Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF)

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

Funding is available for the following types of project proposals:

1. Organic certification

2. Transitioning a conventional farm to organic

3. Any type of project that helps a farm scale its offerings

4. 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.

Applications are accepted January 1-31 each year; the final application must be submitted by 11:59 pm on January 31. If a project is accepted, applicants are notified in mid-March. Awarded funds are paid out in full upon receipt of a completed W-9. If a project or grant contains any special conditions, no funds are disbursed until those conditions have been met.

Funding levels: Lakewinds considers proposals for projects that are realistically achievable with a modest level of funding. The maximum grant limit is $8,000 per farm each year.

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

Proposal requirements: All submissions must follow the requirements stated in the application. Proposals that exceed the page limit or do not meet these requirements will not be considered for funding. References and CVs may be uploaded as attachments (CVs limited to two pages each). The successful application provides a clear rationale, demonstrates significant need, and has clear, well-structured, succinct objectives with measurable outcomes.

Applications for 2027 will be open January 1-31, 2027. If you have any questions regarding LOFF, please email Marketing@Lakewinds.com.

Learn more about grant eligibility.

• LOFF Grant Overview (full eligibility, requirements, and funding-level details)

• Start Your Application (online application portal)

• Past LOFF Recipients by Year (2012-2026)