2023 Lots of Compassion Grant Application

2023 Lots of Compassion Grant Application

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and KidsGardening share a belief that the garden has the power to do more than grow flowers and herbs, it can grow people, communities, and even kindness, too. Together, we’re announcing our new Lots of Compassion grant program, designed to support local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens to help grow compassion in their community. In 2023, up to 10 grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded annually.
Para aplicar en español, haga clic en el botón "English (US)" y cámbielo a "Español".

The deadline for application submission is Friday, June 2, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT.

Winners will be announced and contacted by email by July 31, 2023. A list of winners will also be posted on KidsGardening.org/grant-winners on that date. Awards will be distributed in August 2023.

Nonprofit organizations, school districts, universities, groups, religious organizations, or other tax-exempt organizations in the United States and US Territories are eligible to apply. Applicants must use the funds to build a garden on a vacant lot.

Municipalities, like city, state, or federal government, and politically funded organizations are not eligible to apply.

Applicants must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, fiscal sponsorship, or qualify as tax-exempt.

For full details and eligibility information, visit our website at https://kidsgardening.org/grant-opportunities/lots-of-compassion-grant-23/. Upon submitting an application, you will also be added to the KidsGardening email list to receive future communications about this grant and other funding opportunities.

Questions? Refer to the Frequently Asked Question section on the grant landing page.

Please contact KidsGardening Program Director Sarah Lane at sarahl@kidsgardening.org with any additional questions.

Contact Information

Section 1 of 4
Grant Applicant Name*

First NameLast Name
Grant Applicant Job Title*
Grant Applicant Email*
Note: This is the email address that will receive all grant communications moving forward.
Confirm Grant Applicant Email*
example@example.com
Email communication*

I understand that by applying for the Lots of Compassion Grant, my email will be shared with KidsGardening for communication about this grant and other related opportunities.
Grant Applicant Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Organization Name*
Organization Tax ID #*
Enter numbers only, do not include hyphens. Note: All organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status or be otherwise tax-exempt to be considered for support. If your organization has not achieved 501(c)(3) or tax-exempt status, you may apply for a Lots of Compassion Grant by partnering with a fiscal sponsor who has achieved this status.
Vacant Lot Garden Name:*
Vacant Lot Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Territory

Zip Code

Program Background Information

Section 2 of 4
Has your program received a grant from KidsGardening before?*

YesNoUnknown
Which grant(s) and what year(s)?
Which of the following best describes your organization or group?*

Nonprofit organizationSchool (Public, Private, Charter, Head Start, Child Care, etc.)UniversityReligious OrganizationGroupOther
What is your organization or group’s mission? (300 characters)*
What funding and grants have your organization or group received within the last two years? List the funding organization, amount, and year the funding was received. (300 characters)*
Who will lead your garden installation and future garden programming? Please list their names, roles, and affiliations. (300 characters)*

What is the total square footage of your lot?*
Enter numbers only.
What is the square footage of your planned garden space?*
Enter numbers only.
How many months of the year will the garden be used (activities, classes, meetings, programming, etc.)?*
Enter numbers only.

	Number of Direct Participants
Youth (Ages 0 - 18)
Adults (18+)

	Demographics %
African American or Black People %
Asian or Asian American People %
Hispanic, Latine/LatinX, or Spanish Origin People %
Middle Eastern or North African People %
Native American or Alaska Native People %
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander People %
Biracial or Multiracial %
White %
Migrant Worker Families %
Refugee Families %
Undocumented Families %
People who Speak Multiple Languages %
Justice-involved People %
LGBTQ+ People %
People Experiencing Homelessness %
People with Disabilities %

	Food Insecurity %
Nearby School’s Free and Reduced Lunch Rate %
Low-Income/Poverty %

