Big News for Pollinators: 160 Bee Grants Awarded in 2026
Pollinator populations are declining at an alarming rate — yet one in every three bites of food we eat depends on their survival. This is why, for over a decade, our Bee Grant program has been putting educational beehives directly into the hands of the next generation of environmental stewards. And this year, we're reaching more schools than ever before.
A Record-Breaking Year for Pollinator Education
In partnership with The Bee Cause Project, we have awarded 160 Bee Grants to schools and nonprofit organizations across the United States and Canada — our largest class of grantees yet. Students and educators will welcome tens of thousands of honeybees to their campuses this spring, transforming classrooms, schoolyards, and community gardens into vibrant, hands-on learning environments dedicated to pollinator education and conservation.
This milestone builds on a decade of compounding impact. Since the program's inception, Whole Foods Market Foundation has partnered with The Bee Cause Project to award more than 1,200 educational beehives, investing over $2.1 million and reaching 1.4 million students with meaningful pollinator programming. Every hive tells a story — about where our food comes from, why biodiversity matters, and how even the smallest creatures play a critical role in keeping our ecosystems thriving.
“Over the past decade, we've watched this collaborative program transform the way young people think about food, nature, and their role in protecting the world around them. Reaching more than 160 schools this year is a testament to the educators and communities who make this work come alive — and we’re just getting started.”
— Daniel Zoltani, Executive Director, Whole Foods Market Foundation
Growing Impact Through Renewal Grants
New hives are just the beginning. This year, we’re also continuing to support 49 returning organizations through our Renewal Grant program. These dedicated schools and nonprofits have demonstrated a deep commitment to pollinator education and are receiving funding for equipment and educational materials to take their programs further. Protecting pollinators isn’t a one-time effort. It’s a long-term commitment, and we believe in standing alongside the educators and communities doing this critical work year after year.
It Takes a Hive
None of this would be possible without the incredible collaboration of our partners. The Bee Cause Project continues to be an indispensable partner, sourcing hives, training educators, and providing ongoing technical support to ensure every school is set up for success. Savannah Bee Company has provided steadfast financial and programmatic support for this shared mission since the program's earliest days. Dedicated delivery teams ensure every single shipment of live honeybees arrive safely to schools across two countries. When you're transporting thousands of living creatures, every detail matters. Their collective commitment is what transforms a grant application into a living, buzzing classroom.
Why This Work is More Urgent Than Ever
Pollinator populations are under pressure from habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change. Yet pollinators remain essential to the health of ecosystems everywhere. By investing in the next generation of environmental stewards, we're planting seeds, so people understand, value, and protect the natural systems that sustain us all.
When a student opens a hive for the first time, watches bees communicate through their waggle dance, or tastes honey they helped harvest — that's a moment that changes how they see the world. These are the future scientists, policymakers, farmers, and community leaders who will decide how we protect the systems that sustain us. By investing in them now, we're building the foundation for a future where pollinator conservation isn't an afterthought, but instinct.