Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program

The Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program is administered by Montgomery County Government through the Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) in partnership with the Office of Grants Management (OGM). The program was originally developed in response to recommendations from the County’s COVID-19 Food Security Task Force and has since expanded to align with the County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to strengthening local food systems, addressing food insecurity, and promoting equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods. OFSR serves as a coordinating body across agencies and community partners to improve food system resilience, while OGM ensures standardized and equitable grantmaking practices. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support nonprofit organizations in expanding or sustaining community-based gardening initiatives that increase the production and availability of fresh, edible food for Montgomery County residents experiencing food insecurity. Projects must demonstrate a strong foundation in research and best practices and show measurable outcomes in food production and distribution. The program emphasizes scalability and sustainability, prioritizing projects that can grow over time and reduce reliance on continuous County funding. Eligible activities include infrastructure investments such as raised beds and greenhouses, procurement of gardening tools and supplies, and delivery of educational programming and community engagement activities related to food production. Funding for the program totals $200,000, with individual awards expected to range between $25,000 and $100,000. The initial performance period spans approximately seventeen months, from late June 2026 through November 2027, with the possibility of a one-year renewal contingent on performance, funding availability, and continued need. Applicants must meet a minimum matching requirement of 25 percent of the total project budget, with up to 10 percent allowable as in-kind contributions. For renewal funding, the match requirement increases significantly to 75 percent, excluding in-kind contributions. Grant funds may not be used for expenses such as prior obligations, lobbying, alcohol, or activities conducted outside Montgomery County. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, or collaborations where at least one partner holds such status. Organizations must be in good standing with Maryland regulatory entities and must operate within Montgomery County. All funded activities must be provided free of charge and be accessible to all residents regardless of demographic characteristics. Projects must demonstrate experience in community gardening, ideally with at least three years of relevant work and documented food production outcomes. Applicants are also expected to show strong partnerships, secured land access, and strategies for long-term sustainability through diversified funding sources. The application process is conducted through an online grants platform, where applicants must complete detailed narrative responses, submit a comprehensive project budget using a required template, and provide supporting documentation such as MOUs, land use agreements, and organizational financial records. Required application components include project strategy, sustainability plans, performance history, and evaluation metrics. Applicants must also provide detailed projections for key performance indicators such as food production volume, number of residents served, and expansion of gardening space. Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process including administrative screening, programmatic eligibility review, and scoring by a subject matter expert panel. Evaluation criteria focus on alignment with program priorities, fiscal responsibility, organizational capacity, and the strength of the proposed evaluation plan. Proposals are assessed based on their ability to increase food production, engage communities, demonstrate sustainability, and implement data-driven approaches. Successful applicants will be required to submit mid-cycle and final reports, participate in regular check-ins, and comply with all reporting and audit requirements. Key dates for the program include an application opening in early April 2026 and a submission deadline of May 6, 2026. Award notifications are expected later in May 2026. An information session was held in April to support applicants, and technical assistance is available through designated program contacts. Overall, the program represents a strategic investment in local food systems, aiming to empower communities, expand access to fresh food, and build long-term resilience against food insecurity in Montgomery County.

Emphasize 3 or more years of community garden-based food production, production of at least 1,000 pounds of edible crops, culturally relevant crop planning informed by community engagement, secured land access, realistic square footage expansion or enhancement, strong food distribution partnerships, external funding equal to at least 25% of total project budget, clear data collection methods, ADA accessibility, language capacity, and alignment with equity, systems-based, innovative, and data-driven values. Avoid incomplete, late, illegible, or corrupted submissions and ensure partner MOUs are signed and specific.