Arkansas grants for Individuals

This program provides funding to teachers and educational leaders in community schools to enhance resources, support extracurricular activities, and improve classroom environments for students.

This program provides funding to individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in six Midwestern states to create and present innovative and experimental artistic projects that engage the public.

This program provides a pitch competition and investor introductions for women and founders of color in the U.S. with scalable startups that have a minimum viable product and some customer traction, specifically targeting those outside major startup hubs.

This fellowship provides financial support to women pursuing their first doctoral degree in various fields, with a focus on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Arkansas for projects that preserve and promote African American history and heritage.

The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is offering its 2024 Infrastructure Grant Program, which aligns with its mission to support the viability and sustainability of historically underserved farmers and ranchers. This program aims to foster projects that enhance farm viability, create new markets for local agricultural products and services, develop innovative uses for existing farm infrastructure, add value to farm products through processing, packaging, or marketing, and optimize the use of on-farm and natural resources. Additionally, the grant supports cultural and heritage projects dedicated to preserving and continuing specific agrarian traditions, reflecting RAFI's broader commitment to a resilient and equitable food system. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are historically underserved farmers and ranchers, as defined by NRCS, who are in at least their fourth full growing season and have operated their current farm for at least two years. The program specifically targets "livelihood" farmers and ranchers who depend on agriculture for their financial support or are pursuing a long-term career in farming. Eligibility extends to individual farmer owners/co-owners or farm cooperatives, provided at least 50% of the cooperative members meet the individual eligibility criteria. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and are available to farms located in specific states: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, or VA. Funding priorities are given to proposals demonstrating a high expected impact on farm viability and sustainability, strong project feasibility, and comprehensive planning, including a clear plan, detailed budget, timeline, and all necessary supporting documentation. RAFI also prioritizes farmers who derive a significant portion of their household income from farm operations, individuals with financial need, or those located in economically disadvantaged areas. Projects that tangibly benefit the surrounding community and farms utilizing agroecological and/or ancestral farming practices are also highly favored, reflecting RAFI's strategic priorities for holistic agricultural development and community engagement. The expected outcomes of the Infrastructure Grant Program include increased farm viability and sustainability for historically underserved farmers, the establishment of new and diversified markets for local products, and the preservation of valuable agricultural traditions. Through these grants, RAFI aims to support projects that lead to concrete improvements in farm infrastructure, expanded income streams for farmers, and a stronger connection between agricultural practices and community well-being. By focusing on these outcomes, RAFI reinforces its theory of change, which posits that targeted financial support and capacity building for underserved farmers will lead to a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable agricultural landscape.

The objectives of this project fall under INRMP Goal 2: Manage JBER natural resources under the guidelines and principles of adaptive ecosystem management, which aim to maintain functional ecosystems and natural diversity including sustainable populations, native species, and ecological communities and Objective 2.1: Inventory and monitor JBERs natural resources, including soil, water, wetlands, flora, and fauna, to provide baseline information on ecosystem integrity and health, status of renewable resources, and status of threatened or sensitive species or communities. See full Funding Opportunity Description in Section I.

This funding initiative provides financial support to graduate students conducting herpetological research focused on the conservation and management of reptiles and amphibians in the southeastern United States.

This program provides financial assistance to private landowners in Arkansas for thinning overstocked pine forests to prevent southern pine beetle infestations and promote healthier, more profitable pine stands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to licensed dairy farms in the southeastern U.S. to improve their infrastructure and operational efficiency, enhancing profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.

This program provides matching funds to downtown Fort Smith property and business owners for projects that enhance the historical and architectural character of the area.

This program provides financial assistance to landowners in Southeast Arkansas for transitioning pine forests affected by disease to hardwood species, promoting forest health and sustainability.

This program provides financial incentives to farmers in select U.S. states to adopt agroforestry practices that integrate trees and shrubs into their agricultural systems, promoting environmental sustainability and new revenue opportunities.

This program provides financial assistance to historically underserved farmers in the southeastern U.S. for essential infrastructure improvements and support for new farming operations.

This program provides funding for K–12 schools and community organizations in Arkansas to host professional artists for in-school residencies that integrate the arts into educational curricula.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to documentary filmmakers with strong ties to the American South, helping them produce projects that highlight the region's cultural, social, and historical stories.

This grant provides funding for rural classroom teachers in selected states to develop and implement Place-Based Education projects in their schools.

This funding opportunity supports graduate students in the Southern U.S. conducting research projects that promote sustainable agriculture and address key challenges faced by farmers and agricultural communities.