October 27, 2026
The NOFA-VT Resilience Grant program supports farmers across Vermont by funding projects that enhance long-term economic, social, and environmental resilience on farms and within communities. This year’s Resilience Grant Application will be open from November 1, 2026, to December 15, 2026. All farms in Vermont that have been in business for a minimum of one year and hold an active NOFA-VT membership are eligible to apply.
In 2026, NOFA-VT received 97 applications from 121 farmers around the state, totaling $498,179 in requests. Ultimately, 31 grants were awarded, benefiting a total of 40 producers, totaling $169,706 in awarded funds.
Of these grants, seventeen (53%) of the grants were awarded to farm businesses that are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led, LGBTQ farmer-led, and/or disabled farmer-led. All grant applications are reviewed and selected by a committee of farmers and farmworkers, underscoring NOFA-VT’s commitment to participatory grantmaking and ensuring community representation in funding decisions.
Each year, applicants reinforce the critical need for flexible funding, often unavailable through other grant programs. Amid growing financial and social uncertainty, the Resilience Grant program empowers farms to continue investing in the social and economic viability of their operations and communities while upholding a commitment to ecologically responsible farming practices.
This summer, we visited a multi-farm awardee from the 2025 grant cycle: a collaboration between Mama’s Farm and The People’s Farmstand. These interconnected organizations serve BIPOC, refugee, immigrant, and other vulnerable families in Chittenden County by providing no-cost, culturally relevant produce.
The People’s Farmstand operates as a weekly, neighborhood-based, farmers market-style produce distribution. This partnership strengthens Mama’s Farm, a refugee-led farm, to steward land, grow culturally important food, and reliably feed its own community through trusted, welcoming spaces. The collaboration guarantees weekly income for Mama’s Farm, while ensuring that 65 New American families can access fresh, meaningful produce through The People’s Farmstand. Grant funds also supported the purchase of cover crops and supplies to help suppress weeds, conserve water, and extend the growing season.
Learn more about the application process on our Resilience Grants webpage, and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Funders
This year’s Resilience Grants were funded with donations to the NOFA-VT Resilience Fund as well as generous support from Canaday Family Charitable Trust, Modesty is My Best Quality Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, Mascoma Bank, M&T Charitable Foundation, and WaterWheel Foundation. If you're interested in supporting the resilience of local farms, please consider donating to our Resilience Fund today.