Grants for Private institutions of higher education - Natural Resources

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Education Grants program is designed to fund education and outreach activities that benefit the sustainable agriculture community. This grant directly aligns with SSARE's mission to promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. The core objective is to support projects that develop sustainable agriculture systems or move existing systems towards sustainability. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are farmers and farming communities, including those involved in indigenous agriculture producing for community food systems. Academic institutions, non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators, 1862 land-grant universities, other colleges and universities, and government agencies are eligible to apply, acting as facilitators for these educational initiatives. The impact goals are centered on fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural sector through knowledge dissemination and practical application. Education Grants prioritize projects that clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom, and how the goals will be accomplished. Focus areas include experiential learning (demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops), integrative approaches (conferences, seminars, course curriculum), and reinforcement methods (fact sheets, bulletins, videos, online technologies). SSARE also encourages proposals on quality of life topics, such as heirs property, farmers’ markets, food hubs, local/regional processing, and urban agriculture systems, emphasizing the social health of farming systems. Expected outcomes include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced farmer innovation, increased community resilience, improved business success for agricultural enterprises, and greater agricultural diversification. Projects should yield results that are realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to tangible actions and benefits described in the proposal. The grant projects are strictly focused on education and outreach, with no research component, and are paid by reimbursement of allowable expenses. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in the grant requirements, which mandate that project outcomes focus on sustainable agriculture systems and clearly demonstrate how education and outreach efforts will be implemented and evaluated. The theory of change underpinning this program is that by providing targeted education and outreach, knowledge and best practices will be transferred to farmers and communities, leading to the development and widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural methods and improved quality of life within farming systems. Project maximums are $50,000, with a duration limited to two years. Applicants from the Southern region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible. Farmers involved in these projects must have farming/ranching as their primary occupation or part-time farming with at least $1,000 of documented annual income from their operation, with exceptions for indigenous agriculture.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to enhance environmental education and maintain green infrastructure at public and charter schools in Washington, D.C.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that protect and sustainably manage coral reefs and natural resources in U.S. insular areas, benefiting local economies and ecosystems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations within the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to develop innovative remote sensing technologies that improve the management and understanding of dryland ecosystems in the southwestern United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for habitat protection and restoration projects in the Great Lakes region, targeting organizations and governments dedicated to conserving native wildlife and ecosystems, particularly migratory birds.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in the Western United States for projects aimed at preventing the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels in aquatic ecosystems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, Tribal entities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations for projects that enhance wildlife habitats, improve migration corridors, and promote climate resilience on public lands in Idaho.

This funding initiative provides financial support for conservation projects in the Delaware River watershed, targeting nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions focused on habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and community engagement.

This funding opportunity supports a consortium of academic institutions in the Gulf region to conduct collaborative research on coastal and marine ecosystems, addressing critical environmental challenges and advancing NOAA's mission.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations in Idaho for projects that enhance the preservation and accessibility of cultural and paleontological resources, with a focus on education, community engagement, and collaboration with tribal governments.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for state and local governments, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to improve recreational facilities and services on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

This funding opportunity supports state and territory water research institutes in the U.S. to conduct applied research on water resource issues, focusing on the economic value of streamgage data and advancements in hydrologic modeling using machine learning.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for U.S. institutions and organizations to develop innovative and cost-effective technologies for detecting harmful algal bloom toxins in seafood, enhancing public health and seafood safety.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

This funding opportunity is designed for research institutions and organizations within the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to study the interactions and resource use among cattle, wildlife, and wild horses in Utah's fragile ecosystems.

This grant provides funding for projects that restore and enhance forests and wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, benefiting wildlife and promoting community resilience, particularly for local landowners and conservation organizations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for conservation projects aimed at protecting and recovering threatened and endangered species on public lands in Oregon and Washington, targeting eligible state and local governments, tribal organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for state forestry departments, universities, nonprofits, and local governments in the Eastern U.S. to manage and combat invasive species that threaten forest health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. and U.S.-aligned organizations to develop Tunisia's phosphate sector, enhance supply chain resilience for critical minerals, and attract private investment.

This grant provides funding to state and local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions for projects that combat invasive species and noxious weeds on public lands in Alaska.