https://www.skyhighfarm.org/grants

Sky High will award  $350,000 in grants (total) to individuals working in agriculture, food justice, and/or land sovereignty. The average proposal funded in 2025 was $11,000 with grants ranging from $1500 up to $30,000. Grant proposals should match the scope and capacity of the amount requested. Applicants who requested funding 2025 and did not receive a grant may resubmit applications for consideration.

WHO: Individuals or organizations working in agriculture, food justice, and/or land sovereignty. Applications will be prioritized among those who identify as: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, & AAPI, and other intersectional identities, including people who have recently immigrated, coming from or working in historically marginalized communities, or more generally, communities historically exploited and harmed by the existing industrial agricultural and banking systems. You do not need to be a 501c3 to apply or receive funding.

WHEN: The application will be open from December 1, 2025-January 20, 2026

HOW: Funding decisions will be made by an independent committee of farmers, food justice activists and key stakeholders working to create a more equitable food system.

TO APPLY: We have changed our application process! You may select to apply during the Emergency Grant Cycle (limited to up to $2000) or the Main Grant Cycle (you can apply for any amount but average grant award is $11,000). You can only apply in one cycle. Complete this Google form.

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/agri-beginning-farmer-farm-business-management-scholarships

MN Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Farm Business Management Scholarship program provides scholarships to eligible farmers in Minnesota to learn business management strategies that will lead to profitable and satisfying farming operations.

What is Farm Business Management?

Minnesota State Farm Business Management (FBM) is available through seven Minnesota State College and Universities. FBM instructors work one-on-one with farmer students to design a program that best meets their business and personal goals. Focus is on using quality records and sound business decisions using tools such as the FINBIN Farm Financial Database and the AgPlan Business Planning Program.

How does the program work?

We offer grants to the Minnesota State affiliated Foundations, who work with their respective colleges to award the scholarships to students.

FBM faculty and the Dean of the college review the applications and determine scholarship recipients.

Each scholarship pays up to 50 percent of tuition for up to 40 credits (after financial aid and any other grants). Amounts are determined as follows:

Up to 20 credits – 50%

21 to 30 credits – 40%

31 to 40 credits – 25%

To qualify, you must:

Be a Minnesota resident

Have fewer than 40 credits of FBM instruction

Own and operate a farm or ranch, wholly or in partnership with others, for 10 years or fewer

Have a financial interest in the farm

Participate in management decisions and operation of the farm on a regular basis

How do I apply?

To apply for a scholarship:

Find an FBM instructor, if you don’t already have one.

Work with your instructor to complete a scholarship application

Submit your application through your college website

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/urbanaggrant

The AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Programs encourage urban agriculture youth education and urban agriculture community and economic development within the city limits of urban or peri-urban areas.

Grants help organizations and communities obtain the materials and services necessary to successfully promote urban agriculture youth education and community or economic development through urban agriculture.

NEW, in fiscal year (FY) 2026, there are two funding opportunities:

• The Community and Economic Development Grant if for projects that directly support community development or increase economic vitality through urban agriculture. Projects must benefit multiple growers or community members.

• The Youth Education Grant will support projects that focus on starting or growing agricultural-based education programs from early childhood through post-secondary and young adult-aged students.

Previously, there was one grant to support either youth education or community engagement projects in urban agriculture. This year, there are two separate grants.

Eligible applicants

The following groups are eligible to apply:

• For-profit businesses

• Nonprofit organizations

• Schools or school districts

• Post-secondary institutions

• Local government entities

• Native American tribal communities or governments

Project eligibility

Eligible grant projects must directly support the goals of promoting urban agriculture youth education or urban agriculture community development. Projects must be located in or serve communities that meet one of the following criteria:

• Cities with a population over 5,000, or

• Located within the boundaries of federally recognized Tribal land and serving Tribal community members, regardless of population size.

You'll find a list of eligible cities and Tribal areas in the Request for Proposals (RFP).

Eligible grant expenses include but aren't limited to the purchase and installation of equipment; capital expenditures (costs incurred to make physical improvements to or construct a facility); personnel (staff/contractor) time; transportation costs; and translation costs.

Amounts available

A total of $1.93 million is available in FY 2026. Applicants may request between $5,000 and $75,000 per project. A 25% cash match is required. The MDA will reimburse up to 75% of project costs.

Applying

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

• Carefully read the 2026 AGRI Urban Ag Community & Economic Development Grant RFP (PDF) and FY26 Urban Ag Youth Education Grant RFP (PDF) for eligibility, requirements, and priorities.

• Apply for an AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant.

  • If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.

  • Once you are logged in, select either "FY26 AGRI Urban Agriculture Community and Economic Development Grant" or "FY26 AGRI Urban Agriculture Youth Education Grant."

Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.

Information session

We will host an information session about the Fiscal Year 2026 funding opportunities, covering eligibility, allowable expenses, and how to apply, at 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Register for the information session.

This session will be recorded and shared on the website after the event.

Join food justice folks from across the state for this “non-conference” – the first since 2019!