Virginia Food and Nutrition Grants

This funding opportunity supports organizations and projects that enhance education, address basic needs, promote social and racial justice, and protect the environment in communities served by American Electric Power.

This grant provides funding to small grassroots nonprofit organizations in Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and New York City that focus on environmental and social justice initiatives, particularly in areas like food justice and community engagement.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government entities in Loudoun County, Virginia, to enhance services in areas such as shelter, health, hunger, and education for local residents.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local communities in the Appalachian Region for projects that enhance critical infrastructure and promote business and workforce development.

This program provides funding for innovative projects that enhance Virginia's coastal fishery resources, specifically targeting individuals in the fishing industry who seek to improve conservation and efficiency through practical initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to Virginia-based nonprofits focused on arts, culture, education, and human services, helping them enhance their programs and operations.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County that empower children and families through culinary education and improve access to healthy food for under-resourced community members.

This grant provides funding to tax-exempt organizations focused on impactful projects in science, education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and the arts, primarily within the Greater Richmond area.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that enhance financial wellness in their communities by supporting projects focused on children's health, food stability, and affordable housing.

This grant provides funding to Virginia's local governments for infrastructure projects that enhance local food production and sustainable agriculture, prioritizing initiatives like processing facilities and farmers markets, especially in economically distressed areas.

This grant provides funding to established organizations in southeastern Virginia for new programs or facility improvements that promote cultural, economic, educational, environmental, and health initiatives.

The Virginia Department of Health is inviting applicants for its Richmond Health Equity Fund. Donor Name: Virginia Department of Health State: Virginia City: Richmond Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/23/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Health Equity Fund seeks to fill gaps in funding and resources for vital, innovative, and impactful initiatives that serve the Richmond City community. Richmond-based single organizations, collaboratives, and individual leaders providing services in the following health disparity focus areas—along with other emergent health outcomes where Richmond’s populations have disparate burdens—are all eligible to apply: Access to care and health education Food access and security Maternal and child health Mental and behavioral health Substance use, treatment, and recovery Underlying health conditions For more information, visit Virginia Department of Health.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in South Hampton Roads, Virginia, focusing on education, community enrichment, and sustainability initiatives to improve the quality of life in the region.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its Community Grants for Health & Wellness to improve the health of the region’s citizens. Donor Name: Hampton Roads Community Foundation State: Virginia County: Accomack County (VA), Isle of Wight County (VA), Northampton County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Many factors contribute to a person’s health and wellness: genetics, education, individual behavior, environment and access to quality health care. For under-resourced populations access to affordable, quality health care (primary, oral or behavioral) can be challenging. Unhealthy behaviors can lead to chronic diseases. Becoming more informed about the causes of chronic disease can lead to behavioral changes that prevent or decrease these disease. Efforts supported include: Programs that support participant access to primary, dental, and/or mental/behavioral health. Behavioral health includes substance/drug abuse treatment. Sustained programs that encourage healthy behaviors that are known to reduce chronic diseases (e.g. Type II diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease) in populations that typically have a high rate of health disparity. Preference will be given to programs that place an emphasis on improving participants’ health literacy. Grant proposals should address one or more of the following outcomes: Individuals with health disparities connect with a medical home and receive care/treatment that leads to an improved health status. Individuals who access oral care programs complete a dental treatment plan. Behavioral health needs or conditions of clients are improved. Participants increase their knowledge of chronic disease conditions and exhibit healthy behaviors that lead to improved health. Eligibility Criteria The Hampton Roads Community Foundation welcomes grant applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity organizations serving residents of South Hampton Roads, including those in: Chesapeake Eastern Shore of Virginia (Accomack and Northampton counties)* Franklin Isle of Wight County Norfolk Portsmouth Suffolk Virginia Beach For more information, visit HRCF.

