Apply for a Grant

Are you interested in applying for an NCR-SARE grant? If so, and if you live in our region, this information is for you.

The North Central Region consists of Illinois, Indiana,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. If you're located elsewhere, follow these links for information on the Western Region SARE, Southern Region SARE, or Northeast Region SARE.

Writing a Grant Proposal

1. Determine which SARE grant program is right for you:
   • the Research and Education Grant Program -  a competitive grant program for researchers and educators
   • the Farmer Rancher Grant Program -  a competitive grants program for farmers and ranchers
   • the Graduate Student Grant Program -  a competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects
   • the Youth Educator Grant Program - a competitive grant program for youth educators to encourage youth to try sustainable practices
   • the Professional Development Grant Program - a competitive grant program for training agricultural educators in extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, private, and not-for-profit sectors
   • the Partnership Grant Program - a competitive grant program for cooperative projects between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers
2. Download a copy of the NCR-SARE call for proposals from the appropriate program. Follow the guidelines in the Call for Proposals. Calls change each year, sometimes slightly. Be sure you're using the most current call. Sample calls are available if the current call for proposals isn't available yet.
3. Determine the relevant deadline for the grant program(s) from which you seek funding. Set reminders for yourself, if needed.
4. Review previously funded SARE grants in your topic area. View the grants funded in the last grant cycle.
5. Develop clear goals.  Whether you are trying to solve an insect pest problem, conduct a marketing project, or do something no one’s even thought of yet, simple and clear goals let the NCR-SARE know WHAT your goal is. Then, as you write your proposal, you'll indicate HOW you are going to reach your goal.
6. Plan ahead on how to accomplish your project.  Think about the details before you fill out the proposal.  If you are doing a research project and choose to use an experimental design, make sure the design is capable of yielding conclusive results.  If you need help with research design, include a cooperator with experience in on-farm research. Search the national SARE database of projects to review previously funded grants in your topic area.
7. Measure your results. Chances are you are going to measure something.  So, whether it is crop yield, milk protein content, bigger tomatoes, increased market share for a cooperative, etc. make sure that what you are measuring will give you the information you need to tell if you have accomplished your objectives.  If you're planning to take samples—for example, plants, or insects—make sure that your samples are representative of the whole field or plot.
8. Timing is everything.  Let the reviewers know WHEN you will be doing the things you plan to do. A detailed timetable lets them know that you have given this work some thought and that you have a clear idea of the time it will take.
9. Develop a clear outreach plan to share what you learn from your project.  Outreach activities can include field days, workshops, publications, or any method to get results of your project to people who can use those results to practice sustainable agriculture.
10. Develop a realistic budget.  Please carefully itemize your expenses on the budget worksheet and enter your sub-totals for funds requested.  Do this for each year funds are requested. Round the cents to the nearest dollar.
11. Contact potential collaborators and develop proposal ideas. Choose cooperators to complement your skills. When you enlist the cooperation of people who have expertise in areas that you don’t—research, marketing, outreach, whatever—they’ll help you make your project better and increase your chances of receiving funding. Pick your cooperators carefully, and make sure each one has the skills you need.
12. Get help with proposal writing, if necessary. Your national SARE database can provide advice and feedback as you work on your grant proposal. View the USDA Budget Guidelines to help you correctly compose your budget. The NCR-SARE office can answer questions and provide samples of proposals. The Michael Fields Ag Institute can help you apply to grants and cost-share programs of state or federal sources that could help you achieve your farming or ag-related business goals. 
13. Submit your proposal, following all guidelines, prior to the specified deadline. Our timelines are detailed below. They are subject to change. Always adhere to the due date listed in the current Call for Proposals.
14. Your proposal will be reviewed and considered by a grant review committee and our Administrative Council and you will be notified as soon as possible. 
15. Check out our FAQs and NCR-SARE's Grant How-To Video Series

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Grant Writing Resources

NCR-SARE State Coordinators

• SARE state coordinators in every state and island protectorate are charged with training agriculture professionals in sustainable practices and sharing SARE project results with them. State coordinator responsibilities include professional development—promotion, networking, and coordination, especially of SARE-related activities—and communication and evaluation.

Put Your Ideas to the Test: How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch

• This 12-page bulletin outlines how to conduct research on a farm or ranch. It describes real-life examples and gives practical tips for both crop and livestock producers. A comprehensive list of more in-depth resources describes on-farm research bulletins and reports, farmer or researcher networks, and resources for market research.

Grant Writing Assistance from the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute 

• Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) provides free Grants Advising services in the Midwest. MFAI’s Grants Advisors can help you apply to grant, loan, and cost-share programs of state or federal sources that could help you with specific projects to develop your agricultural, forestry, or related business. These can be programs of any federal or state agency, not just the USDA, as well as private sources. They assist individual producers, associations of farmers, and agricultural, fishery, and forestry-related businesses to both search for and apply to programs for which they are eligible. Please contact 719-318-7936 or grants@michaelfields.org. 

How-To Video Series

• This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant.
  

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Funding Considerations

The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are based on how well the applicant presents the problem being addressed, the project's relevance to sustainable agriculture in the 12-state North Central region, and how well it aligns with NCR-SARE's goals, among other factors specific to each grant program.

NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. The AC includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofits.

Publishing With SARE

Do you or a colleague have a book manuscript on sustainable agriculture, but no publisher? Do you have an idea for a video on a particular sustainable ag topic—or perhaps for ag communications research—that would serve farmers, ranchers and educators well? SARE Outreach wants to hear your ideas. If your idea meets the criteria below, use the educational resource and outreach initiative nomination form to submit it for consideration.

Materials for Educators and Nonprofits Working with Producers

SARE books, bulletins and promotional materials are free to nonprofit organizations organizing workshops, conferences, tours, networks or other sustainable agriculture educational programs for 10 or more farmers, ranchers or agricultural educators. A limit of 50 free books per organization per calendar year applies. Request free materials using this online SARE Materials Request Form.

You can also order an entire set of SARE Outreach books and bulletins for one low price! Set includes all books, bulletins, biennial reports, topic briefs and promotional materials. This can be a helpful purchase for educators or administrators who manage a library of materials.

Frequently Asked Questions from Applicants

Can SARE grants be used to fund projects outside the United States?

No. SARE grants may only be used to fund projects within the United States and its island protectorates.

Can I use a SARE grant to begin a farm?

No. SARE grants are intended for projects involving research and education. A small percentage of SARE funding may be used to purchase the materials required to conduct a research or education project, but generally, SARE funding cannot be used to make large purchases for land, equipment, or capital investment.

Refer to the book Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities to learn about other funding opportunities.

I have an idea for a grant project. How do I learn more about SARE grants?

Visit the Apply for a Grant page to see what types of grants NCR-SARE offers and what type might be most appropriate for you. If you have in-depth questions about NCR-SARE’s grants, please contact NCR-SARE.

How can I learn more about the educational resources available through SARE?

All educational resources are available through the SARE Learning Center and are organized by resource type and topic. Resources are also accessible via site search, located in the upper right of this page.

In addition, visit the projects database and search through the thousands of project reports that SARE grantees have submitted over the years.

Where can I get more information about ordering publications, such as bulk discounts?

Please visit the SARE WebStore.

I received a grant from NCR-SARE. Where can I get more information about the requirements for my grant?

If you are a grantee or a member of a project team, you can use the Manage Your Grant page to learn how to manage your NCR-SARE award.