How are community gardens financially supported?
Community gardens don't take a lot of capital to become sustainable. With a little creativity and a well-planned budget, community gardens can gather the resources they need for a successful gardening season. The garden can be as big or as small as the gardeners want it. Having some financial support can help if you're going to improve the garden or want to have the funds to get the gardeners started every year. There are many different ways to get funds or funding for your garden.
Grants
There are many grants available for garden and greening projects. Local grants are a good way to support community projects. The grants that your garden can apply to will vary depending on the type of garden you have. For example, there are grants meant for youth gardens or school gardens. If your garden is not a school garden or there is no youth involved in your garden project, it would not be a good idea to apply to these grants.
Grants have certain criteria that need to be met to apply and may require a fiscal sponsor if your garden is not a 501c(3) nonprofit. TNP has served as the fiscal sponsor for several community garden projects. If this is something you are interested in, please let us know, and we can assist you further.
Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership offers a free grant review process for community garden projects operating in Warren, Ohio, or surrounding areas. Once you have completed a draft of your application, schedule an appointment for TNP to review and provide feedback about your application.
Other Resources and Opportunities
Healthy Community Partnership Grants Database - This is a database of grants that support projects to build a healthy community.
Supports grassroots groups with the most promising projects to expand meaningful resident participation and leadership
Encourage communication and collaboration among residents and organizations
Build on the financial, human, and material resources that exist in the community
Enhance neighborhoods - physically, socially, or economically
Grants of $500 to $5,000 match required
Mini-grants, up to $500 annually, to further neighborhood revitalization. They were Established to provide established neighborhood groups and associations in Trumbull County a source of funding to revitalize our community neighborhoods and restricted to the purchase of goods or services for projects which will bring about neighborhood improvements. Wages and administrative costs are not allowable expenses.
Various TNP Grant Programs and Supply Requests
At times, TNP will award Community Garden Projects in the city funding through various equipment request applications, scholarships, and mini-grants. Please email Sevasti at sevasti@tnpwarren.org to be added to the list of community leaders notified as these opportunities are made available.
Fiskars Project Orange Thumb
Provides tools and resources to help communities reach their goals for collaboration, neighborhood beautification, and healthy, sustainable food sources
Application is open to nonprofit organizations in North America late in the year
The application will be available online winter of each year.
Grant recipients are announced in the spring of the following year.
Scotts has funded 831 community gardens and counting.
Provides up to $1,500 for gardening and green spaces
Fundraising
Traditional fundraising that is used for many other nonprofit projects can also be used for community gardens. These fundraising opportunities give the garden a chance to earn money for projects and tell the garden's story to the community. Some examples are listed below.
Yard Sale
This event is a great opportunity to raise money for the garden and help your fellow neighbors clear their homes of clutter. Pick a location with easy access for parking. You may want to have donations dropped off at that same site. Make sure to file any required permits with the Warren City Health Department and other required entities.
Plant Sale
If your garden has space, you can start plants to sell to the community. Make sure to consult any local regulations on which plants you can and can't sell. Typically, most annuals are permitted for sale without any additional licensing.
Direct Donations and Gifts
These can come from individuals, businesses, governments, other nonprofits, and corporations. Many organizations and businesses provide donations, but the project leader will typically seek out those opportunities through local networks.
Event Fundraising
This type of fundraising typically involves some starting capital. Carnivals, parties, dinners, etc. These can also bring additional value in raising public awareness of your program, adds fun, and often gains volunteers. Hosting events can be complicated; having an event checklist to follow helps keep everyone on track and organized.
Everyone in the community has a resource to provide. Neighbors, churches, and community groups all have resources that can be utilized. These groups bring a range of creative approaches, successful strategies, and skill sets that can be valuable tools for others doing similar resident led work. A place to start is The Raymond John Wean Foundation's Community Resource Portal. The portal will serve as a connection point for neighborhood groups in the Valley to become informed about and work with one another, leverage existing human and material resources, and allow groups to communicate and collaborate effectively. Neighborhood groups may utilize the portal to :
Share helpful ideas, strategies and contacts with other groups
Maintain a web presence to which members can direct funders, stakeholders and volunteers
Locate essential resources and develop meaningful partnerships
Share and leverage Neighborhood SUCCESS grant practices and resources