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The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is offering grants of up to $100,000 to improve the ability of agricultural professionals to conduct educational programs and activities in sustainable agriculture principles and systems and to respond to inquiries on the subject from farmers, ranchers, and the public in the Western United States. Applications for the Professional Development Program grant are due November 6, 2024.

What is Western SARE?
SARE has four regional offices including North Central, Northeast, South, and West that support their own state-level programs with distinct requirements and timelines. Western SARE covers the states of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

What is the purpose of the Professional Development Program Grant?
Professional Development Program (PDP) grants are designed to educate and train agricultural professionals about sustainable agriculture so they, in turn, can educate and train other agricultural professionals. Funded PDP grants must achieve this long-term outcome: Cooperative Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service and other agricultural professionals are knowledgeable in sustainable agriculture principles and systems. They have ready access to resources that can help producers make informed decisions about adopting sustainable approaches with greater certainty and less risk.

What are the requirements to apply?
Projects must improve the ability of agricultural professionals to conduct educational programs and activities in sustainable agriculture principles and systems and to respond to inquiries on the subject from farmers, ranchers, and the public. Successful proposals for the PDP grant program should:

• Increase ag professionals’ sustainable agriculture knowledge, skills, and action using a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Have outreach plans that include environmental, social, and economic components of sustainability and clearly demonstrate how the project will effectively deliver this knowledge.
• Be written clearly with objectives that are easily identifiable.
• Demonstrate economic viability of the project.
• Include a robust plan for project evaluation.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Project approaches can include but are not limited to the formats provided below.

• Workshops
• Conferences
• Development of materials or curricula
• Demonstrations
• Tours
• Digital Media

What is the funding opportunity for this grant program?
Professional Development Program grant applicants may request up to $100,000 total costs. Proposals selected for funding will be issued cost-reimbursable subaward agreements. Funds cannot be advanced to awardees. There is no match requirement for this grant.

What is the timeline for this grant opportunity?
The deadline to apply is November 6, 2024 by 12pm Mountain time. Award announcements will be made by March 2025. Projects should begin between April 1, 2025 and October 1, 2025 and must be completed within a three-year period.
The full Call for Proposals is available here.
For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.