The Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience and the Office of Grants Management are seeking grant applications for the Resident and Community Food Gardening Grant Program for qualified nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County that expand resident and community food production capacity as a means of increasing local food security.
Donor Name: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
State: Maryland
County: Montgomery County (MD)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $15,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Community and home gardening promotes food sovereignty, healthy living, civic engagement, and racial and social justice by creating opportunities for residents to create their own food sources, thereby reducing barriers to affordable and culturally-appropriate food access. Community gardens are an effective way for residents who have been historically and disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and poor health outcomes to grow their own fresh, local, and nutritious food. Community garden programs can also build community advocacy capacity for healthy food, connect neighbors around sharing resources and tips on gardening at home, and provide social and emotional benefits. Through this program, Montgomery County is granting funding to initiatives that will expand local food production through home and community farming and gardening.
Funding Areas
The goal of this program is to support and strengthen the core capabilities of nonprofit organizations providing services in Montgomery County by providing management grants as unrestricted funds. Eligible Montgomery County 501(c)(3) organizations, or collaboratives/community groups with nonprofit partners serving as project fiscal agents, can apply for up to $15,000 to increase organizational capacity to provide resident access to yard, patio, and community gardening supplies, space, and education.
Priority for funding will focus on projects that:
- Establish new or renewed small-space food production locations, including:
- Private land, such as those owned by community based organizations, faith-based institutions, and educational institutions;
- Underutilized, unused, vacant, or abandoned lots in neighborhoods and municipal centers;
- Unused and abandoned plots in community gardens; and
- Other creative opportunities for land access or growing spaces, such as (but not limited to) vertical gardening and rooftop gardening.
- Increase access to culturally appropriate foods in Montgomery County;
- Provide gardening and nutrition education resources, and engage community residents directly in food production;
- Demonstrate partnerships, including with the business community, for in-kind or discounted supply purchases to increase the cost efficiency of programming; and
- Provide planting materials, containers, seeds, seedlings, gardening supplies and/or education to residents to enable them to grow their own produce in yards and/or on patios
The Office of Grants Management will seek proposals from organizations that:
- Exhibit cultural proficiency;
- Are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community members; and
- Use a racial equity lens in providing services.
Funding Information
Award Amounts and Duration Award sizes will vary, with a maximum award of $15,000. The grant will be awarded for up to a one year (12-month performance period) and all grant agreements must be finalized by June 30, 2023. Programs must be run and be evaluated during this period.
Target Population
The target population for this grant are individuals and households residing in Montgomery County, who have been historically and disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and poor health outcomes and disadvantaged in access to opportunities to grow their own fresh, local, and nutritious food.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:
- The organization must be a Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status organization or a collaboration between two or more organizations with this status;
- 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. Any services or activities taking place outside of Montgomery County must be exclusively benefiting Montgomery County residents;
- The organization must be currently registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT);
- All activities and expenditures under this grant program must be provided in Montgomery County; and
- 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.
For more information, visit Community Gardening Grant.
