Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Funding Opportunities

SARE is a competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States.

Research and Education Grants: Ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 or more, these grants fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach.

Professional Development Grants: To spread the knowledge about sustainable concepts and practices, these projects educate Cooperative Extension Service staff and other ag professionals.

Producer Grants: Producers apply for grants that typically run between $1,000 and $15,000 to conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers.

On Farm Research/Partnership: Supports on-farm research by Extension, NRCS, and/or nonprofit organizations. Northeast, Southern and Western regions.

Sustainable Community Innovation: Forges connections between sustainable agriculture and rural community development. Northeast and Southern regions.

How to Apply for a SARE Grant

Step. 1:
Obtain a copy of a SARE call for proposals from the appropriate region and ask to be put on the regional mailing list for future calls.

Step. 2:
Determine the relevant deadline for the grant program(s) from which you seek funding.

Step. 3:
Contact potential collaborators and develop proposal ideas. Look at similar SARE funded projects on the national database and contact your regional SARE office if you would like reports that interest you.

Step. 4:
Submit your proposal, following all guidelines specified by the region, prior to the specified deadline.

Click here to learn how to write a proposal