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Rooted Grants & Scholarships
Grant & Scholarship Programs for Farms and Hubs
Helping hubs scale and farms strengthen community connections.
Grant & Scholarship Programs
Three Programs. One Goal:
Stronger Local Agricultural Systems
1. Community Roots: Farm Grant
For individual producers looking to expand community access to locally produced food.
Created to support projects that strengthen connections between local producers and their communities.
2. Growing Roots: Hub Startup Grant
For producer hubs looking to start or grow a collective selling operation.
Built to help new and established hubs build or strengthen the systems, structure, and relationships they need to grow.
3. Deepening Roots: Hub Scholarship
For established hubs navigating financial need, leadership changes, or major operational transitions.
Designed to stabilize and strengthen hubs during critical moments.
Our Commitment
Why We Fund: Building Resilient Agricultural Systems
Farms and producer hubs across the country are facing mounting pressures: reduced funding, policy uncertainty, and shifting markets.
Our commitment: Support farms and hubs so they can keep strengthening local supply chains in their communities.
Every journey looks different, but every farmer needs support.
In 2019, we built tools to help farmers and producer hubs manage day-to-day operations, streamline sales, and use data to better understand their businesses. The payoff? Buyers doubled their purchases, growers expanded their reach, and farms increased profitability.
Since then, we've supported farmers and hubs nationwide working to:
Scale relationship-based sales without losing mission
Manage perishable products efficiently
Build sustainable, long-term operations
For farmers looking to strengthen local food access
1. Community Roots: Farm Grant
The Community Roots Grant supports producers with a clear, tangible idea for expanding their community's access to locally produced food. The project should strengthen connections between local producers and the broader community.
Projects might include creating new ways for community members to access locally grown food, distribution improvements, developing community programming, or other creative approaches that bring producers and their communities together.
What You'll Receive
Grant Funding
$500-$1,500 grant for expenses relating to community improvement (equipment, marketing, infrastructure, technology)
Technology Platform
One complimentary year of Rooted Farmers Pro subscription for Farms
Project Check-Ins
Bi-monthly project development coaching calls with experienced farmers
Who's Eligible
To be considered for the Community Roots grant, applicants must be producers interested in supporting and elevating local agriculture beyond their own operation, and meet the following criteria:
- US-based farms and/or producers
- Must have 3+ years of experience owning or running farming operations
- Must have an actionable idea to invest in their community's access to locally produced food (e.g. improving farms' geographic market reach, sales channels, or customer/segment access)
- Proposed projects must have the potential to benefit 3+ farms following implementation
- Applicants should have the knowledge and capacity to complete the proposed project, with support from the Rooted team
Not sure Community Roots is the right fit?
Hubs looking to start or grow a collective selling operation may be a better match for 2. Growing Roots: Hub Startup Grant.
Established hubs in year 3+ navigating financial or operational change should look at 3. Deepening Roots: Hub Scholarship.
For hubs looking to start or grow a collective selling operation
2. Growing Roots: Hub Startup Grant
The Growing Roots Grant supports new and established producer hubs as they establish their operations, build foundational systems, and develop early market relationships.
What You'll Receive
Grant Funding
$500-$2,000 for eligible startup expenses (equipment, marketing, infrastructure, technology, services)
Technology Platform
One complimentary year of Rooted Farmers Pro subscription for Hubs
$125 subscription discount per grower
Strategic Coaching
Bi-monthly coaching sessions with experienced hub operators and the Rooted team
Who's Eligible
To be considered for the Growing Roots grant, applicants may be either a new or an established hub that is looking to invest in either starting or growing their hub's operation for the benefit of their local agricultural community, and meet the following criteria:
- US-based hubs
- Groups comprised of 4+ producers
- At least half of member farms should have 3+ years of growing/production experience
- Proposed projects should demonstrate a clear benefit for the farms operating within the collective/cooperative selling operation
Not sure Growing Roots is the right fit?
Individual producers with a community project idea may be a better match for 1. Community Roots: Farm Grant.
Established hubs in year 3+ navigating financial or operational change should look at 3. Deepening Roots: Hub Scholarship.
For hubs in year 3+
3. Deepening Roots: Hub Scholarship
The Deepening Roots Scholarship supports established hubs navigating significant financial, operational, or organizational change. This program provides ongoing support to help hubs reach long-term stability.
What You'll Receive
Financial Support
Need-based fee forgiveness of up to 90% on Rooted subscription and transaction fees for a minimum of one year
Technology Platform
One complimentary year of Rooted Farmers Pro subscription for Hubs
$100 subscription discount per grower
Personalized onboarding, training, and ongoing technical support
Strategic Coaching
Bi-monthly coaching sessions with experienced hub operators and the Rooted team
Who's Eligible
To be considered for the Deepening Roots scholarship, hubs must meet the following criteria:
- US-based hubs
- Producer hubs in years 3+ of operations
- Groups comprised of 5+ producers
- Annual sales volume of $250,000+
- New to using Rooted Farmers for hub management
- Must demonstrate financial hardship or need (loss of grant funding, significant revenue decline, unexpected major expenses, inability to cover operational costs, or financial impact from leadership transitions/organizational changes)
Not sure Deepening Roots is the right fit?
Individual producers with a community project idea may be a better match for 1. Community Roots: Farm Grant.
Hubs looking to start or grow a collective selling operation should look at 2. Growing Roots: Hub Startup Grant.
How to Apply
Applications for all programs should be submitted via email. Detailed application requirements and full program information are available in the Request for Applications and Terms and Conditions.
Community Roots: Farm Grant:
Coming September 30, 2026!
Growing Roots: Hub Startup Grant:
Coming September 30, 2026!
Deepening Roots: Hub Scholarship:
Coming September 30, 2026!
Questions? We're Here to Help
Contact us with questions about eligibility, the application process, or to discuss which program best fits your needs.
Community Roots | Growing Roots | Deepening Roots | |
|---|---|---|---|
Deadline | December 15, 2026 | December 15, 2026 | Rolling — applications accepted year-round |
Awards | January 15, 2027 | January 15, 2027 | Ongoing |
Program | February 1 - November 30, 2027 | February 1 - November 30, 2027 | Minimum of one year from award |
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