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SARE Lunch & Learn Webinar Series

SARE Grant-writing Workshop

Katie Brandt & Sarah Zeiler

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Presentation outline

General grant information

Grant writing tips

SARE grants

General information
Research & Education Grant Program
Farmer Rancher Grant Program
Partnership Grant Program
Youth Educator Grant Program

Role-play grant planning practice
Share out and feedback
Wrap-up

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General grant information

Most funders do not give you money to spend on day-to-day farming expenses
Grant programs have specific objectives

Government funds - often dictated by law
Private funds - by mission statements or by-laws

Grant administrators are bound by constraints and can’t change rules
Make sure what YOU WANT MONEY FOR

is something THEY GIVE MONEY FOR!

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General grant information

Not everyone qualifies for every grant program
Grant programs may have targeted audiences that meet their objectives
Some grant programs only fund in certain geographic or demographic areas
Make sure YOU QUALIFY TO RECEIVE THE MONEY you are applying for!

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Grant writing tips

You’ve submitted and been rejected…

Don’t take it personal!

They only have so much money, other proposals may have better met their program objectives

Read the reviewer comments
If the comments are generally positive, resubmit during the next grant cycle
Address negative comments in the next submission
Don’t get discouraged, now you know the process, give it one or two or three… more tries

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�What is SARE?�

Grants and outreach to advance sustainable innovations to

the whole of American agriculture.

Photo credit: Edwin Remberg

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Something New �and Different

Photo credit: Joan Benjamin

SARE was started in 1988, conceived as a

decentralized, science-based, grassroots, practical,

problem-solving,

and inclusive

competitive grant-making and outreach program.

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photo credit: Ken Schneider

The SARE Model

_{Successful SARE grantees are engaged in projects that are guided by the 3 principals of}

_{sustainability…}

Quality of Life for farmers, ranchers, and their communities

Stewardship of our nation’s land and water

Profit over the long term

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Stakeholder Involvement

Problem identified by farmer/rancher and researcher

Farmers/ranchers involved in research

and outreach

Stakeholder Involvement

Photo credit: Beth Nelson

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NCR-SARE Grant Types

NCR-SARE

Grant Types

North Central SARE grant programs are:

Research & Education
Professional Development
Graduate Student
Farmer/Rancher
Youth Educator
Partnership

Visit www.sare.org or

www.northcentralsare.org

Photo credit: Carol Flaherty

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Research and Education

Include a strong outreach component and significant farmer/rancher or other end-user involvement from inception through implementation.
Awards range from $10,000 to $250,000.
May last up to 36 months
Funds 10-14 Research and Education projects per year
Collaborative teams build research and Education grants
Producers are key participants in grant activities

photo credit: Joan Benjamin

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Farmer Rancher �Grant Program

Grants directly fund farmers and ranchers to explore new production methods or marketing approaches for their farm
Up to $15,000 for individual farm, and $30,000 for teams of 2 or more farmers/ranchers
Encouraged to link with university or non-profit partners
~40 projects funded per year

photo credit: Joan Benjamin

SZ

In 1992, NCR-SARE began a competitive Farmer Rancher Grant Program exclusively to fund farmers and ranchers striving for agricultural sustainability.

Farmers and ranchers have a critical insight when it comes to improving their systems. Whether they need to limit off-farm inputs, reduce erosion, create more time for family or community activities, learn marketing skills, or find other ways to enhance their livelihoods, farmers and ranchers can turn to NCR-SARE for grant opportunities and information.

Before writing a grant proposal, applicants should determine a clear project goal and explore previous research. It often helps to contact NCR-SARE, local agriculture groups, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and/or Extension educators to share ideas and invite their participation.

Funding decisions are made by NCR-SARE's Administrative Council, after receiving feedback from a review committee made up of primarily farmers and ranchers within the north central region.

The Farmer Rancher Grant Program has a full-time liaison, Joan Benjamin. Feel free to contact Joan Benjamin with any questions about this program.

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Partnership

Partnership Grants are for on-farm research, demonstration, and/or educational projects funded for up to 24 months.
Up to $50,000 total funding request per application is allowed.
An Agricultural Professional is the grant applicant and the project coordinator.
Typically three or more farmers or ranchers are expected to be substantially involved in the project.
Each farm/ranch must be an independent and separate/distinct operation.

photo credit: Joan Benjamin

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Youth Educator Grants

Grants for young people and educators to understand sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option
Up to $6,000 per project
Appropriate for vo-ag teachers or other youth educators
10 projects funded per year
Coordinated by Joan Benjamin

photo credit: Nathan Papendorf

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Advisory Worksheet

Link to Advising worksheet in chat

Breakout room roles

1 or 2 Grantees

Come up with the grant idea
Answer questions about their project

1 farm educator/advisor

Ask questions to help the grantees fill in the questions from the worksheet

1 note-taker

Type grantee answers into the worksheet

You won't have time for the full worksheet..... just a chance to try it out....

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SARE Outreach

_{SARE Outreach}

A library of practical, how-to books and bulletins (in print or free download)
Media outreach
A portfolio of in-depth reports on current topics
Conference sponsorships
Countless online resources, including project reports

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For more information about NCR-SARE:

by email: ncrsare@umn.edu

www.northcentralsare.org

Follow us on:

photo credit: Joan Benjamin

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Sarah Zeiler

Environmental Management Educator

Michigan State University Extension

Cell Phone: 517-212-1043

Email: szeiler@msu.edu

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.