Request for Applications: Fund-a-Farmer Grants (US)

Their Fund-a-Farmer grants are very competitive (around 12% of completed applications are funded) as such each farm or individual will be awarded a grant once every 3 years.

If you or your farm received a Fund-a-Farmer grant in 2023 or 2024 you are not eligible for an Animal Welfare Improvement grant this year (there is a mandatory 2 year gap between funding for the Animal Welfare Improvement Grants) you are, however, eligible to apply for a Systems & Innovation Grant if your project fulfills the criteria.

Categories

• They have two different Fund-a-Farmer grant opportunities this season:
  • Fund-a-Farmer Welfare Improvement Grants: FACT will fund grants for one of the following project types:
    • For farms looking to:
      • Improve the lives of their farm animals. Projects could include:
        • Transition to pasture-based systems
        • Expand animals’ access to well-managed pasture
        • Improve the living conditions of their food animals
        • Farmers do not need to hold or be seeking certification.
      • Grants for farmers pursuing animal welfare certification to one of these certifying agencies:
        • Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and affiliated certifications by A Greener World
        • Certified Humane
        • Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Certified (steps 4 to 5+)
      • Grants for animal welfare certified farmers. Projects could include:
        • Maintain any of the following certifications:
          • Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and affiliated certifications by A Greener World
          • Certified Humane
          • Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Certified (steps 4 to 5+)
        • Projects related to the marketing, sales, and distribution of welfare-certified products.
        • Expand animals’ access to well-managed pasture
        • Improve the living conditions of their food animals
  • Fund-a-Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant: FACT will fund one grant for one of the following project types:
    • Farms looking to:
      • Develop business plans/feasibility studies for significant changes to an operation including conversion to pasture or adoption of alternative breeds
        • For example: A feasibility study to see if a farm can move from an enclosed operation to a pasture-based one
      • Install the infrastructure necessary to convert from non-pasture to pasture-based operation.
        • For example: Hogs raised in open hoop houses, closed barns or with little or no access to pasture being moved to a pasture-based system
      • Adoption of alternative breeds including sourcing genetics; housing accommodations; feed changes; marketing
        • For example: Farms who would like to switch from conventional breeds of poultry to higher welfare slower growing or heritage breeds
      • Develop Co-operative or other forms of shared marketing among pasture-based farms including the development of cooperative agreements and necessary documents
        • For farms interested in developing a cooperative market for pasture-based products.

Funding Information

• Fund-a-Farmer Welfare Improvement Grants: up to $3,000 each
• One Fund-a-Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant: up to $10,000.

Eligibility Criteria 

• FACT encourages projects from pasture-based farms interested in the adoption of alternative breeds or developing co-operatives with other pasture-based farmers and confinement operations looking to convert to pasture-based systems.
• If you or your farm received a Fund-a-Farmer grant in 2023 or 2024 you are not eligible for an Animal Welfare Improvement grant this year (there is a mandatory 2 year gap between funding for the Animal Welfare Improvement Grants).

For more information, visit FACT.