USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (2501 Program grantees)
FREE SERVICERead this one correctly: the 2501 Program does NOT give money to individual farmers. It pays community organizations, nonprofits, universities and Tribal entities — about $22.3 million in FY2024, more than $194 million across 615 grants since 2010 — whose entire job is helping underserved and veteran farmers own and operate successful farms. So your play is not to apply. It is to find the 2501 grantee near you and use them, because they are already paid to sit down with you and fill out the application. The same is true of BFRDP grantees, which fund beginning-farmer training organizations rather than farmers.
Underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers. Ask USDA OPPE (partnerships@usda.gov, 202-720-6350) or search grants.gov award records for the 2501 grantee serving your state.
Apply at the official source →← more like this · all programmes
Not financial or legal advice. Program terms change — verify eligibility, amounts, and deadlines with the administering agency before acting.