Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance that have applications closing soon

Apply for the fellowship and mini-grant directly online at this portal.
For Spanish speaking farmers
Our partners at Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust (NEFOC) are currently piloting a sibling fellowship program for Spanish-speaking farmers. They do not have applications open at this time, but if you are interested in learning more and want to receive notifications about future program developments, please contact Gaby Pereyra at: gaby@nefoclandtrust.org.

The Braiding Seeds Fellowship, a project of Soul Fire Farm Institute in collaboration with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, provides beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land.

Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend; a menu of professional development opportunities including 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm&#x2004;finance and business plan support; cohort gatherings; and individualized coaching.

Farming will be the main work of fellows, who will dedicate a minimum average of 20+ hours per week on their farms during the growing season. Fellows will attend online and (COVID conditions allowing) in-person cohort gatherings for networking and professional development. Fellows will also complete at least 50 hours of professional development over 18 months from the menu provided, including: 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support. Fellows are also asked to provide feedback and suggestions to inform future years of the program. Fellows will participate in regular 1:1 check in meetings with fellowship staff as well.

### Mini Grants

In addition to the fellowship, Soul Fire Farm will also be awarding 12 runners-up with mini-grants of $2500 each. Applicants have the option of applying for one of these mini-grants within the fellowship application form. Opting in or out of consideration for the mini-grant will not positively or negatively impact the ranking of your overall fellowship application.



The Braiding Seeds Fellowship, a project of Soul Fire Farm Institute in collaboration with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, provides beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land.
Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend; a menu of professional development opportunities including 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support; cohort gatherings; and individualized coaching.
Farming will be the main work of fellows, who will dedicate a minimum average of 20+ hours per week on their farms during the growing season. Fellows will attend online and (COVID conditions allowing) in-person cohort gatherings for networking and professional development. Fellows will also complete at least 50 hours of professional development over 18 months from the menu provided, including: 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support. Fellows are also asked to provide feedback and suggestions to inform future years of the program. Fellows will participate in regular 1:1 check in meetings with fellowship staff as well.
Mini Grants
In addition to the fellowship, Soul Fire Farm will also be awarding 12 runners-up with mini-grants of $2500 each. Applicants have the option of applying for one of these mini-grants within the fellowship application form. Opting in or out of consideration for the mini-grant will not positively or negatively impact the ranking of your overall fellowship application.

Beginning farmers and land stewards, ages 18+, with a minimum of 1 year of farming and/or land stewardship experience and no more than 3 years of management level farming and/or land stewardship experience, are welcome to apply. The fellowship is for Black, Indigenous, and people of color farmers based in the northeast and southeast of the United States, including all states and territories that touch the Atlantic Ocean and its tidal arms (ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, DC, MS, AL, LA, PA, WV, VT.) The fellowship is for individuals, though fellows are welcome to share their resources with collaborators in their respective projects. Applicants should be passionate about the flourishing of Black agrarianism.
Who qualifies as a farmer?
For the purpose of the fellowship, a farmer is a person whose livelihood entails collaboration with an ecosystem to produce food, forage, seeds, medicine, or other crops. The returns of their labor may afford the farmer wages, sales, and/or community-provisioning and they may be termed a peasant, urban grower, campesino, farmworker, row crop farmer, shepherd, herb grower, schoolyard gardener, nonprofit farmer, ocean farmer, orchardist, fiber farmer, etc. They have in common tending to the earth as their means of ‘securing the necessities of life.’ The fellowship looks to support farmers who are producing at a scale that can support the wider community, and not just a single household.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Program Information
- Frequently Asked Questions

Native Americans

Stewardship

Socially Disadvantaged

People Of Color

Historically Underserved

The fellowship will begin on July 17, 2023 and will end on December 31, 2024. It is an 18-month program. 

Grants applications are closed for 2024. Applications will open in spring 2025. For more information, see the website.

Denise Mullinax

CDRF Executive Director

This project will build climate-smart dairy markets and provide financial incentives for dairy producers to adopt climate-smart manure management practices to reduce methane emissions, leveraging matching funding from non-federal sources. Financial incentives are planned on a per-cow basis to producers to implement vermifiltration, evaporative liquid waste processing systems, subsurface drip fertigation&#x2004;using liquid manure, weeping walls, aerated static compost piles, and others.


