Announcement of 2015 Grant Cycle for Small Farmers & Sustainability Projects from The FruitGuys Community Fund

The FruitGuys Community Fund supports farms, farmers, and policies that allow for greater environmental, economic, and community health by providing small grants of up to $5,000 for projects that have big impacts.

WHAT DRIVES US

We believe that small independent American farms are catalysts for environmental and economic self sufficiency, sustainability, and food access. Independent farmers can lead their communities as models of self-reliance and land stewardship. It is our vision that “from a small seed the world can be sustained” and this underlies our core belief that those projects that ripple out beyond the farm are valuable not just for the farmer but for the world at large. Our goal is to seek projects that are good for those who grow and that grow those who want to do good.

Examples of the rippling effects projects can have on a farm and in the communities it serves include hedgerow projects that increase pollinators for an entire community and hoop houses that extend a farm's growing season, allowing them to donate more food to those in need and to teach other neighbor farmers how to do the same.

OUR STORY

The FruitGuys Community Fund, established in 2012 as a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, grew out of The Farm Steward Program at The FruitGuys, a national fruit distribution company based in South San Francisco. Between 2008 and 2011, the Farm Steward Program gave grants to small farms for environmental sustainability efforts, to develop heirloom crop resources, and as crop-bridge funds. In 2013, the Community Fund made its first five grants to farms in California and Pennsylvania; In 2014, eight grants were awarded to farms in Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California. To learn more about the farms and projects selected, see our website (http://fruitguyscommunityfund.org).


2015 GRANT CYCLE

Grants in amounts ranging from $2,000-$5,000 will be awarded in Spring 2015. Preference will be given to applicants within 250 miles of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, or Chicago. Projects to be considered should help farms and/or orchards operate more sustainably, both environmentally and economically, as well as strengthen community outreach. Some examples of sustainability projects may include (but are not limited to): planting of cover crops to help with water management and soil fertility; planting pollinator-attracting perennials and/or installing bee hives; installation of bat boxes or owl boxes to attract predators and keep rodent numbers down; installation of high tunnels or hoop houses to extend the growing season.


PREFERENCES FOR 2015 AWARD CYCLE

1. Farm is located within 250 miles of San Francisco CA, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia PA, or Chicago IL.

2. Sustainability project is focused on one of the areas mentioned in our Sustainable Farming Manifesto, including but not limited to:

- Natural Pest Control (for example, owl or bat boxes)
- Pollination (for example, beehives & pollinator hedgerows)
- Soil Health (for example, cover crops & hoop houses)
- Water Conservation (for example, drip irrigation & water catchment)
- Energy Efficiency (for example, renewable energy options like solar, geothermal & wind)

For more information, see our complete Sustainable Farming Manifesto on our website or follow the link:(http://fruitguyscommunityfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sustainable_Farming_Manifesto.pdf)

3. Farm participates in some efforts to increase low-income consumers’ access to food.



PROJECTS WE WILL NOT FUND

- Land purchases

- Projects that require a percentage of the award be used for consultants or administrative work

- A startup operation. The applicant farm must be an established working farm that is looking to develop or improve their operation.

- Grant requests or projects that are dependent on receiving funding from a larger grant.



DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS

Grant applications are due by midnight PST, Monday, February 16, 2015.
Projects should be completed by December 1, 2015.

1. Applicant is an owner/operator of the farm or has long-term, legal access to the land. If farming on leased land, a letter of support from the landowner specifying length of the lease agreement must be provided with the grant application.

2. Farm is small to medium-sized as determined by acreage in agricultural production.

3. Community outreach. Farmer will engage in community outreach, education, or policy advocacy surrounding sustainable agriculture. Engagement must be described in the grant proposal. Up to 10% of the total grant amount awarded may be used to support efforts for community outreach, education, and/or advocacy (see question 6 of the grant application, below).


