Plant to Grant Challenge

Plant to Grant Challenge

Overview: Big Green awards grants to nonprofits that activate their communities to plant seeds on Plant a Seed Day.

Award Structure:

One $25,000 grant to the organization with the most pledges

Five $5,000 grants selected randomly from all eligible organizations

Geographic Scope: United States

Focus Areas: Food growing initiatives, community activation

Key Details:

Organizations receive custom tools and promotional materials to rally community participation

Awards based on number of pledges collected through organization's custom form

The more people inspired to participate in Plant a Seed Day, the better chances of winning

Eligibility Criteria

Your organization is likely eligible IF:

You grow food as a primary area of impact (examples: urban farms, community gardens, mobile garden education classrooms)

AND one of the following applies:

- You are a nonprofit corporation in good standing
- You are a governmental entity or tribal government
- You are registered to solicit charitable contributions
- You are working within an established fiscal sponsorship

Tax Classification Requirements:

Organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or other organization under Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code

Fiscally Sponsored Organizations: If your organization doesn't yet have 501c3 status, your fiscal sponsor must meet:

Been in existence for at least 5 years

At least $1,000,000 in assets

Has sponsored other organizations previously

Fiscal sponsor agreement in place for at least 6 months prior to application

Fiscal sponsor fees less than 10% of total granted amount

Non-Eligible Organizations

• Organizations with racially discriminatory practices
• Private foundations and private operating foundations
• Groups that participate in partisan politics
• Type III Supporting Organizations under Section 509(a)(3)(B)(iii)
• Foreign organizations
• Terrorist organizations
• Re-granting organizations
• For-profit entities