Funding Opportunities for Indianas Farmers

Article 2
In the second article of this series we continue to provide information on available funds for Indiana farms as
well as resources, webinars and educational opportunities that are designed to assist you in writing your
proposals.
Resources for grant seekers
Grants.gov is a federal website that allows eligible grant seekers to find and apply for current competitive grant
opportunities from ALL federal agencies. The website guides you through obtaining a D!" #Dun and
$radstreet% number and registering at Grants.gov to apply and to track applications. Information can be found
at&
http&''www.grants.gov'web'grants'home.html()sessionid*+,-fTp,flT.$/h0,1m)2hGgy3Gp40G5n,nT6.7T
889G,:T;<;r=!
2ith regard to federal grants, an organi>ation that wishes to apply must have certain information ready for the
registration process. ?ou first need to check with your Grant Administrator or @hief ;inancial Afficer to see if
your organi>ation already has a D!" !umber and be registered with @@6. The Data niversal !umber
"ystem #D!"% !umber is a uniBue identifier for your organi>ation reBuired by the federal government to track
how federal grant money is distributed. D!" !umbers are issued by Dun C $radstreet. If your organi>ation
does not already have a D!" !umber you can apply for one free of charge at&
http&''fedgov.dnb.com'webform'displayDome.age.do()sessionid*E+F+8D;4A8-+=4@584E5+45A8;@E$/FA
To register with the @entral @ontractor 6egistration #@@6%, see& https&''www.uscontractorregistration.com'
To ensure the electronic submission of your grant applications is secure, you will need to complete an
Authori>ed Argani>ation 6epresentative #AA6% profile and create a username and password. To complete an
AA6 profile and create a username and password see& https&''www.uscontractorregistration.com'
The ;oundation @enter is your gateway to information about private funding sources, the grant seeking process,
guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and links to
other useful Internet websites. The @enter maintains a comprehensive database on foundations( produces print
and electronic directories and guides( conducts research and publishes studies in the field( and offers a variety
of training and educational seminars. Their information is at& http&''www.foundationcenter.org'
?ou will notice that some grants are only available to nonGprofit organi>ations. This does not necessarily mean
that your pro)ect is ineligible. In these cases you may be able to collaborate with a nonGprofit who is willing to
support your work and administer the funds.
Webinars
!I;A Grant 2riting 2ebinar "eries

The "DA !ational Institute of ;ood and Agriculture #!I;A% provides helpful information for those wishing to
write proposals. These and three #/% other grant writing webinars are available at&
http&''www.nifa.usda.gov'nea'agHsystems'res'smallfarmsHgrantHwebinars.html
Their list of available grants and recorded webinar sessions, include the following&

Fverything ?ou 2anted To 3now About Grants.gov

This webinar will help you to navigate through the Grants.gov setGup process. This is a recorded webinar,
sponsored by "DA !I;A and includes a representative from Grants.gov who provides stepGbyGstep
instructions about the registration process I and moreJ
Grant 2riting 2ebinar I Developing $udgets, Logic :odels, Fvaluation .lans

In this webinar grant specialists provide information about preparing a budget and determining matching'cost
sharing allowances, developing a program logic model, and developing a comprehensive evaluation plan to
document the pro)ectKs impact.

