School Garden Grants
Kids who grow veggies, eat veggies, so school gardens can make a big difference.
Through our Garden Grant program, schools turn outdoor spaces into powerful hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity and support classroom curriculum.
Type: Monetary Grant
Eligibility: K–12 Schools in U.S./Canada
Grant Value: $3,500*
About the Grant
We know that the more kids know and feel connected to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces!
Our Garden Grant program provides a $3,500 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at a K–12 School in the U.S. or Canada. If grant applications are closed, don’t worry! This grant reopens annually in late winter and disbursements are sent to grantees the following fall.
We are grateful that Newman's Own Foundation is joining us for this year’s grant opportunity to support schools that are using their gardens to nourish and transform the lives of children facing adversity.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this grant, the school must meet the below criteria:
Garden must be located at a charter or public school including tribally controlled and Bureau of Indian Education schools or a non-profit private school
Support organizations working with multiple school gardens should apply separately for each school site.
Engage at least 10 K-12 children regularly in garden programming
We prioritize awarding applicants who serve a majority of students who are under-resourced. We trust applicants to make that decision for themselves and then give applicants an opportunity to explain or give context to how they do within the application—even if that’s just within the context of the garden grant program. As such, your context could apply to the specific students you serve, low support of the garden, the nutrition landscape of your community (high rates of chronic disease / food desert), etc.
Be growing edible plants in your garden
Eligible to re-apply for a second grant if your previous funds were received in 2024 or earlier. Completion of Progress Report on previous grant required to apply again.
Be located in the United States (including US controlled territories) or Canada
*Recipients can only receive a total of two Garden Grants.
To Prepare
You can find a copy of the 2026 Garden Grant application here along with a new eligibility flowchart here.
All final applications MUST be submitted online via SmartSimple but we share the application PDF as a way for you to prepare and get started! Make sure to check out our SmartSimple tutorial video for a quick how-to for using the application software.
Application Window
February 1st, 2026: Application Opens
March 15th, 2026: Application Closes
August 1st, 2026: Notification of All Applicants
September – November 2026: Grant Package Shipping
E.M. Stanton Elementary School | Philadelphia, PA
2026 Webinars
Watch the recordings of our recent webinars for details on the process, the application and our online grant portal.
Overview Webinar
This webinar provides an overview of the Foundation’s School Garden Grant.
Q&A Webinar
This webinar covers frequently asked questions about the Garden Grant, then opening up to audience questions.
Questions?
Check out our Garden Grant FAQs for basic information about the program and how to apply. Or, email us at grants@wholekidsfoundation.org with additional questions.
*Due to the high number of grant inquiries we receive during the application window, please know we are working diligently to reply as quickly as possible but may take a bit longer to respond. Ensure you allow enough time to receive a response, continue work on your application, and submit on time!
Old Rucker Farm | Alpharetta, GA
The Application Window is Closed
Larchmont Elementary | Garden Grant Recipient