Community Grant Program Administered by the New River Valley Master Gardener Association
Every year the New River Valley Master Gardener Association (NRVMGA) awards Community Grants based on merit to any educational, care-giving, or community-based organization seeking to educate, involve, and/or improve quality of life for participants through a gardening -related project. Organizations in the counties of Floyd, Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery (and towns within) are encouraged to apply. The funds for the grants come from the NRVMGA plant sale held annually in May, workshops to construct rain barrels, sales of painted and unpainted rain barrels and donations.
Community Grant Applications: Grant applications for 2025 funds are open until October 15, 2024.
In the past, grants have been awarded to public and private schools, 4-H groups, public libraries, other educational groups as well as community gardens and nursing homes. Funding has been provided for, but is not limited to, creating public gardens (vegetable and flower), raising plants for sales (4-H), composting, purchasing plant labels and gardening tools, to name a few.
Each grant program awardee is paired with a master gardener liaison and is asked to complete brief interim and completion reports.
Qualifications–Applications will be evaluated on the following (in this order):
1. Educational value
2. Plan clarity, viability, and explanation of use of funds, including a proposed detailed line-item budget
3. Positive environmental impact (Please research plant selection options to avoid use of invasive plants
We encourage use of native plants)
4. Active involvement of participants and volunteers
5. Long term maintenance and volunteer plan, if an on-going project
6. If you do not have a Master Gardener associated with your project, one will be assigned to you to
serve as a liaison between your project and the Grant Committee
Requirements
• Follow the proposed budget
• Complete the project as approved—usually by the end of the growing season or November 1
• Progress Report (due June 1, 2025): Communicate progress with Master Gardener liaison until project is
complete
• Submit receipts for expenditures funded by the grant
• Submit a Grant Completion Report (due November 1, 2025) with photographs
• Be willing to give a tour or program on the project at a meeting of NRVMGA or the Board
• Grants will not be awarded for labor, services, rents or salaries
Extra page attachments may be used for plan images and illustrations only, no additional narratives are to be attached.
Applications must be received by October 15, 2024 either by emailed or postmarked responses by that date. No late applications can be accepted.
The form has been updated to allow completion on-line, please use this link to complete the application.
Grant recipients will be announced no later than January 6, 2025 and grant funds dispersed by January 31.
Project must be started within three months of funding and completed by November 1, 2025. All unspent funds at the completion of the project shall be returned to NRVMGA by November 30, 2025.
For more information and to submit your project application, contact Judy Rea:
nrvmastergardenerassoc@gmail.com email is preferred
Internal Member Mini Grants Program
The NRVMGA also offers an additional program to supplement the educational grants program open to the community. The purpose of this program is to award “mini” grants to members of the NRVMGA to support their projects of interest. Grants will be awarded based on merit to any active member for a gardening-based project with educational value and/or in support of a nonprofit organization. Qualifying projects may include existing service activities or grant projects, or new programs. Receipt of an Internal Mini Grant does not guarantee that the member’s time contributed to the project qualifies for service or educational hours. This determination will be made by the responsible extension agent.
Mini Grants are awarded for a maximum of $100.00 each. Individual members may apply for such grants. Grants will be awarded until the fund for that year is exhausted.
For more information you may contact: nrvmastergardenerassoc@gmail.com