Made possible through the generosity of the Forward family, the Public Art Forward grant supports creation and installation of a new work of public art in downtown Harrisonburg each year through 2025. Donor Name: Arts Council of the Valley State: Virginia County: Rockingham County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Mission Arts Council of the Valley cultivates the arts, creates experiences, and connects communities in the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Funding Information The maximum award is $15,000 per year. Grant Period Project takes place June 17, 2024 – January 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Artists who: Have not received an ACV grant of any type in the past twelve (12) months Are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application Are not enrolled as degree-seeking students at the time of application or during the grant period Have submitted all required reports for any prior ACV grants Are not current ACV board members, ACV employees, or immediate family members of such persons. Expenses that cannot be funded: Events whose sponsors are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1983 Projects that are religious, sectarian, or political Projects designed to satisfy an academic requirement General organizational operating support Construction of new facilities, renovation of existing facilities, or similar facility improvements Deficits from past grant-funded projects For-profit, fundraising or private events, or lobbying efforts Food and beverages. For more information, visit Arts Council of the Valley.

The Twin County Community Foundation (TCCF) is accepting applications 2025 grant program. Donor Name: Twin County Community Foundation (TCCF) State: Virginia County: Carroll County (VA), Grayson County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Twin County Community Foundation offers three (3) different types of funding opportunities. These opportunities include Project-Based, Capacity Building, or Capital Needs applications. Project-Based Grants: These grants are awarded to projects or programs that offer services that will be provided within the community. Projects clearly demonstrate a need in the community, have measurable outcomes, provide activities or services to meet the needs and obtain the outcomes, and are existing or new programs within the Twin Counties. Capacity Building Grants: Capacity building can be defined as the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations need to survive, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing world. It is important for organizations to have strong internal and external controls in order to be viable, sustaining, and able to fully meet their missions. A strong organization helps to strengthen the community. Capacity building activities may include the following: Training and/or training resources Strategic planning Use of consultants for organizational assistance Investing in new IT capacities. Priorities The Twin County Community Foundation (TCCF) provides grant opportunities to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations (or government entities) serving Carroll County, Grayson County and the City of Galax in Virginia. TCCF strives to support organizations seeking to promote and/or improve the health of citizens including but not limited to meeting unmet needs, supporting health education, and programs geared toward improving and/or reducing illness and disease. Priority will be given to projects related to the following: Unmet Healthcare needs Obesity Health and Nutritional Issues Mental Health Health Education Substance Abuse Prevention EnvironMental Health. Funding Information Project-Based Grants: At the present time the Foundation has not set limits on the size of grants. Capacity Building Grants: Funding limit is $2,000. Capital Needs Grants: Funding limit is $10,000. Eligibility Criteria  Additionally, the Foundation may carry out other charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Board, in making grant decisions, will place the greatest priority on projects that: Meet the specific priorities noted above. Are accompanied by matching funds from other sources. Have little or no administrative overhead expenses as the Board believes these expenses should be provided by the organization through matching funds. Funding may be provided for support or direct staff positions, but little or no support for administrative positions. Are not of a recurring nature unless the project and the need(s) it serves requires otherwise. The Board recognizes the need for and encourages new projects (i.e., projects not traditionally funded via other sources such as United Way, etc.) For more information, visit TCCF.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Northern Virginia that support women and families by improving access to essential services and professional development opportunities.

Education Grants allow applicants to conduct education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community, and promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, ag diversification, and best management practices. Donor Name: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 08/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Education Grants are open to academic institutions and organizations, such as non-profits and non-governmental organizations, who are interested in conducting education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community, and promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators are especially encouraged to apply for this grant for their education and outreach activities. SSARE also considers proposals from organizations/institutions whose projects involve farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems. These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, even if products are not sold due to cultural factors. Education Grants should focus on a topic area of sustainable agriculture relevance that meets SARE’s program goals. In addition, the proposed project should comprise education/outreach efforts/activities that support the research/education foundation of the institution/organization, and must clearly articulate how those education/outreach efforts/activities will be implemented and evaluated. Examples of Education Grant projects can include one or more of the following, but are not limited to: Experiential (Demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops, trainings, case studies); Integrative (Conferences, seminars, course curriculum) Reinforcement (Fact sheets, bulletins, books, manuals, videos, online technologies, guidebooks) SARE encourages proposals on quality of life topics that focus on the social health of a farming system. These can include, but are not limited to: Heirs property; Farmers’ markets; food hubs; locavores; CSAs; Local/regional processing/slaughter; Food sheds and food circles; Direct marketing and value-added; Beyond organics value chains; Farm to School/Institution; Civic agriculture, agritourism; Denominations of origin/geographic indications; Non-GMO movement, Slow Food, chef collaboratives; Urban ag systems; Food policy councils, governance structures; and Local/regional certification/branding. Funding Information Education Grant project maximums are $50,000, limited to two (2) years. Education Grants are paid by reimbursement of allowable project expenses. Who can apply? Researchers from public and private institutions, such as 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities or other colleges and universities; government agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service or USDA-ARS; non-governmental organizations; and community-based organizations. Education Grants strictly fund education and outreach activities related to sustainable agriculture whose outcomes are intended to benefit farmers and farming communities. There is no research involved in these grant projects. Southern SARE accepts proposals from applicants in the Southern region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grant Requirements  Education Grant proposals must meet the following basic requirements in order to be considered for funding: Project outcomes must focus on developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing systems toward sustainable agriculture. The project must clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom and how the project will accomplish those goals. The results must be realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to the actions and benefits described in the proposal. For farmers involved in your project, the primary occupation is farming/ranching or part-time farming. Producers run their farm alone or with family or partners and have a least $1,000 of documented annual income from the operation, as defined by USDA. SSARE also considers proposals with farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems. These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, but products are not sold due to cultural factors. For more information, visit Southern SARE.