Garden Description

Section 3 of 4
In this section, we want to learn more about your organization’s interest in transforming vacant lots into gardens for community growth. You can submit responses of 1,000 characters maximum per question.
1. Why would your organization like to transform a vacant lot into a garden? (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
2. What needs, gaps, or challenges does your community experience that this grant will help address? e.g., financial challenges, environmental issues, safety concerns, health challenges, lack of community support, or regulatory hurdles. (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
3. What does the vacant lot look like? Please describe the landscape. e.g., water access, sunlight, soil type, nearby buildings, walkways, etc. (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
4. What will your proposed garden include? Describe the garden growing spaces and features. e.g., raised beds/in-ground, learning spaces, structures, types of plants, etc. (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
5. How and when will the garden be built? Please list your anticipated work plan activities for September 2023 - June 2024. (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
6. How will your garden help to grow compassion in your community? (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
How will you use the grant funds? Provide a detailed itemized budget for utilizing the $20,000 funding. How will you secure additional funds if your project requires more funding? (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
8. How will the community support your garden? e.g., volunteers, donations, partnerships, etc. (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
9. What is the maintenance plan for your garden in the fall, winter, spring, and summer? (1,000 characters)*

0/1000
10. How will you sustain your initiative over time? (1,000 characters)*

0/1000

Attachments

Section 4 of 4
Verification Document (Required). Please attach a document verifying your organization’s tax-exempt status. For 501(c)(3) Organizations: IRS Determination Letter or proof of fiscal sponsorship. For Schools: A letter on school district letterhead, signed by a school district official, stating that the school in question falls under the jurisdiction of the school district. For Other Tax-Exempt Organizations: For other tax-exempt organizations such as religious organizations, please provide a letter on official letterhead stating that you are designated as an automatically tax-exempt organization and thus exempt from needing a 501(c)(3) documentation to claim nonprofit status with the US government. Fiscal Sponsorship: Submit your sponsor's IRS Determination Letter and a signed contract detailing the fiscal sponsorship relationship between your organizations.

If you are having trouble uploading your document, you may email it to grants@kidsgardening.org.
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Survey or Scale Map of the Vacant Lot (Required). Please attach a survey or scale map of the vacant lot. If you do not currently have this information, search for the address of your lot on Google Earth (https://earth.google.com/web/), Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps), or request the digital land records or parcel map information from your city. This is often available on your city’s website.

If you are having trouble uploading your document, you may email it to grants@kidsgardening.org
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Proof of Vacant Land Use Rights / Ownership (Required). Attach a letter of commitment from the land owner or proof of land ownership. Examples of proof of land ownership include but are not limited to, a land deed, tax bill, etc.

If you are having trouble uploading your document, you may email it to grants@kidsgardening.org
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Photos or Videos (Required). Please attach 3-5 photos or videos of the proposed garden site or provide a link to the files below.

Note: .heic files are not supported. If you are having trouble uploading your photos, you may email them to grants@kidsgardening.org.
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Photo or Video URL
Example platforms include: Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Google Drive, Dropbox, Vimeo, etc.
Letters of Support (Optional). Attach a one-page letter of support for your project written by a community partner or another organization involved in the project demonstrating their support for your program.

If you are having trouble uploading your photos, you may email them to grants@kidsgardening.org.
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Newsletter*

By applying for this grant, I agree to receive communications from KidsGardening.

Grant Applicant Demographic Information (Optional)

We are collecting demographic information as part of an effort to ensure our grant application process is equitable. Answers will not play a role in the grant application evaluation, nor influence winner selection.
I identify as... (Select all that apply)

African American or BlackAsian or Asian AmericanHispanic, Latine/LatinX, or Spanish OriginMiddle Eastern or North AfricanNative American or Alaska NativeNative Hawaiian or Pacific IslanderWhitePrefer not to answerOther
Should be Empty:

2023 Lots of Compassion Grant Application

Eligibility Questions

Contact Information

Program Background Information

Garden Description

Attachments

Grant Applicant Demographic Information (Optional)