Maryland Agriculture Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofits, land trusts, and community organizations in Maryland for projects that promote tree planting on agricultural lands and enhance local environmental stewardship.

This program provides financial assistance to Maryland individuals and businesses for purchasing livestock and meat processing equipment, with a focus on enhancing large-animal and blue catfish processing capabilities.

The Community Foundation’s Impact Grant program provides grants for any purpose, including a wide range of field of interest and special purpose funds, and support for individuals served by nonprofits or government agencies. Donor Name: The Community Foundation of Frederick County State: Maryland County: Frederick County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Nonprofit organizations providing programs that impact health and human services, historic preservation, the arts, agriculture, civic causes, animal well-being, education, youth programs, and more should apply. Funding Information Minimum request: $500 Grant Period Grants must be used during the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria The Community Foundation administers grants to organizations providing direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland. All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a grant. The applicant must be: An already existing nonprofit, 501c3 organization in good standing with the IRS, A government/quasi-governmental agency applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue, A religious organization requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, or A civic group that is not a 501c3 organization requesting funding for a community cause. For more information, visit CFFC.

This grant provides funding to dairy processors, associations, packaging manufacturers, and educational institutions in the Northeast to support innovative projects that improve processing and packaging in the dairy industry.

The Rural Maryland Council is accepting applications for 2025 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant: Regional Planning and Development Councils. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) is to help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of a cultural heritage and rural way of life. Resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. These investments will also enable local and regional public and nonprofit organizations to leverage additional non-state financial and human resources to facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives. The Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: Encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and commerce and a balanced economy in the State; Relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; Assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for productive use by present and future generations; Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; Enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; Supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts; and, Generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and municipal corporations of the State. Regional Councils: The General Assembly has established five regional planning and development councils to concentrate on the needs of specific rural regions and ensure that those areas are not overlooked in public policy discussions. Each council serves a three-county area that is geographically, culturally and socioeconomically similar. By working together and ignoring jurisdictional lines when need be, the rural regions have become stronger and more effective in finding solutions to the challenges before them. The regional councils have brought elected, civic, and business leaders in their regions together to help create economic development strategies, preserve and assist agricultural and resource-based industries, obtain federal funding for infrastructure improvements, coordinate and sometimes even manage regional transportation projects (including public transit services), and develop support for a diverse set of public policy initiatives. Rural regional planning and development assistance will provide grants specifically for projects and activities of the five rural regional planning and development councils and for other multi-county rural improvement efforts. The Councils have established strategic needs within the rural communities which will be reflected in the approved grant agreements. Funding Information Each regional council is eligible to receive $600,000 in FY2025 for rural regional planning and development assistance. Eligibility Criteria  Tri-County Council of Western Maryland, Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland, Upper Shore Regional Council, Mid-Shore Regional Council, Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, and multicounty efforts serving rural communities in areas not served by the regional councils. For more information, visit RMC.

The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County (“RDA”) is soliciting proposals from community-based 501 (c) (3) organizations for the Community Impact Grant (CIG) Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Funding Round. Donor Name: Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County State: Maryland County: Prince Georges County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Grant Category and Uses  The CIG Program provides grants to community-based organizations located in Prince George’s County to implement small innovative capital projects that revitalize and enhance communities and quality of life. Grants can not be used for operating or program costs, salaries, stipends or personnel expenses. Eligible project activities include: Neighborhood Beautification Streetscape, street furniture, pedestrian enhancements and recreational improvements Signage, banners and way-finding systems Commercial façade improvements Internal and/or external improvements to commercial buildings used by the public Permanent public art installations Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability  Restoration of parks, streams and open space Urban agriculture and replenishment of tree canopy Green roofs, low impact development and storm water management Preservations of historic landmarks, structures and sites Funding Information The RDA has two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) available for county-wide project. Grant performance period is one year from the date of execution of a CIG Grant Agreement.  Eligibility Criteria Any civic/neighborhood association or community-based organization that is an incorporated 501C3, located within Prince George’s County, in good standing with the State of Maryland, can apply for funding. Prince George’s County government and affiliated entities are not eligible to apply. For more information, visit RDA.

The objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) is to help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of cultural heritage and rural way of life. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Resources provided to RMPIF are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. These investments will also enable local and regional public and nonprofit organizations to leverage additional non-state financial and human resources to facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives. The Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: Encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and commerce and a balanced economy in the State; Relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; Assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for productive use by present and future generations; Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; Enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; Supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts; and, Generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and municipal corporations of the State. Funding Information For Fiscal Year 2025, the State has budgeted $1,500,000 in General Funds for the entrepreneurship portion of the RMPIF program. Eligible Expenditures Salaries and Wages are allowable expenses. It is strongly encouraged to include a statement on sustainability for future years. Administrative costs including construction, leasing, and renovation of buildings are eligible expenses Acquisition of land is not. The purchase or rental of vehicles are eligible expenses. The purchase of equipment is an eligible expense. These administrative expenses should not exceed more than 25% of the grant request. Quotes for purchases and construction work should be included. Meals are allowable if the costs are reasonable and a justification is provided that such activity maintains the continuity of the meeting and to do otherwise will impose arduous conditions on the meeting participants. Indirect administrative costs are capped at 10%. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be a local government, institute of higher education, regional council, or be a 501(c)(3) IRS tax designation or similar and serve a regional or statewide rural constituency. Community Colleges, Career Technology Centers, Regional Councils, and Libraries are eligible applicants. The applicant does not have to be located in a rural area or in the area it serves. For more information, visit RMC.

Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that provide agriculture education; support the renovation, construction and/or maintenance of buildings used to promote agricultural activities; and/or promote agriculture as an industry and as a way of life in Frederick County, Maryland. Donor Name: The Community Foundation of Frederick County State: Maryland County: Frederick County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information A total of $45,000 is available for this grant cycle. Eligibility Criteria The applicant must be:  An existing nonprofit, 501c3 organization,  An existing government/quasi-governmental agency applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue,  A faith-based organization requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, or  A civic group that is not a 501c3 organization requesting funding for a community cause. In addition, 501c3 organizations must be in good standing with:  Maryland Secretary of State’s charitable division  Department of Assessments and Taxation’s Maryland personal property tax division • IRS, as assessed via GuideStar’s Charity Check For more information, visit The Community Foundation of Frederick County.

This grant provides funding to organizations and businesses in the Northeast to develop and expand dairy workforce training programs, enhancing opportunities for current and potential employees in the dairy industry.

This funding opportunity supports community and faith-based organizations in Maryland to implement programs focused on preventing opioid misuse, promoting harm reduction, and aiding recovery efforts.

