SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION
Garden Outreach Grant Program
For Non-Profit Organizations, Small Farms and Community Gardens
1. Purpose/Scope/Mission of the Grants
Cultivating Hearts and Minds, One Garden at a Time™
The San Diego Floral Association Garden Outreach Grant Program provides funding to support educational and therapeutic gardening programs, at non-profit organizations, small farms and community gardens in San Diego County.
The purpose of the grant is to foster education, encouragement and personal development through demonstrations, classes and hands-on experiences in horticulture, agriculture and floriculture, with an emphasis on the environment, sustainability, nutrition and well-being, conservation, creativity, teamwork, socialization and the benefits of being outdoors.
The San Diego Floral Association Garden Outreach Grant Program is managed by the SDFA Grant Committee.
2. Entities eligible for this Grant include:
- Community Gardens
- Small Community Farms
- Community Centers
- Community Organizations
- Entities that offer free community educational programs
3. Types of programs eligible for funding:
- Free hands-on educational programs
- Free lectures and demonstrations
- Free classes
4. Sectors of the Community that should benefit from your program:
- Children and youth
- Veterans
- Elderly
- Special Needs populations
- Underserved communities
- Other populations as deemed appropriate by the San Diego Floral Association Grant Committee
5. Structure of the Grant Program
- Grants are awarded annually.
- Eligible organizations, farms and gardens may apply for funding annually.
- Grant money must be used within 12 months of receipt of funding.
6. Minimum criteria upon which Grants will be awarded
- Applicants meeting the eligibility requirements in 1, 2, 3 and 4 above will be considered for funding.
- Applicants must agree to pre-award on-site evaluation by representative(s) of the SDFA Grant Committee.
The SDFA Garden Outreach Grant will not fund:
- Political campaigns (including lobbying for initiatives or public office)
- Churches or religious organizations
- General capital improvements – i.e. costs not directly associated with the educational or therapeutic gardening program
- General operating costs – i.e. costs not directly associated with the educational or therapeutic gardening program
- General property costs – e.g. property taxes, insurance, rent/mortgage, utilities
- Salaries
- Fundraisers
- Funding Organizations – i.e. organizations that would give the funds to another organization
7. Deadlines and Timing
- a. Completed Grant Applications and all accompanying documentation must be RECEIVED by the SDFA Grant Committee by July 31.
- b. Review by SDFA Grant Committee will be completed by August 31.
- c. Determination by SDFA Grant Committee will be completed by Sept 31.
- d. Grant award recipients will be notified in October and funds will be awarded at the October SDFA Quarterly Membership Meeting.
8. Grant Award Amounts
- Funds will be awarded up to $300.00.
9. Follow up
- Grantees will acknowledge the San Diego Floral Association’s Garden Outreach Program at their garden.
- Grantees will be required to submit status reports/photographs* and receipts relevant to the project or program that was funded.
- Grantees will allow SDFA representatives to be on site for photographs* and interviews for articles and publicity.
- Grantees will allow SDFA to arrange for media* to be on site.
- Grantees will be required to attend an event, volunteer, or give a presentation at an SDFA meeting.
*Grantee will arrange for permissions (parental or otherwise) for all photos, video, interviews and other media requests.
10. The Application Process
- The Grant Application can be emailed to eligible applicants by sending a request to Outreach@sdfloral.org
- Or applicants can access an online application here:
- Completed applications and supporting documentation* can be emailed to Outreach@sdfloral.org or mailed to San Diego Floral Association, 1650 El Prado, Room 105, San Diego, CA 92101, attn.: “Garden Outreach Grant Program”.
*All email attachments must be in PDF format.