FEED Awarded Capacity Grant

The Ben and Jerry's Foundation recently awarded us their Capacity Building Grant. According to the website, this grant is awarded once per year to a "Vermont-based, statewide non-profit organization that has both a vision and a strategic plan to extend it’s influence and achieve defined goals...Organizations must have a statewide impact and be working towards broad, systemic change for the betterment of Vermont and Vermonters." The grant is for a total of $90,000 spread over the course of three years and will be used to enhance the capacity and thereby supporting the work of the Vermont Farm to School Network.

To get this grant, we had to demonstrate that we have a clear direction, a record of accomplishment, and a strategic plan - which the Network worked out this past year as part of their Strategic Mapping process. This grant money can be used for consultation, technology, organizational development work, staff development, and staffing needs, and we will be reporting on our progress at the end of each year. In addition, we will have the opportunity to present our work at the Foundation headquarters.

We are honored to be awarded this highly competitive grant and look forward to putting the money to good use!