GRANT AWARDS & REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Grant funds will be awarded in two installments: The first, equaling 75% of the grant awarded, will be sent to the applicant in Spring 2015. The remaining 25% of funds will be dispersed following submission of a final progress report, due by December 11, 2015, and successful completion of the project. Three progress reports are required: An interim progress report (1-2 pages) with updates and recent photos (or video) must be submitted by August 28, 2015;  a final progress report to be submitted by December 11, 2015; and an alumni update report, due one year from the grant receipt, must be submitted by April 29, 2016. Reporting forms will be emailed to all grant recipients after grants are announced.


APPLICATION PROCEDURES for 2015

This year's grant applications should be submitted using this Google Form.

- Please answer questions 1-10 listed below.
- Include at least 2 suitable “before” photos as described in Question 10.

If required, please also send attached to separate email:
- Letter of support from landowner
- Status of permit applications
Send to info@fruitguyscommunityfund.org 

Incomplete applications, or those not meeting the requirements stated above, will not be reviewed. All applicants will receive notification if their grant was accepted or rejected by spring 2015.

If submitting via Google Forms is a challenge, email submissions will be accepted.

Questions may be sent to info@fruitguyscommunityfund.org.



APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
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1.Contact info *
Applicant’s primary contact information: name, title, address, telephone, email, and website  (if applicable). Please also include contact information for the person responsible for overseeing or completing the projects described, if different than primary contact.
2. Total size *
Please specify the total acreage of agricultural production.
3. Status and tenure of ownership *
Please specify whether you are the owner/operator of the farm or if you have long-term, legal access to the land. If farming on leased land, a letter of support from the landowner specifying length of the lease agreement must be emailed to info@fruitguyscommunityfund.org.
Proximity to a The FruitGuys Hub *
4. Type of crops grown *
Please specify what type of crops are grown and how the crops are sold/distributed.
5. Sustainability: project goals and objectives *
(a) What project do you propose to do on your farm with these funds? (b) How would this   impact your farm’s operations, both year one and on-going? (c) How will you measure and  report the positive impacts of this project? For instance, increase in yields; additional CSA   shares sold; reduction in water used; etc. (d) Are any permits required for completion of this   project (yes or no)? If yes, please describe the status of the permit application and expected   date it will be awarded.
6. Community impact *
Community impact through outreach, education & advocacy: project goals and objectives. (a) How do you propose to conduct outreach, education, and/or advocacy surrounding sustainable agriculture in your community? (b) What is your experience to date in such community efforts? (c) How will you measure and report the positive impacts of this project? (number of visitors to farm, workshops offered, increase in CSA membership, letters written to editor, testimony to committees, etc.)
7. Low-income food access *
Does your farm participate in any efforts to increase food access by low-income consumers?  If so please specify organizations partnered with, pounds of produce donated, number of   low-cost CSA shares offered, etc.
8. Budget *
Please include a detailed budget narrative. Your are welcome to submit this in the form of a spreadsheet and email it to info@fruitguyscommunityfund.org. (a) Include income sources (expected and secured) and expenses for the proposed projects described in questions 5 & 6. Include estimates for any necessary materials or supplies, personnel costs (if needed), as well as any in-kind contributions. (b) What impact would receiving funding from The FruitGuys Community Fund have on your ability to complete this project? (c) If the budget exceeds $5,000, please explain how these additional funds will be secured. Here is an example template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hnpuWyfYqUzxshKjbRzVuSr_Nz_gGyqK0q5TMxsz0bA/pubhtml
9. Timeline *
Outline the major milestones and resources needed for completing the sustainability project. For instance, “Equipment and parts ordered by June 15th, to be delivered by July 1,”  or, “Hire new part-time employee to assist with hoop house construction by May 20.” Please note, all projects should be completed in full by December 1, 2015.
10. Farm photos *
Please submit at least 2 photos of your farm to illustrate the setting and context: these may be considered “before” photos of the site where the proposed sustainability project will take place. Please use the highest quality & largest size possible and submit in jpg format as an email attachment to info@fruitguyscommunityfund.org.
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