The EARN Grant Opportunity
EARN offers a limited number of grants to organizations to support their restoration agriculture journey. The EARN grant supports two staff members to attend our 10-day Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) course at the Mainsprings Kitongo campus in Tanzania in July; a site visit by an EARN trainer to help with installation of an initial demonstration plot; and a seed grant of $3,000 the first year and subsequent growth grants of $5,000 for the next four years.
Organizations that are chosen to participate in the EARN grant opportunity will be asked to send two staff members to the PDC training on Mainsprings’ Kitongo campus. A travel allowance to Mwanza and the PDC Course Fees will be covered by the grant. Upon completion of the course, the organization will receive a seed grant to implement the permaculture techniques learned on their own land, with design assistance and consulting provided by EARN trainers.
This seed grant can cover implementation needs such as installing key lines, trees, seeds, basic farm equipment, and improved access to water. Money acquired from the seed grant may not be used to purchase new land. Both grantees and grantors will mutually agree upon a specific budget for the seed grant. Grantees will agree to be a part of EARN’s growing network, staying in touch with EARN staff and fellow PDC graduates virtually, and will be responsible for bi-annual picture updates of their permaculture farms and a yearly, basic grant reporting requirements.
In order to be eligible for this grant, organizations must own or have long-term access to a parcel of land suitable for agricultural purposes and a need for improved farming practices within their organization or be able to articulate why they are wanting to include permaculture practices within their organization in another way.
Organizations chosen as grantees that successfully complete the PDC Course and implement a Permaculture project on their land the first year will be eligible for successive growth grants for four more years. Each successive growth grant can be up to $5,000 USD per year, with a maximum grant allowance of $23,000 USD over five years, plus the free PDC training and travel to Mwanza, Tanzania for the initial training.
Grant Process & Eligibility
Process:
- This Grant is designed to help support organizations who want to implement restoration agriculture into their programs. EARN will only support organizations with an annual operating budget of $25,000- $500,000 USD.
- Applicants must complete the grant application and submit it by March 8th, 2024. Finalists may be asked to do a Zoom or WhatsApp interview. All applicants will be informed of their grant status no later than April 1st, 2024 and must be willing to send at least two staff members to the Permaculture Design Certification course at Mainsprings’ campus from July 22nd-31st, 2024 (actual course dates, not including travel days).
- Deadline: Friday, March 8th, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST(US).
- If you need any assistance with this online application or have any questions, please reach out.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be an East African Organization (operating in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda or Malawi)
- Must be a registered NGO or CBO or Non-profit Entity
- Must have an annual operating budget between $25,000 – $500,000
- Must have the ability to send 2 staff members (with English proficiency) to the Mainsprings Campus in Kitongo-Mwanza, Tanzania, to the PDC Course in July
- Must have a designated staff member devoted to agriculture programs within the organization
- Must have the organizational capacity to complete all the required reports within 12 months of the grant disbursement.
- Must submit the required financial documents in this application