Hardship Assistance Fund

The Hardship Assistance Fund gives $5,000 – $20,000 direct financial disaster assistance grants for hardship related to extreme weather or climate impacts to organic farmers and ranchers.

CCOF has partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to administer extreme weather and climate impact grants through the CUSP.

These are reimbursement grants for expenses incurred as a result of extreme weather and climate impacts.

Extreme weather and climate impact relief funding is open to organic producers in California.*

Grant amounts range between $5,000 to $20,000.

*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

Hardship Assistance Fund applicant requirements:

• Be a certified organic operation with a valid organic certificate from any third-party USDA-accredited certifier (CDFA registration alone is not sufficient).*

• Be a small or medium scale California agricultural producer, defined by this program as any farmer making up to $400,000 or dairy operation making up to $1,000,000 in annual gross sales.

• Must be an organic farming or ranching business in California.*

• Submit a complete and detailed description of hardship endured.

• Submit supporting financial documentation of economic loss (Ex: Profit and Loss Statements).

• Grant funds cannot be used for organic certification fees.

• Submit receipts and/or verification of loss.

• Submit a final progress report six months after grant is awarded (for grant recipients only).

*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

Timeline and Details:

• Applications must be completed online.

• Applications periods are on a quarterly basis. Granting rounds open the first Monday and close the last Friday of each quarter: January 5 – March 27, 2026; April 6 – June 26, 2026; July 6 – September 25, 2026; October 5 – December 11, 2026. Awards are granted the following quarter.

• Only fully complete applications are reviewed.

• Once applications are initiated, they should be completed by the quarterly deadline.

• Funds are provided as direct assistance.

• Grant amounts range from $5,000 – $20,000.

Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to: infrastructure damage/loss; equipment damage/loss; expenses associated with soil erosion/mud or water damage and/or clean-up/debris removal; purchase or rental of flood control equipment; replacement of livestock feed, fertilizer, or other farm inputs or soil inputs (including compost and cover crop); livestock mortality/beehive loss/livestock veterinary expenses or transportation/moving costs; water/soil testing; replacement of crops (trees, nursery stock, perennial plant losses) or payments to services for tree removal or replacement; crop loss/replacement for annual vegetable production, perennial crops, and cover crops due to extreme weather (flooding, extreme heat/sunburn, wildfire); labor; and land tenure.

To Apply: Applications must be completed online. Click this link to begin your application. Applications must be filled out completely, including financial documentation, to be eligible for consideration. The application is available in both English and Spanish.

Community is at the heart of the CCOF Foundation and we're here to support you. If you have questions or need assistance completing your application, please reach out to grants@ccof.org or 831-346-6324. Se habla español.