On average producers will likely receive incentives that account for 30 to 50 percent of their total costs of CSAF practice adoption, while also receiving a premium for the climate-smart milk. This project plans to utilize partnerships designed to market climate-smart milk for a higher premium and conduct a consumer market messaging analysis to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of approaches to best promote climate-smart milk in multiple market channels.



This project will build climate-smart dairy markets and provide financial incentives for dairy producers to adopt climate-smart manure management practices to reduce methane emissions, leveraging matching funding from non-federal sources. Financial incentives are planned on a per-cow basis to producers to implement vermifiltration, evaporative liquid waste processing systems, subsurface drip fertigation using liquid manure, weeping walls, aerated static compost piles, and others.

On average producers will likely receive incentives that account for 30 to 50 percent of their total costs of CSAF practice adoption, while also receiving a premium for the climate-smart milk. This project plans to utilize partnerships designed to market climate-smart milk for a higher premium and conduct a consumer market messaging analysis to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of approaches to best promote climate-smart milk in multiple market channels.

Dairy

Butter

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Cow Milk

Goat Milk

Check the list of organizations below that are distributing CUSP funds for one that is near you and currently accepting applications. Then, follow the linked information or call them to apply.
- List of Organizations Providing Direct Drought Relief Grants 
- List of Organizations Helping Producers Apply for Covid-19 Relief Programs and Business Support TA 

The California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program funds local organizations to distribute technical aid and relief grants&#x2004;to agricultural producers in CA. At any given time, there may be multiple different offerings from this program. The current offerings are

### Direct Drought Relief

California continues to face escalating drought conditions and as a result, Control Section 11.85 of the Budget Act of 2021 allocated $5 million for direct drought relief funds which will be administered through the CUSP program partner organizations throughout 2022. These direct grants will assist small-scale and historically underserved producers to apply for relief grants for those most in need of immediate drought assistance. Producers will apply for the funds through local partner organizations.

### Technical Grant Application Assistance

Funding for eligible technical assistance providers to support California agricultural producers in applying for Federal and State drought relief grant programs including the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program, and assistance with business planning, financial and marketing strategies needed to be resilient and stay in business during the on-going drought in California. 



The California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program funds local organizations to distribute technical aid and relief grants to agricultural producers in CA. At any given time, there may be multiple different offerings from this program. The current offerings are
Direct Drought Relief
California continues to face escalating drought conditions and as a result, Control Section 11.85 of the Budget Act of 2021 allocated $5 million for direct drought relief funds which will be administered through the CUSP program partner organizations throughout 2022. These direct grants will assist small-scale and historically underserved producers to apply for relief grants for those most in need of immediate drought assistance. Producers will apply for the funds through local partner organizations.
Technical Grant Application Assistance
Funding for eligible technical assistance providers to support California agricultural producers in applying for Federal and State drought relief grant programs including the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program, and assistance with business planning, financial and marketing strategies needed to be resilient and stay in business during the on-going drought in California. 

The Drought Relief Grants administered through the CUSP partner organizations will be reimbursement grants for expenses incurred as a result of the drought. Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:
- Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates
- Surface water costs if increase from year prior
- Cost of hauling water for livestock
- Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost
- Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
- Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land
Not Covered:
- Drilling new well
- Upgrading pump to a larger size which would draw more water

- CUSP Information Page
- List of Organizations Providing Direct Drought Relief Grants 
- List of Organizations Helping Producers Apply for Covid-19 Relief Programs and Business Support TA 

Weather

Disaster Relief

Emergency

FY2024 Grant Applications are open now. Applications must be received by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets by November 11, 2023.
(NEW! This deadline was extended to November 11 to give you more time to apply).
Please ensure that your grant application includes the following REQUIRED components:
- Complete CEAP Application
- Complete Questionnaire 
- 1-2 reputable quote/s for the requested equipment. Note that shipping or freight costs may be listed on your quote but are not eligible for financial assistance.
- Letter(s) of Support are optional and, if submitted, should be unbiased and add pertinent information about your application and its relevance to program goals.

Before you start your online application, be prepared to upload 1-2 quotes and a complete questionnaire.
Paper/PDF applications may be submitted by email to AGR.WaterQuality@vermont.gov or mailed to VAAFM CEAP Program, 116 State St Montpelier VT 05620. Please include ALL application components in the same email/envelope.