;arm to "chool 2ebinars
Through 0uly -4+7, the "DA ;arm to "chool .rogram will host two webinars each month to showcase the
variety of ways school districts can purchase local foods. The webinars will be held at -&44 p.m. Fastern Time
on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Topics will include procurement basics, using geographic
preference, finding local producers, and buying local through DoD ;resh. Fach webinar has been recorded and
those held previously are available for viewing. They include&
.revious sessions&
;inding, $uying, and "erving Local ;oods& Introduction to .rocurement
@onducting a Local .rocurement $aseline Assessment
;inding Local .roducers
sing the Informal .rocurement :ethod
sing "pecifications to Target Local .roducts
2orking with Distributors
sing a ;orward @ontract
Introduction to Geographic .reference
"pring -4+7 sessions&
sing Geographic .reference I :ay =
sing "DA ;oods as 6esource to .urchase Local I :ay --
sing DoD ;resh to .urchase Local I 0une +-
Tying It All Together and Digging In I 0une -5
To register for future webinars, or to access the 0anuary sessions, go to&
http&''www.fns.usda.gov'farmtoschool'webinars
Private Farm to School rants
AnnieKs Domegrown Inc.
These grants help start or improve 3G+- school garden pro)ects. AnnieLs will be offering two competitions this
year, the spring round of grants has a :ay /+ deadline and the fall round will open in Actober. Details are
posted on their website. Last year, two types of grants were provided. MGetting "tarted& ;unds for ?our !ew
.rogramM offered grants of N<44 to start brandGnew school garden programs and MDigging Deeper& ;unds for
?our F1isting .rogramM offered grants of N+,<44 to enhance current school garden programs.
;or more information see& http&''www.annies.com'givingGback'schoolGgardens'grantsGforGgardens'
The American Donda ;oundation
Fligible organi>ations are nonGprofit charitable organi>ations that are classified as <4+#c%#/%, a public school
district or private'public elementary and secondary schools. The priorities for funds are youth education,
specificallt in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathmatics, the environment, )ob training and
literacy. Grants range from N-4,444.44 to NE<,444.44 in a one year period. Deadlines for the submission of
proposals are four times a year& ;eb., +, :ay +, Aug. + and !ov. +. To apply online see&
http&''www.cybergrants.com'pls'cybergrants'Bui>.displayHBuestionO
1HgmHid*-<=EC1HBui>Hid*+//=C1HorderHby*+
overnment Farm to School rants
The "ummer ;ood "ervice .rogram
The "ummer ;ood "ervice .rogram #";".% was created to ensure that children in lowerGincome areas can
continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch
or breakfast. The program offers funding on a perGmeal basis to organi>ations who provide meals to lowGincome
children during the summer. ;unds are available for sponsoring public or private nonGprofit schools, local,
municipal, county, tribal or state government, private nonGprofits or private nonGprofit camps and private or
nonGprofit universities or colleges. "ponsors must be able to provide a capable staff, managerial skills and food
service capabilities. "ponsors must provide their own means, purchase meals through an agreement with an
area school or contract for meals with a vendor.
The "tate agency reimburses ";". sponsors on a perGmeal basis for the meals served to eligible participants.
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. ;or more information see& http&''www.fns.usda.gov'sfsp'summerG
foodGserviceGprogramGsfsp or contact&
Indiana !"L., @A@;., ";".
"tate Director
"chool and @ommunity !utrition
Department of Fducation
++< 2 2ashington "treet
"outh Tower, "te. 544
Indianapolis, I! 75-47
.hone& /+EG-/-G4=<4
;a1& /+EG-/-G4=<<
"DAKs !ew ;armGToG"chool .rograms
These are new pilot programs that promise to place more local produce in schools. "tarting ne1t school year,
these programs would provide local fruit and vegetables for at least five, and up to eight, pilot schools across
the country, with at least one state in each of the five main regions of the country #the !ortheast, the .acific
!orthwest, the "outh, the 2est, and the :idwest%. #The .". Department of Agriculture #"DA% is e1pected to
release a 6eBuest for .roposals #6;.% in the coming months.%
The new program carries forward a pilot that took place in -4++, in :ichigan and ;lorida
schools, where "DA purchased local lettuce, apples, grapes, oranges, carrots, and blueberries,
and funneled them to schools through the state. "ee more at&
http&''civileats.com'-4+7'47'-7'usdaGpilotsGnewGfarmGtoGschoolG
programs'Psthash.7+/9mk$I.dpuf
Other overnment rants!State and Federal
Indiana "tate Department of Agriculture #I"DA% "pecialty @rop $lock Grant
This grant is for Indiana producers who grow specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree
nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops #including floriculture%. The funds can be used
to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to issues such as increasing child
and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops( improving efficiency and
reducing costs of distribution systems( assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution
chain in developing QGood Agricultural .ractices,R QGood Dandling .ractices,R QGood
:anufacturing .ractices,R and in costGshare arrangements for funding audits of such systems
for small farmers, packers and processors( investing in specialty crop research, including
research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes( enhancing food safety(
developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops( pest and disease control
through biotechnology( and development of organic and sustainable production practices.
These funds cannot be used for capital e1penditures such as buildings, land, eBuipment, etc.
that have a useful life of more than one year and an acBuisition cost which eBuals or e1ceeds
N<444%, fringe benefits, grant administrative or indirect costs. The -4+7 application period is
now open. The deadline is :ay +8, -4+7. Information can be found at&
https&''secure.in.gov'isda'files'-4+<H"@$GHI"DAH.rogramHGuidance.pdf
"DAKs 6ural Fnergy for America .rogram #6FA.%
"DA is seeking applications from rural small businesses and agricultural producers for
funding is designed to assist farmers in making energy efficiency improvements or to install
renewable energy systems. This funding will help farmers, ranchers and rural small business
owners incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology into their operations.
This funding has helped farmers e1pand renewable energy use in recent years.
"DA is accepting applications for&
6enewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan guarantee and grant
combinations(
6enewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan guarantees( and
6enewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grants.
6eBuests for grants may not e1ceed -< percent of a pro)ectLs cost I either for standGalone grant
reBuests or for grants combined with loan guarantees.
Information on how to apply for REAP funding and on the application deadlines (which vary by
project type) is available at: http&''www.gpo.gov'fdsys'pkg';6G-4+7G4<G4<'pdf'-4+7G
+44<7.pdf
Foundation Funding
!orcross 2ildlife ;oundation, Inc.
Average grant award is around N<,444 and funds can be used for computer and office technology of all kinds,
speciali>ed software to drive GI" mapping, G." groundGtruthing eBuipment, waterGBuality testing eBuipment,
work tools and eBuipment including vehicles and boats, and educational materials. Applications can be sent in
any time. :ore information can be found at& http&''www.norcrossws.org';oundationS-4Infor';oundmain.html
"urdna ;oundation Grants
The "urdna ;oundation makes grants to nonprofit organi>ations in the priority areas of "ustainable
Fnvironments, "trong Local Fconomies, and Thriving @ultures. There is no deadline for application.
Information can be found at& http&''www.surdna.org'grants'
The @aptain .lanet ;oundation
These funds can be used by nonGprofit organi>ations to promote understanding of environmental issues by
focusing on handsGon involvement. Involvement of children and young adults 5G+= #elementary through high
school% is reBuired. Deadlines are& :arch /+, 0une /4, "eptember /4, and December /+ annually. Application
information is at& http&''captainplanetfoundation.org'onlineGgrantGapplicationGinstructions'
https:cc!readytal"!comccsregistrationsnew#cid$oe%m&'%'"(%w