buildings, religious structures, sporting or recreational facilities, and administrative buildings such as courthouses or town halls. For further questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the program directly by emailing grants@compeer.com or calling 952-997-1255. Given its rolling acceptance model, interested applicants are advised to apply early in the calendar year to ensure availability of funds.