Community Garden Mini Grant Program is offered by United Way of Central Iowa, which has set a goal to improve the health of community.
Donor Name: United Way of Central Iowa
State: Iowa
County: Dallas County (IA), Dallas County (IA), Polk County (IA), Polk County (IA), Warren County (IA), Warren County (IA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/19/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
One of the strategies to achieve this is by increasing the availability and accessibility of healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. United Way of Central Iowa will act as the administrator and funder of the grant process.
Funding Information
The maximum funding amount has varied between $500 – $1,500.
Allowable Expenses
- Seeds
- Vertical garden supplies
- Plants
- Fencing
- Irrigation supplies
- Raised garden bed supplies
- Signage
- Trellis materials
- Water hydrant meter fees
- Greenhouse kits
- Harvest tools and packing supplies/materials
- Community education events and materials
- Hoop house supplies
- Compost and compost delivery
- Other necessary items related to garden infrastructure
- Water retention systems (barrels and elevated platforms for containers)
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants for the mini grants must be located in Polk, Dallas, or Warren County and serve the community as a nonprofit organization, school or government entity. For purposes of this funding, a community garden is defined as an area of land managed and maintained by a group of individuals to grow and harvest food crops for non-retail, personal or group use, consumption or donation. Community gardens may be divided into separate plots for cultivation by one or more individuals or may be farmed collectively by members of the group and may include common areas maintained and used by group members. For purposes of this funding, the garden cannot be used for retail or job training programs and cannot be promoted as a corporate giving garden.
- New and existing community gardens are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to gardens that serve communities with limited access to healthy foods, such as high-poverty or food desert neighborhoods. The award amount will take into consideration the size of the garden, the need it serves, and the resources required to support its work. Please note that cannot guarantee the full amount requested.
Guidelines
- Must be a community garden located in Polk, Dallas or Warren County. Funding may be used for a new or existing garden.
- Funding will be allocated according to garden size, the demonstrated need in the budget, and availability based on funding.
- Must serve the community as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, school, or government entity.
For more information, visit UWCI.