Questions about applying?
- Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before reaching out with additional questions via email to AGR.WaterQuality@Vermont.gov
- All grant applicants should review and be prepared to agree to the State of Vermont Attachment C: Standard Provisions for Contracts and Grants.
- Eligibility requirements include that farms are in good standing with the State of Vermont. Good standing for Water Quality Technical and Financial Assistance is defined in 6 V.S.A. § 4802
- Assistance is available for the application process. Please contact your local conservation district or reach out to 802-522-4655 if you are in need of assistance.

Resources for CEAP Grant Recipients:
CEAP grant agreements have an agreement length of 5 years, during which period you are expected to maintain and continue using the equipment as described in your initial application. AAFM program staff will visit your farm 1-2 times during this period to check on your equipment.
CEAP recipients are further required to report equipment usage for the first three (3) years of the grant.
This reporting requirement exists so we can document the phosphorus reductions farmers are achieving with the purchased equipment and to demonstrate how CEAP is working to get conservation on the ground. In addition, CEAP is a competitive grant program and a major aspect of the ranking and review of your applications is the scale of conservation that you committed to your application. Since recipients were selected to receive funds in part of based on the expected conservation value of your equipment being used on the acres you committed to, the program requires recipients to meet those commitments for each year of reporting. 
Annual Usage Reports cover a Calendar Year and must be submitted annually by January 15th to the Contact listed below, accompanied by all relevant corresponding maps. If an explanation or justification is needed, please submit that in written form alongside your report and maps.

Financial assistance is available for new or used innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, mitigate greenhouse gases, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure.



- Vermont Farms required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices
- Custom Operators
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Phosphorus Extraction Equipment Providers
Eligible Equipment Categories:
- Precision Agriculture – to accurately and digitally observe, monitor and respond to field variability and improve nutrient management planning.
- Conservation Tillage – to reduce the frequency or intensity of tillage operations.
- Cover Crop Equipment – to increase or improve cover cropping implementation.
- Waste Management – to improve waste and nutrient management, nutrient application efficiency and methods.
- Feed Management – to reduce impacts from silage leachate and reduce feed imports.
Eligible equipment and corresponding funding caps or cost share rates can change based on funding availability and other factors, please refer to the most current Program Details for more information on eligible equipment.

Ineligible Equipment: The following types of equipment are not eligible* to receive CEAP funds:
- Frac Tanks, Manure Tankers or Manure Pumps
- Solid Manure Spreaders or Broadcast Manure Spreaders
- Tractors
- Equipment that performs full width tillage, deep tillage, or soil inversion
*Exceptions may be considered for nonprofit organizations performing agricultural research, with compelling justification.

- CEAP Annual Usage Report (Printable)
- CEAP Annual Usage Report (Excel)
- CEAP & FAP Combined Report (Printable)
- CEAP & FAP Combined Report (Excel)

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Irrigation

Water Quality

Waterway Protection

Wetland Conservation

Waste & Manure Management

Waste & Compost

Nutrient Management

Water Management

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKzeo64gTdtUobYVGBVvU5SRlF-MUaL0HWOfkDOzjgOMJ4uQ/viewform

Amy Work

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (IASWCD) Friend of Conservation Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to soil and water conservation in Indiana.


This award recognizes those individuals or entities who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation and sustainability.




The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (IASWCD) Friend of Conservation Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to soil and water conservation in Indiana.

This award recognizes those individuals or entities who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation and sustainability.


Nominations can be completed by an individual, business, organization or agency through their local soil and water conservation district (SWCD). Applications must include a signature of approval from an SWCD supervisor and submitted online by the SWCD. Only one application per districts may be submitted each year. Please note that past recipients of this award are not eligible to receive the award again.

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Send complete applications (below) to scriste@marbidco.org. Electronic submissions are encouraged.

Application Link 

Or mail to 
MARBIDCO – Livestock Proc. Equip. Grant 
c/o Sierra Criste 
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21 
Annapolis, MD 21403

Sierra Criste

MARBIDCO has established the Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program to help assist with the expansion of livestock processing capacity&#x2004;in Maryland. This program offers grants to eligible applicants to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment and/or upgrade facilities to help increase production in Maryland, with a particular focus on large animal and blue catfish processing. (Smaller scale poultry processing projects may also be eligible.)

MARBIDCO will contribute up to 50% towards the eligible costs, with a maximum grant award amount of $50,000 for USDA-inspected facility projects and maximum grant award amount of $30,000 for custom-exempt processing or mobile processing projects.



