Funding and Grants For NPOs

This blog places a strong emphasis on funding for the Kenneth Mason Waugh organization and other non-profits that run veteran-to-farmer programs. These NPOs and their programs will be able to survive, succeed, and expand if appropriate money is obtained. The non-profit sector has been experiencing funding shortages since the COVID-19 crisis has made everything unpredictable, revealing something everyone has long known: most Nonprofits do not have enough cash on hand to meet expenses if operations are stopped. Many NPOs are now faced with difficult decisions regarding laying off or furloughing employees, and some are compelled to consider permanently closing their doors. Fortunately, there are initiatives available to assist organizations in navigating this crisis. While many are grant-based, several collaborative solutions can assist Nonprofits in meeting critical short-term financial requirements. The majority of non-profit organizations acquire financing through grant writing and fundraising campaigns. The awarding and writing of grants is an important instrument that enables nonprofit groups to collaborate in promoting business, funding, and resources. Grants, which are big donations from foundations, businesses, or governments to help an organization, are a vital source of revenue for many organizations and should be incorporated wherever possible into their annual fundraising plan. According to some experts, organizations and charities use grants to pay approximately 20% of their annual budget.

Funding enables an organization to accomplish its mission, goals, and objectives. Social service agencies, often known as not-for-profit organizations, operate under the Internal Revenue Code, which means that contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax deductible. Concluding that donors and the government are more likely to finance and have resources available for these types of organizations (Karsh & Sue, 2019). Because KMW operates with an IRS Determination Letter for 501(c)(3) Tax Status, the organization would benefit from implementing a fundraising and development initiative to connect with local businesses and integrate into the community of promoting and supporting sustainable farming practices for military veterans.

Funds and Grants sources for KMW

- Farmer Veteran Coalition

It is critical to understand diverse grant opportunities and to seek funding from organizations that correspond with KMW's mission, aims, and aspirations. According to research and referrals, The Farmer Veteran Coalition would be a good partner to work with because they are "the nation's biggest nonprofit organization enabling veterans - and currently serving members - of the military forces to embark on careers in agriculture" (FVC). The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, for example, offers awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to provide "direct assistance to veterans who are in their early years of farming or ranching," funding third-party vendors to ensure that the funds are used to make a significant impact on new farming businesses. KMW. could benefit from acting as a third-party vendor in assuring successful education and training on sustainable practices, as well as ensuring that veterans have functional business plans.

- New Entry Sustainable Farming Project - Community Food Projects

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project is another organization with values similar to KMW with whom we met to discuss programming and best practices. They are active in, and encourage their partners to participate in, the Community Food Projects Competitive Funding Program (CFPCGP), a National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded program that provides grants for Community Food Projects and Planning Projects. KMW, like New Entry, would benefit from this funding because it is meant to "improve community self-reliance in meeting food needs" as well as "support comprehensive approaches to local food access, farm, and nutrition challenges" (NESFP, 2022). These awards could aid KMW through promoting community growth within farming aims and objectives, as well as promoting program agendas.

- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education organization would be a great funding that KMW could use to apply research-driven education of sustainable farming to veterans (SARE, 2022). SARE provides money for educational and research projects through grant applications. KMW could use a small portion of the cash to promote educational trainings and developments including qualified initiatives such as "on-farm renewable energy, sustainable communities, and no-till and conservation tillage" (SARE, 2022). SARE provides examples of what types of projects and educational activities are eligible for funding through their grant programs.

- CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) offered monetary assistance to nonprofit in need. During the worst of the crisis, various government assistance programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), assisted businesses in regaining their footing and continuing normal business operations. Even if many nonprofits have found their footing again over the course of the past year, fewer than one-third of them (28.47 percent) are content with their present-day financial situation. (FORVIS 2022)

References:

- Couillard, E., Tedisco, J., Drude, M., Zappala, C., Hoffman, A., & Adhikari, M. (2022). Veteran-to-Farmer Programs: Evaluation and Recommendations for Practice [Capstone Practicum]. Clark University.

- Crisis Funding and Debt: What Nonprofits Need to Know. (n.d.). Nonprofit Finance Fund. https://nff.org/blog/crisis-funding-and-debt-what-nonprofits-needs-to-know

- Jepson, T. (2022, July 13). How to Find Grants for Nonprofits: Basics and Best Practices [2022]. CauseVox. https://www.causevox.com/blog/how-to-find-grants-for-nonprofit/

- State of the Nonprofit Sector Report - 2022 | FORVIS. (n.d.). https://www.forvis.com/media/state-nonprofit-sector-report-2022