The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District offers a Grant Writing 101 tutorial by appointment. Please contact the HCSWCD by email at soil.water@hamiltoncounty.in.gov or by calling (317) 773-2181.
Relevant Grants for Community Gardens
The HCSWCD maintains a running list of grants that are relevant for community gardens. Click the link below to open the most recently updated file.
Some community gardens may not fit the typical mold of a non-profit organization which has significant benefits when applying for grants. Other gardens formed or managed by informal association of hobbyiests or concerned citizens or an HOA, for example, find it more challenging to obtain funding through traditional means. Below are some other avenues to consider:
Partnering with Local Non-profit It is common for other business corporations, like an HOA, to partner with an existing 501(c)3 non-profit organization in which that organization serves as the fiscal sponsor for a grant.
Partnering with a local food pantry, for example, could be a win-win both for the food pantry and your garden if you choose to donate your produce.
Crowd Funding Crowd funding, or, developing an online campaign to raise support, is popular. There are a number of websites that offer crowd-funding platforms. Here are just a few that are relevant to community gardens