MARBIDCO has established the Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program to help assist with the expansion of livestock processing capacity in Maryland. This program offers grants to eligible applicants to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment and/or upgrade facilities to help increase production in Maryland, with a particular focus on large animal and blue catfish processing. (Smaller scale poultry processing projects may also be eligible.)
MARBIDCO will contribute up to 50% towards the eligible costs, with a maximum grant award amount of $50,000 for USDA-inspected facility projects and maximum grant award amount of $30,000 for custom-exempt processing or mobile processing projects.

Eligible applicants include individuals and businesses who currently operate livestock and meat processing enterprises in Maryland, as well as those that can start such operations by no later than July 31, 2023. These applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, or LLCs.
Eligible expenses: Grant funds (and matching funds paid by the applicant) must be used to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment for USDA-inspected facilities, custom-exempt or mobile processing projects. Livestock processing equipment items purchased prior to April 1, 2023, are not eligible to be reimbursed using these grant funds.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Livestock

Cattle

Pigs

Poultry

Sheep

Specialty Livestock

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Calves

Heifers

Steers

Bulls

Barrows

Boars

Feeder Pigs

Hogs

Sows

Chickens

Cornish Hens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Ewes

Lambs

Rams

Alpacas

Beefalo

Bison

Buffalo

Caribou

Deer

Emus

Goats

Guinea Pigs

Llamas

Mink

Mohair

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Reindeer

Water Buffalo

Beef Bottom Round

Beef Brisket

Beef Chuck Roast

Beef Eye Round

Beef Flank Steak

Beef Flat Iron Steak

Beef Heart

Beef Liver

Beef London Broil

Beef NY Strip Steak

Beef Oxtail

Beef Rib Steak

Beef Rump Roast

Beef Short Ribs

Beef Sirloin

Beef Sirloin Tip Roast

Beef Skirt Steak

Beef Soup Bones

Beef Stew Meat

Beef Tongue

Beef Top Round

Beef Whole Filet

Ground Beef

Broilers

Chicks

Fryers

Layers

Pullets

Roasters

Ducklings

Goslings

Poults

Toms

Ground Lamb

Lamb Chops

Lamb Heart

Lamb Leg

Lamb Liver

Lamb Shank

Lamb Shoulder

Lamb Stew Meat

Bison Calf

Bison Meat

Bucks

Nannies

Slaughter Goats

Farmers Market

Food Systems

Public Health

Compliance

Applicants must file an application for benefits at the FSA service center that maintains the farm records for their business. 

Applicants located in the insular areas of the Pacific Basin must file an application for benefits directly with the Hawaii State and Pacific Basin Office. Applicants in the insular areas of the Pacific Basin may submit completed RTCP documents to the following address during the announced enrollment period. 
Hawaii State and Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency Office 
P.O. Box 50065 
300 Ala Moana Blvd, Rm 5-108 
Honolulu, HI 
96850
Applications and other documents required for RTCP participation may be obtained by calling toll-free 1-866-794-1079.

The Consolidated Appropriation Act 2021 reauthorized the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to reimburse producers for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity. 



To be eligible for RTCP benefits, producers must:
- Be a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher producing, marketing and transporting an agricultural commodity in an approved area;
- Submit an application during the specified period applicable for each fiscal year; 
- Provide proof of the amount of costs incurred for the transportation of the agricultural commodity or input; 
- Comply with conservation and wetland protection requirements on all their land; 
- Be a person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross income that does not exceed $900,000; and 
- Be a citizen or a legal resident alien of the United States in accordance with 7 CFR Part 1400 for foreign persons.

- Fact Sheet
- Rules and Regulations (pdf)
- FY 2025 Transportation Cost Rate Table (Word)


Trade Relief

Marketing

RTCP payments will be: 
- Calculated based on the amount of costs incurred by the producer for transportation of the agricultural commodity or inputs during a fiscal year and multiplied by the applicable percentage of allowance (cost-of-living allowance or COLA) for the applicable fiscal year in the applicable area;
Example: A producer incurred transportation costs in Hawaii for fiscal year 2020 totaling $15,000. The fiscal year 2020 percentage of allowance in Maui County, Hawaii, is 25 percent. $15,000 x 25 percent = $3,750. 
- Subject to an $8,000 per producer cap per fiscal year; and 
- Subject to a payment factor if the funding availability is exceeded in a fiscal year.

Apply for this grant online at grants.gov. 

Registration on grants.gov is required and can take some time.

Tammi Neville

The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is&#x2004;to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.



The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.

