Grower Programs

Capacity Building Grant

The Capacity Building Grant is a grant fund housed by Advocates for Urban Agriculture in partnership with Food:Land:Opportunity (F.L.O.) and is model for community-led resource distribution. These funds support urban farms and community gardens to enrich the local food economy, production and distribution in food insecure areas of Chicago.

Recipients are selected by an Advisory Committee composed of community residents who are past grantees, grower or supporters of earth stewardship.

[Image: Zafra Farm: Incubator farm in the South Side of Chicago owned and led by QTBIPOC growers]

Latest updates:

(6/4/24)

The official announcement of 2024-2025 Capacity Building Grant award winners is below! 2024 grant cycle applications will be announced later in the fall of 2024. Join our newsletter below to stay in the loop for future updates.

(11/10/23)

Applications for the 2023 grant cycle are closed and we are not currently accepting new applications.

Latest News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4th, 2024

Advocates for Urban Agriculture Announces 2024
Capacity Building Grant Awards

Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), in partnership with the Food:Land:Opportunity (F.L.O.) is excited to announce the awardees of the 2024 Capacity Building Grant (CBG). CBG is a model for community-led resource distribution. These funds support urban farms and community gardens to enrich the local food economy, production and distribution in food insecure areas of Chicago. 

CBG recipients are selected by an Advisory Committee (AC) members composed of community residents who are past grantees, grower or supporters of earth stewardship. CBG recipients are selected by four AC members composed of local earth stewards, food leaders, and past grantees. AC members for this cycle: Gina Roxas (partial time on AC, Prairie Band Potawatomi, Trickster Cultural Center), Mabel Gladly (Otis Fresh Market), Beatrice Kamau (Multiple Harvest), and Roz Owens (Bronzeville Neighborhood Farm).

In the last three years, AUA has regranted a total of $586,500 and funded 115 growing operations in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. In 2023, 88% of grantees distributed food in Chicago’s Southside, Southwest & Southeast Side, & Chicago South Suburbs and 83% grantees reported entering a new market to increase revenue.

The grant serves farm operations which are:

  • Small Operations — less than 5 acres and/or have an operating budget of less than $250,000

  • Owned and/or led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), disabled, veteran status, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non conforming community residents.

  • Provide food and community engagement to food insecure areas in Chicago. 

2024 Capacity Building Grant Recipients:

$5000

$10,000

$20,000

NOTE: 2024 grant cycle to be announced later summer

Empowering Growers through Collective Grantmaking

[Image: Oscar Villa: Oscar Villa, Beekeeper Founder of Bee-utiful Honey & Candles]

How do I apply?

See below for a list of eligibility criteria.

  • Small Operations — less than 5 acres and/or have an operating budget of less than $250,000

  • Owned and/or led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), disabled, veteran status, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non conforming community residents.

  • Provide food and community engagement to food insecure areas in Chicago. 

Full eligibility requirements TBA.

please note

Applications are currently closed. Join our newsletter at bottom of page to stay up to date on AUA news and updates regarding future grant cycles.

Equal Opportunity Statement

AUA works affirmatively to foster inclusive programming and does not discriminate in the selection of participants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, income, marital status, or any other dimension of identity. AUA strongly encourages applications from candidates and individuals with voices that have been historically under-represented in the food system, including but not limited to women, people of color, Black and Indigenous people.

While the focus is on the viability and scalability of urban farm businesses,  home, school, or community gardeners are encouraged to work with us as well. For additional support in those areas, please see our Resource page for a comprehensive listing of applicable resources and local organizations.