The Arlington County Department of Human Services announces a grant funding opportunity to support the implementation of its Food Security Strategic Plan. Donor Name: Arlington County Department of Human Services State: Virginia County: Arlington County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Awards will be granted based in part on an organization’s ability to address selected goals and strategies outlined in the Strategic Plan. Organizations may apply for a single project, and the maximum grant award is $25,000. Funding awards will be announced in September 2024. Funds must be spent by organizations by June 30, 2025. Funding Uses A food pantry purchasing software to better track clients and usage data. A food pantry, meal program, or housing program purchasing reusable bags or boxes to use in delivery efforts or single-use containers to distribute rescued food. A nutrition education provider who will teach a nutrition curriculum to a certain population of residents. A small food pantry purchasing a refrigerator or freezer to be able to offer produce, dairy and/or meat to clients. Funding Information The maximum grant award is $25,000. Grant Period  October 2024 through June 30, 2025 Eligible Activities To be eligible, projects must support at least one of the following strategies of the Strategic Plan. Systemic Change Improve nutrition equity by working to eliminate, reduce, and prevent disparities in food security policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that all those in need of food assistance receive the support they need. Food Access Enhance school-based supplemental food offerings, including food pantries, in-school snacks, and weekend food support. Establish new charitable food distributions in neighborhoods with unmet need. Increase capacity to deliver charitable food to those unable to access available resources. Increase food rescue & redistribution operations. Enhance and improve existing food assistance programs serving Arlington residents. Outreach & Education Promote food assistance resources and assist residents with enrolling in programs for which they may be eligible. Implement a coordinated SNAP outreach campaign. Increase nutrition education opportunities for residents of all ages. Partner with resident community leaders to share information about resources in key languages and provide compensation for their work. Capacity Building Develop training materials to inform social services staff and volunteers about food assistance programs, specifically SNAP and WIC, and help residents apply. Provide trauma-informed care training for staff & volunteers working with food insecure residents. Create a cultural foods guide for charitable food providers with partners from the region. Increase the capacity to share locally-grown produce from gardeners and farms with food pantries through expanded donation processing infrastructure. Collaborate with Arlington Public Schools (APS) through its forums to review existing programs and practices and address food equity. Informed Decision Making Use varied levels of engagement to encourage food assistance recipients to provide valuable feedback on programs and services. Collect data from food assistance organizations that provides information about usage trends and services provided. Eligibility Criteria Eligible organizations must serve or wish to serve Arlington residents through one of the above-listed strategies outlined in the Food Security Strategic Plan and be either: an IRS designated 501c3 nonprofit organization OR a faith-based organization OR a public school or university Organizations may be based in other jurisdictions, provided that the proposed project benefits eligible Arlington County residents. If projects are sponsored by faith-based organizations, outreach efforts and services must be provided to any eligible beneficiary, regardless of affiliation. Programs cannot be marketed exclusively to members of the sponsoring organization’s religious affiliation or denomination, and proselytizing while providing services related to this grant funding is prohibited. For more information, visit ACV.

This funding opportunity is designed for nonprofit organizations that focus on improving health outcomes through better access to nutritious food for communities facing diet-related health challenges and social risks.