Only previous Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I winners are eligible to apply for Phase II support through this RFA.

- Phase 2 RFA
- Technical and Business Assistance (TABA)
- SBIR Brochure
- SBIR Phase I Panel Review Instructions 
- SBIR Phase 2 Technical Proposal Review Instructions 
- SBIR Phase 2 Commercialization Review Instructions 
- Current Research Information System
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Capital Access
- SBA's Tech-Net
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/STTR)

Trials

Español

Women

SBIR Phase II grants are limited to $600,000 and duration of 24 months and are only open to previous Phase I awardees. SBIR program funds are allocated in proportion to the number of proposals received over 10 broad topic areas. Proposals are reviewed through a confidential peer review process using outside experts from nonprofit organizations. All applicants receive verbatim copies of reviews.

Kristin Irvin

New England Program Coordinator

**The Brighter Future Fund’s New England Regenerative Livestock Farming** **Grants** (formerly the Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grant) provide funds to livestock farmers in select counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut for the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. The funds are intended to support field-based conservation practice projects that improve soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat. Applicants can request **up&#x2004;to $10,000** under this funding opportunity. This grant will only fund existing livestock operations and is not able to fund start-up livestock operations. Applicants must be raising livestock products for their community for sale or for barter/exchange.The Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming funding opportunity provides grants to livestock producers [in select counties in CT, MA, NH, and VT](https://farmland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NEFMP-Priority-Regen-Ag-County-List-2023.pdf) for projects that improve soil health through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. 

Applicants can request up to $10,000 under this funding opportunity. 



The Brighter Future Fund’s New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grants (formerly the Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grant) provide funds to livestock farmers in select counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut for the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. The funds are intended to support field-based conservation practice projects that improve soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat. Applicants can request up to $10,000 under this funding opportunity. This grant will only fund existing livestock operations and is not able to fund start-up livestock operations. Applicants must be raising livestock products for their community for sale or for barter/exchange.The Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming funding opportunity provides grants to livestock producers in select counties in CT, MA, NH, and VT for projects that improve soil health through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. 
Applicants can request up to $10,000 under this funding opportunity. 

- Livestock farmers in these counties seeking to implement practices for improved soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat. Please consult the grant guidelines for more eligibility information. See the bottom of this page for Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, and Vietnamese translations of microgrant eligibility.

- Guidelines Document
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Documento de Directrices
- New England Resource Directory For Farmers
- NEFMP Homepage

Conservation

Education

Grants are reimbursement-based
This program issues payment to awardees as a reimbursement. If awarded, grantees will only receive payment after submitting proof of purchase/payment for services. AFT can also pay vendors directly for approved items/services on behalf of the grantee upon receipt of invoice from the vendor. 
Through AFT's partnership with Farm Credit East’s FarmStart program, NEFMP awardees who face challenges in pre-paying for grant-supported projects may be eligible to receive a low-interest advance. Reach out to AFT staff for more information. 
Grantees have one year to implement their projects from the date of award.

All applicants must complete the First Nations’ ONLINE application via AirTable, including submission of necessary attachments by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, no later than 5 pm Mountain Time. 
Application Requirements:
Applicant Information: The online application will ask applicants to provide their contact information, demographic information, tribal employer information, and additional information regarding the applicant’s experience in natural resources and vision for the cohort period. The online application also requires that applicants upload attachments throughout the online submission process.
Questions/Short Response: In the application, applicants will be asked to respond to two short questions. These questions are designed to yield more insight into applicants’ experience in natural resources and vision for the cohort period.
- Statement of Community Impact: In 200 words or less, please share more about your professional background as it relates to natural resources management and/or environmental programming. Please make sure to address 1.) how you actively engage in natural resources or the environment, 2.) how you actively engage with the tribal community where you work, and 3.) how your work currently supports Native people and communities.
- Vision for Cohort Period: In 200 words or less, please describe your personal and/or professional goals related to tribal natural resources and/or environmental programming. Please explain how the Young Natural Resources Professional Cohort will advance your goals. Please make sure to address 1.) the goals you hope to achieve during the cohort, 2.) what you want to learn during the cohort.
Attachments:
- One (1) Letter of Recommendation: Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation from an individual in the tribal natural resources or environmental department who supervises the applicants work. The individual should speak on the applicant’s role in the department, experience working with and supporting the tribal community, and acknowledge that the department will support the applicant’s participation in the 12-month cohort. This attachment must be uploaded as a .pdf or Word file.
All applicants will receive confirmation of submission after completing the application form via AirTable. Please check your junk or spam folder should this email not arrive in your inbox, and reach out to Wolf Star Duran (wsduran@firstnations.org) and Darrick Silversmith (dsilversmith@firstnations.org).
Important Note: Please allow yourself enough time to submit a complete application before the deadline, as the online system will shut down automatically at 5 pm MT on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, and no data may be entered thereafter. Partial, faxed, emailed or mailed applications that are not received on time due to user error will not be considered. Any requests for exemptions to the online system must be received no later than two weeks before the deadline.
Begin your Online Application here.

