Seed Money Grant Application

 

2026 Southwest WI Seed Money Funding

 

We are delighted to announce that we are offering Seed Money funding in Southwest Wisconsin in 2026 in this, our 8th year of offering this initiative. Our 2025 recipients and our board members left our Seeds of Hope Celebration in November expressing how renewed, energized and inspired they were by the presentations the recipients made and by the passion with which they carry out their work. We are looking forward to celebrating with you and the other recipients at our 2026 Seeds of Hope Celebration next fall. 

To that end, we invite you to apply for Seed Money in 2026. The maximum amount of funding per project is $1500; the deadline for applications is Friday, January 30, 2026; and awardees will be notified of the results of our review by Friday, February 27, 2026.

To help you determine if you should apply, more details can be found below, in addition to downloadable documents. Short descriptions of the projects we have funded in the past can be found here.

We look forward to reviewing your applications in early February!

 


Strengthening Connections in Rural Southwest Wisconsin
Application for Seed Money for 2026

SW Counties: Dane, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Grant, Sauk, Crawford, Vernon, and Richland

When we plant seeds, we have faith that a crop will be forthcoming. Food, Faith and Farming Network is offering Seed Money for new initiatives that extend our mission in Southwest Wisconsin and address the issues raised in our 2018 Rural Listening/Networking Sessions as updated to include current concerns.  While we highly recommend applying for projects that are stated as priorities below, other worthy initiatives will be considered. Please be aware that we will not fund projects for more than two consecutive years. You are welcome to reapply for a new initiative any time after you received your first grant.

Priority Issues:

  • Faith connections between land and people
  • Production/sale of local foods
  • Sustainable/regenerative farming
  • Farmers’ markets
  • Local food systems
  • Agricultural processing facilities
  • Transitioning farms to the next generation
  • Farm and/or non-farm labor training
  • Rural community development initiatives
  • Sacred land and water stewardship
  • Climate change/chaos mitigation

 

In addition to evaluating whether a project meets our mission and priorities, we will evaluate projects using the following criteria. Does it:

  1. address a significant community issue;
  2. outline an innovative solution to confronting the issue;
  3. build a network of individuals/groups to collaborate on the issue and 
  4. demonstrate energy and commitment to achieve the stated goals?

 

 Expectations of Project  Expectations of the Network
 Aligns with mission of the Network  Provides seed money to advance projects
 Addresses one or more of our prioritized areas  Serves as a sounding board for projects
 Is supported by a network of interested parties  Provides input on networking possibilities
 Has clearly defined actions and outcomes  Publicizes projects on our website
 Informs the Network of project progress  Promotes project events on social media


Size of available Seed Money project funding: Maximum of $1500

Deadline: January 30, 2026

Awardees notified: February 27, 2026

Questions may be directed to: foodfaithandfarmingnetwork@gmail.com