The Montgomery County Office of Grants Management is accepting applications for its 2025 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program to support programs that increase food security for students and their families and are co-located at an MCPS school site. Donor Name: Montgomery County Office of Grants Management State: Maryland County: Montgomery County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Funding may be awarded to new initiatives or expansion or continuation of programs at current or additional sites. All awarded programs through the FY25 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program must:  Demonstrate past experience with successful operation of school-based food assistance programs in partnership with MCPS;  Describe a quickly actionable program model for services at new school(s); and  Identify potential zip codes, capacity, resource needs, and format for expanded services. Funding Information $1,250,000 in total grant funding is available to support programs that increase food security for students and their families and are co-located at an MCPS school site. The minimum award that applicants may request is $40,000 and maximum award is $300,000. Final award amounts may be lower than $40,000. The performance period for these grant awards is anticipated to be on/about August 15, 2024 to on/about June 30, 2025. Funding Priorities The goal of this program is to support projects that address critical gaps in healthy food access for children and families and/or that offer innovative approaches to co-locate food assistance at an MCPS school site. OFSR is partnering with MCPS representatives to identify the school sites that will be prioritized for support based on the level of need within the school community and anticipated impact of new or expanded school-based food assistance programming.  Applicants will provide details within the Strategy Narrative regarding the scope of services they are capable of providing, and successful applicants will be asked to serve specific MCPS schools that have been identified based on alignment of individual school’s needs with providers’ current programs, experience, and capacity. Awardees will be matched with one or multiple school(s) following the grant review period; the school match(es) will be indicated in grant agreements.  The range of programming allowed under this grant is intentionally very flexible. Examples of project models that will be considered for funding include, but are not limited to: Choice pantry at the school site, offering school community members a choice model with access to a variety of culturally relevant, healthy shelf-stable and fresh food items including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and eggs; Pre-packed box/bag distribution for students that includes healthy, locally sourced produce options; Delivery of nutritious, medically and/or preference-tailored prepared meals to school populations with unique needs; and Grocery Gift Cards distributed to school families that allow for flexible food purchasing and delivery options for families that experience transportation or other barriers to food access. Target Population  For students and families that rely on school meals and/or face barriers to food access related to transportation or otherwise, an in-school pantry or at-school food distribution can help to address nutrition insecurity and provide convenient access to necessary resources. The FY25 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program will award funding to initiatives that will support food access at MCPS school sites throughout the County.” Eligibility Criteria  Lead applicants may only submit one application, and must meet all of the following conditions:  The organization must be a food assistance provider based in Montgomery County that has provided food assistance services over the past calendar year in at least one MCPS site, as demonstrated through attached documentation (ex: email documentation, formal contract or Memorandum of Understanding, or signed letter of support from an administrator at the school site); The organization must be currently registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT); The organization’s principal place of business must be located in Montgomery County; if a national or regional organization, it must have a location in Montgomery County through which it provides related services;  All activities and expenditures under this grant program must be provided in Montgomery County and/or be exclusively for Montgomery County residents; The proposed project in the application must not exclude any potential beneficiaries and/or participants based on their race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected class; Current Montgomery County contract or grant award winners must be current on all reporting obligations for other awards and those reports must reflect substantial progress towards the goals of their awards; and Proposed expenses must be for a new activity, expansion of existing activities, or a combination of both. Grant funding cannot be used for any purchase which has already been made; purchases or activities unnecessary to accomplish grant purposes as determined by Montgomery County; prior obligations of and/or fines;debts and penalties imposed on the grantee; lobbying expenses; alcoholic beverages; or supplanting (replacing) other funds. For more information, visit MCOGM.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant: Rural Health. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund is to help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of a pastoral cultural and rural way of life. Resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. These investments will also enable local and regional public and nonprofit organizations to leverage additional non-state financial and human resources to facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives. The Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: Encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and commerce and a balanced economy in the State; Relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for productive use by present and future generations; Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; Enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; Supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts; and, Generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and municipal corporations of the State. Healthcare: Health care access and delivery is a major problem in the State’s rural areas. Residents often need to travel great distances to seek health care services due to health workforce shortages. This problem is in primary care and is particularly acute in specialty care such as surgical specialties, dentistry, mental health, and other medical specialty areas. Eligible health care projects will range from health care planning, to health program implementation and evaluation, and will include projects pertaining to the following: Improving access to health and medical/dental/behavioral health care Tele-medicine and telehealth networking Programs that focus on planning and/or coordination of health care Programs that address rural population health needs Programs that ensure health care insurance and treatment enrollment Programs that implement and measure the accomplishment of components of the state’s rural health plan Rural Nonemergency Medical Transportation: Projects could include the following components better coordination (between industries, funding sources/coverage), 2) provides interregional transportation, and 3) on-demand response. Recruitment and retention of health care and public health professionals Programs to aid recruitment of health care providers Rural residency programs in primary care and medical/surgical specialties and dentistry Housing projects to support rural rotations of medical students/ health professions students Pipeline and pathway programs for future and existing health care workers Behavioral and mental health Programs to address: Substance use disorder, including alcohol, opioids and prescription drugs Depression and counseling, suicide prevention Domestic abuse and violence Chronic disease prevention and management Health education on diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancers prevalent in rural Maryland, hypertension/high blood pressure Disease management programs Research and treatment of health impacts on minority populations, and in particular, prenatal care Oral and dental health Funding Information For Fiscal Year 2025, the RMC has budgeted $1,500,000 for health care projects in the General Funds for the health care portion of the RMPIF program. Grant Period August 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be a local government, institute of higher education, regional council, or be a 501(c)(3) IRS tax designation or similar and serve a regional or statewide rural constituency. Eligible applicants include federally qualified health centers, area health education centers, local health clinics, and other rural-serving health organizations. The applicant does not have to be located in a rural area or in the area it serves. For more information, visit RMC.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government units to promote and expand Maryland's craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries, while enhancing tourism and local agricultural use.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This program provides financial assistance to Maryland-based businesses, non-profits, and farms to enhance their energy efficiency beyond existing standards.

