The Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI) is offering three farmer grant opportunities for 2025 to support sustainable and resilient agricultural operations in the southeastern United States. These grants aim to provide financial assistance to historically underserved farmers by funding essential infrastructure improvements and early-stage farming support. The two primary grants available are the Infrastructure Grant and the Beginning Farmer Stipend, both of which require applicants to complete an eligibility quiz before gaining access to the application.

The Infrastructure Grant is designed for farmers who have been farming for at least three years in the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. The grant provides funding between $5,000 and $10,000 to help upgrade tools, structures, and systems that improve farm productivity and sustainability. Eligible applicants must have been farming for at least three years and at their current location for at least two years. The application period for this grant opened on February 24, 2025, and will close on March 26, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. To qualify, applicants must complete the required eligibility quiz by March 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Beginning Farmer Stipend is targeted at new farmers with up to three years of experience who own or co-own their farming operations. This stipend, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, aims to support historically underserved farmers in building a strong foundation for their agricultural enterprises. To be eligible, applicants must be operating in the eligible states and must complete the eligibility quiz before accessing the application. The application period for the Beginning Farmer Stipend opened on February 10, 2025, and closes on March 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The eligibility quiz for this stipend must be completed by March 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The grant application process is structured into three steps: first, applicants must take the eligibility quiz; second, they must complete and submit the full application, including a quote and reference contact information; and third, an external committee of farmers and agricultural experts will review applications. The review process generally takes two to three months. Due to high demand, funding is competitive, with only 6% of eligible applicants receiving awards in 2024.

Eligible applicants may only apply for one RAFI Farmer Grant per year. All applications must be submitted by their respective deadlines, as late applications will not be considered. RAFI will notify all applicants about their application status via email. Award announcements will be made through a press release and on RAFI’s website.

For further inquiries, applicants may contact RAFI at [email protected] or call 919.542.1396 ext. 206. The RAFI office is located at 274 Pittsboro Elem School Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 640, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Farmers seeking additional funding opportunities can also explore RAFI’s Farmer’s Connections Calendar for alternative grant options.