First Nations

First Nations’ Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort (“cohort”) is a 12-month enrichment opportunity, designed to support the knowledge and networks of young natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. The goal of the cohort is to support and convene 15 early-career natural resource professionals who are employed by Tribes in the Northern Great&#x2004;Plains. Members of the cohort will develop professional, leadership, and technical skills, and learn how to employ tribal and community conservation priorities.

By the end of the cohort, participants will 1.) gain a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices that improve and conserve tribal lands, 2.) receive specialized training to manage projects, and 3.) be able to communicate the importance of upholding tribal sovereignty, cultural grounding, and connection to ancestral lands in resource management.

Members of the cohort have access to the following:

- A $5,000 stipend to hosting Tribe

- Travel support for professional development

- A $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project

- Participation in a supportive network comprised of other young professionals in your region.

- Mentorship in project planning, management, reporting, and much more!

During the cohort, participants are required to participate in virtual webinars, fieldwork, and regional in-person trainings, and attend First Nations’ Leadership & Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Development (L.E.A.D) Conference and organized networking events with other young natural resource professionals. Applicants will also be required to submit one formal report at the end of the cohort.



First Nations’ Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort (“cohort”) is a 12-month enrichment opportunity, designed to support the knowledge and networks of young natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. The goal of the cohort is to support and convene 15 early-career natural resource professionals who are employed by Tribes in the Northern Great Plains. Members of the cohort will develop professional, leadership, and technical skills, and learn how to employ tribal and community conservation priorities.
By the end of the cohort, participants will 1.) gain a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices that improve and conserve tribal lands, 2.) receive specialized training to manage projects, and 3.) be able to communicate the importance of upholding tribal sovereignty, cultural grounding, and connection to ancestral lands in resource management.
Members of the cohort have access to the following:
- A $5,000 stipend to hosting Tribe
- Travel support for professional development
- A $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project
- Participation in a supportive network comprised of other young professionals in your region.
- Mentorship in project planning, management, reporting, and much more!
During the cohort, participants are required to participate in virtual webinars, fieldwork, and regional in-person trainings, and attend First Nations’ Leadership & Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Development (L.E.A.D) Conference and organized networking events with other young natural resource professionals. Applicants will also be required to submit one formal report at the end of the cohort.

Eligible applicants must be early-career tribally-affiliated natural resource professionals that are employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains (Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming).
Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:
- Applicants must be tribally-affiliated with a Native American community.
- Applicants must be employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains.
- Applicants must be between the age of 18-30 years old.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.


Cohort Award
Selected early-career young tribal natural resource professionals will receive a stipend of $5,000 over the course of 12-months. The stipend will be sent directly to the hosting tribal natural resources department in two payments. The stipend is intended to support the participation of selected early-career young natural resource professionals in the cohort activities.
A grant up to $50,000 will be awarded to the Tribe, where the 15 selected early-career Native natural resource professionals will be hosted. The grant award will be sent directly to the hosting tribal natural resources and/or environmental department. The intent of the grant award is to provide the young natural resource professionals with the opportunity to lead a new project further developing their grants management skills and community engagement strategies.
Submission Deadline
Applications are due FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, no later than 5 pm Mountain Time.
First Nations recognizes that some of our most rural and remote applicants may have limited access to internet and unable to submit an online application. An exception to an online application may be requested by September 5.
For application assistance email please contact Wolf Star Duran (wsduran@firstnations.org) and Darrick Silversmith (dsilversmith@firstnations.org). Please include your name, tribal natural resource and/or environmental department, and the best phone number to reach you.
Unfortunately, First Nations cannot make any emergency exceptions to application deadlines. Partial applications, incomplete applications due to user error, or faxed/emailed/mailed applications will not be considered unless they have received prior approval.

List of Agricultural Funding with Applications Closing Soon