This grant provides funding to support small farmers and public entities in Maryland to aggregate local food products for sale to wholesale and institutional markets, enhancing the local food system.

This grant provides financial support to various agricultural entities in Howard County, Maryland, for projects that enhance, sustain, or educate about agricultural practices.

The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), in partnership with the Office of Grants Management (OGM), is soliciting grant applications for the County’s 2025 Community Food Assistance Program. Donor Name: Montgomery County Office of Grants Management State: Maryland County: Montgomery County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: $3,500,000 in total is available for awards of direct funding and/or shopping credits to order food for distribution of shelf-stable, fresh food, and/or prepared meals to Montgomery County residents. The goal of these funds is to provide continuity of existing critical community food assistance services, while also closing service gaps, enhancing program impact, standardizing data collection, providing greater flexibility and transparency in funding processes, and strengthening the capacity of the provider network and resilience of the local food system. Funding Priorities  The range of programming allowed under this grant is intentionally very flexible. Examples of project models that will be considered for funding include, but are not limited to: Choice pantry model, offering participants a choice model with access to a variety of culturally relevant, healthy shelf-stable and fresh food items including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and eggs; Pre-packed box/bag distribution that includes healthy, locally sourced produce options; or Delivery and/or distribution of nutritious, medically and/or preference-tailored prepared meals to households with unique needs. Funding Information The minimum award that applicants may request is $5,000 and the maximum award is $300,000. Final award amounts may be lower than $5,000. The performance period for these grant awards is one year (anticipated to be on/about October 15, 2024 to October 15, 2025).  Eligibility Criteria  Applicant organizations must meet all of the following conditions: Be a non-profit food assistance provider that has provided regularly scheduled, uninterrupted food assistance services at least: once per month, at one consistent site, for a minimum of two years.  Organizations designated as Service Consolidation Hubs in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services are not eligible to apply;  Provide a Letter of Support from organizational leadership or partner(s) confirming commitment to allow use of all key physical infrastructure assets and/or resources (storage space, packing or distribution location, vehicles, etc.) outlined in the proposal for the entire grant period; Be currently registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT);  The organization’s principal place of business for delivering these services must be located in Montgomery County; if a national or regional organization, it must have a location in Montgomery County through which it provides related services; and  Be in compliance with all reporting obligations and performance requirements for other County grants and procurement contracts. For more information, visit MCOGM.

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program funds projects that develop the knowledge, awareness, skills and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers about sustainable agriculture practices to teach, advise or assist farmers. Donor Name: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 4 Years Details: An agricultural service provider is a professional who assists farmers. Projects that develop the ability of other service providers (for example, real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys) to work with farmers are also eligible. These service providers then use what they’ve learned through participation in project activities in their work with farmers. A wide variety of topics can be funded by Northeast SARE, including marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture and much more. Other aspects of projects funded through the Northeast SARE program include those that address climate-smart agriculture practices intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change; increase carbon sequestration; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-smart practices include reduced and no-till, cover crops, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. In addition, projects may address traditional ecological knowledge. Funding Information Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000. Project Duration Typical project length is 2 to 3 years. The maximum project length allowed is 3.5 years. Geographical Focus  The Northeast region includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Eligibility Criteria  Professional Development Grants are open to anyone who works with service providers and farmers, including personnel at nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, municipalities, tribal governments, state departments of agriculture, federal agencies, research farms and experiment stations, and for-profit business entities (such as farms, private consultants, veterinary practices and other businesses that serve the farming community). Northeast SARE encourages projects submitted from or in collaboration with women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, they encourage projects submitted from or in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (including 1890s and other historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and tribal colleges and universities) and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities. Your organization must have the legal structure and financial capacity to receive and implement a Northeast SARE contract, including expending funds needed for the project prior to receiving reimbursements from Northeast SARE; advance payments are not possible. Projects must take place within the Northeast region. Applicants and host organizations may be located outside of the Northeast region if the project activities and the farmers served are located within the Northeast region. For more information, visit Northeast SARE.

This fellowship program supports entrepreneurs in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area who are developing innovative solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.