Funding is available for the following types of project proposals:<ol><li>Organic certification</li><li>Transitioning a conventional farm to organic</li><li>Any type of project that helps a farm scale its offerings</li><li>Any type of project that helps a farm improve efficiency or effectiveness</li></ol>LOFF will not provide funding for:<ul><li>Political or religious programs</li><li>Non-profit organizations</li><li>General operating or marketing expenses</li><li>Endowment funds</li><li>Scholarships</li><li>Fundraising events</li><li>Proposals that do not address organic farming issues</li></ul>LOFF gives preference to farmers located in Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin.

Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) Guide

Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) is a grant program dedicated to making an impact on local farming and organic food by furthering the development and sustainability of farms in the region. Supporting local and organic farms is key to Lakewind's mission. Organic farms and producers are part of Lakewind's ongoing effort to build a local food system that values the financial health of smaller scale agriculture, soil health, environmental responsibility, and the desires of our owners for high quality, organic food.

The goal of Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) is to support local farmers in a variety of ways, including helping to:

Improve packing sheds and other facilities
Purchase equipment and tools
Financially support the process of transitioning a farm to organic
Make purchases that increase farm productivity or efficiency
Undertake projects that improve soil health
Take on other projects that benefit the farm

Eligibility

Funding is available for the following types of project proposals:

Organic certification
Transitioning a conventional farm to organic
Any type of project that helps a farm scale its offerings
Any type of project that helps a farm improve efficiency or effectiveness

LOFF will not provide funding for:

Political or religious programs
Non-profit organizations
General operating or marketing expenses
Endowment funds
Scholarships
Fundraising events
Proposals that do not address organic farming issues

LOFF gives preference to farmers located in Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin.

Terms

Notification

If a project is funded, applicants will be notified and funds awarded by mid-March, 2023. Awarded funds will be paid out in full at the time of announcement. If a project or grant contains any special conditions, no monies are disbursed until those conditions have been met.

Funding levels

Lakewinds requests proposals which have objectives that are realistically achievable with a modest level of funding. LOFF has a maximum grant limit of $8,000 per farm each year.

Multi-year projects

LOFF acknowledges the importance of conducting long-term research to verify experimental results. The LOFF committee will consider funding multi-year projects, but cannot guarantee funding for any project beyond a single year. Submission of an interim report and new proposal is required to be considered for continued funding in subsequent years.

Organic Field Fund Proposal Requirements

In order to fairly evaluate grant proposals, all submissions should follow the requirements as stated below. Proposals that surpass the page limit or otherwise do not meet these requirements will not be considered for funding.

References and curricula vitae (CVs) may be uploaded as attachments to the proposal. CVs are limited to no more than two pages each.

The successful application will provide a clear rationale for the project and demonstrate a significant need for the proposed project. It is important that the objectives for your project be clear, well-structured, and succinct. Demonstrate why your project is necessary, present measurable outcomes, and explain specifically what you hope to accomplish.