Whole Story

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At Whole Kids Foundation® we believe that something as small as a seed can ignite a child’s curiosity for fresh food for a lifetime. This is the power of school gardens!

To date, we have granted $6 million to more than 3,000 educational edible gardens across the United States and Canada…and that number continues to grow!

If you’re involved in a school or non-profit organization that supports children in grades K-12 and would like funds for a brand new garden or the continuation of an already existing one, Whole Kids Foundation welcomes you to apply for a 2016 School Garden Grant or Extended Learning Garden Grant.

The online applications are available in the United States from September 1^st-October 31^st and in Canada from September 1^st-November 15^th.

Grant details are available on our School Garden Grant page or Extended Learning Garden Grant page (for non-profit organizations). You can get started with a copy of the application, tools to support you including grant writing tips a School Garden Resource Center that helps you navigate the ins and outs of championing and maintaining a school (or non-profit’s) edible garden.

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We support all types of gardens from brand new to years old, from urban vertical gardens to rural gardens that more closely resemble a farm. In addition to our eligibility requirements these are some of the main factors we look for in grant applicants.

• A thought out vision and plan for the garden to connect children to fresh, healthy food. Lessons on how to prepare these foods are an additional benefit.
• The support of your leadership, including principal or executive director
• A plan for maintaining your garden, with volunteers and through ongoing funding.
• ntegration into the children’s curriculum or learning plan, as well as integration with their community of parents, teachers and neighbors.
• At least one main “garden champion”, or a group of champions who coordinate the garden. A garden champion should have gardening experience or a plan to gain these skills.
• Involvement of at least one main community partner, such as : a local business, organization or gardening group that supports your school garden in some fashion, such as with in-kind donations, garden expertise, or volunteers.

Grant applications are reviewed through a partnership with FoodCorps. They implement these types of educational gardens and understand what it takes to keep them growing! We will then make selections and notify all applicants in February.

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We look forward to supporting your efforts to grow healthy kids! For any questions at all, email gardens@wholekidsfoundation.org.

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Here’s to growing healthy kids who love fresh food!