Deadline: November 1, 2008
The National Gardening Association has announced that The Home Depot will return as the Youth Garden Grants sponsor for 2009. NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of the following elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning.
Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups in the United States are eligible. Applicants must plan to garden with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so but must wait a year (e.g., if an organization won in 2008, it can apply again in 2010) and have significantly expanded their garden programs.
For the 2009 grant cycle, 125 grants are available. Packages are as follows: five programs will receive gift cards valued at $1,000 (a $500 gift card to Home Depot and a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog and store) and educational materials from NGA; seventy programs will receive a $500 gift card to Home Depot and educational materials from NGA; and fifty programs will receive a $250 gift card to Home Depot and educational materials from NGA. Each award package also includes twelve months of NGA Supporter benefits.
Related Resources:
NGA Kids Gardening
National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grants Program