Community Foundation Announces New Grant Program for Agricultural Education
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Nonprofit educational institutions and organizations in West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri are invited to apply for project funding to advance education and innovation in the field of production agriculture. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded through a new Community Foundation program, “AgForward,” which is made possible by the Bob W. Richter Endowment for Agricultural Education and the Compeer Financial Rural Collaboration Project.
Grants from the program will promote and benefit education relating to production agriculture at any educational level – youth through adults – throughout the Community Foundation’s service area.
“Agriculture is the heart of our region, and we are proud to invest in the future of farming through the AgForward program,” said Catherine Bocke Meckes, Community Foundation CEO. “We are incredibly grateful to the late Mr. Richter’s foresight in planning a gift to create an endowment that will sustain these grants for generations to come, ensuring that agriculture in our communities continues to grow.”
In addition, grants will be supported through funding from Compeer Financial’s Rural Collaboration Program, an initiative designed to bolster rural vitality across the Midwest. The Community Foundation is one of 13 community foundations that received funding to support active, strong rural communities capable of supporting thriving economies.
“When our communities are strong, our future is bright. This program will fuel innovation that will not only grow local agriculture, but local leaders. We thank Compeer Financial for their investment in the future of our region,” said Meckes.
Through the AgForward grant program, the Community Foundation encourages grant applications that will:
ν Advance the field of production agriculture in the Community Foundation’s 12-county service area;
ν Encourage or inspire agricultural careers and/or develop a skilled agricultural workforce;
ν Develop and train individuals in technologies and techniques that will enable agriculture to be more productive, efficient, and safe.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit educational institutions, primary through post-secondary, and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations located in Adams, Brown, Hancock, or Pike Counties (IL) and Clark, Lewis, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, Shelby, or Pike Counties (MO).
Applications will be accepted April 1 – May 15 and grants will be awarded by June 30.
Grantseekers are encouraged to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) prior to applying. The RFP and online application are available at www.mycommunityfoundation.org/grants.
The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri is an endowment builder, community connector, and grant maker. Together with its donors, the Community Foundation improves the quality of life in the communities it serves by growing permanent charitable resources and fostering collaborative philanthropy.
Since its founding in 1997, the Community Foundation has distributed more than $20 million in grants from 250 funds to advance arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, and human services.
For more information, call 217-222-1237, email [email protected] or go to mycommunityfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.