Coast of Maine – Growing Good Program (2026)
Organic Soil and Garden Product Donations for Schools, Community Gardens, and Nonprofits
Coast of Maine’s Growing Good Program provides donated organic soils and soil amendments to schools, community gardens, public gardens, and nonprofit initiatives across the United States.
Through partnerships with independent garden centers and local retailers, the program helps organizations create outdoor classrooms, community growing spaces, sources of fresh food, and gardens that promote education, health, environmental awareness, and community connection.
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026 growing season.
Organization: Coast of Maine Organic Products
Support Type: In-kind donations of organic soils and amendments
Geographic Focus: United States, subject to local retailer availability
Application Timeline: Rolling for the 2026 season
Recommended Lead Time: Submit at least 30 days before the planned planting or product-use date
New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.
About the Funder
Coast of Maine produces organic soils, composts, fertilizers, mulches, and soil amendments for gardeners and growers.
The company distributes its products through a network of independent garden centers and local retailers. Through the Growing Good Program, Coast of Maine works with these retail partners to provide gardening products to schools, nonprofits, and community-based growing projects.
Coast of Maine reports that the program has supported more than 1,930 gardens during the past five years.
What This Program Supports
The Growing Good Program provides Coast of Maine products rather than monetary grants.
Available support may include:
- Organic planting soils
- Compost and soil blends
- Soil amendments
- Other qualifying Coast of Maine gardening products
The specific products and quantities awarded may depend on the proposed project, product availability, the participating local retailer, and Coast of Maine’s charitable donation budget.
Eligible Projects
Growing Good donations may support projects that use gardening to advance education, health, environmental awareness, food access, or community engagement.
Potential projects include:
School Gardens
Gardens located at public, private, charter, or nonprofit schools that give students opportunities to learn about plants, food systems, science, nutrition, and the environment.
Outdoor Classrooms
Outdoor learning spaces where educators can incorporate gardening, ecology, science, and experiential education into student activities.
Community Gardens
Shared growing spaces that bring neighbors together, increase access to fresh food, and create opportunities for community participation.
Food-Growing Projects
Gardens that grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, or other edible plants for students, families, food pantries, or community members.
Public and Nonprofit Gardens
Gardens operated by nonprofit organizations, public institutions, community groups, or other charitable initiatives.
Youth Gardening Programs
Programs that introduce children and young people to gardening, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and healthy outdoor activities.
Community Beautification Projects
Projects that use ornamental plants, flowers, or landscaped spaces to improve community gathering places and neighborhood environments.
Eligibility & Preferences
The program identifies the following types of recipients:
- Schools
- Public gardens
- Community gardens
- Nonprofit organizations
- Nonprofit initiatives
- Community-based gardening programs
Applicants should be able to demonstrate that donated products will be used for an educational, charitable, environmental, or community-serving purpose.
Organizations should clearly explain:
- The purpose of the garden or planting project
- Who will use or benefit from the space
- What will be grown
- How the project supports education or community wellbeing
- The quantity and type of products needed
- The planned planting or product-use date
- The organization’s ability to pick up the donation
Local Retailer Requirement
Applicants must be able to pick up approved products from a participating Coast of Maine garden center or local retailer.
Coast of Maine does not advertise shipping as an option for Growing Good donations. Organizations without a participating retailer within a reasonable driving distance may not be eligible.
Applicants should not contact a garden center or retailer to request or arrange a donation before receiving final approval and confirmation from Coast of Maine.
Coast of Maine will coordinate the approved donation with the participating retailer. Once the arrangements are complete, the recipient will receive pickup instructions.
Applicants can review Coast of Maine’s retailer network before applying to determine whether products are available nearby.
Ineligible or Uncompetitive Requests
Coast of Maine does not publish a detailed list of prohibited projects. However, the program is not designed to support:
- General operating expenses
- Cash grant requests
- Staff salaries
- Construction costs
- Gardening tools or equipment not produced by Coast of Maine
- Transportation or delivery expenses
- Projects that cannot pick up products from a local retailer
- Last-minute requests
- Requests made directly to a retailer without Coast of Maine approval
Commercial projects or gardens primarily benefiting a private business are unlikely to align with the program’s charitable and community-oriented purpose.
Funding Amounts
Coast of Maine does not publish standard donation amounts or product quantities.
Each request is reviewed individually, and awards may depend on:
- The size and purpose of the garden
- The number of people who will benefit
- The amount of soil or amendments requested
- Local product availability
- The participating retailer’s capacity
- Coast of Maine’s limited charitable donation budget
- The volume of applications received
Applicants should calculate the amount of soil needed before applying and submit a specific, reasonable product request.
Coast of Maine provides a quantity calculator on its website that may help organizations estimate the amount of material required for raised beds, garden plots, containers, or landscaped areas.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Status: Accepting requests for the 2026 season
📅 Application Timeline: Rolling
📅 Minimum Lead Time Listed: At least two weeks
📅 Recommended Lead Time: At least 30 days before the planned planting or use date
📅 Pickup Coordination: Approved donations may take up to three weeks to arrange
Although the application page mentions a minimum two-week lead time, the program’s donation terms ask organizations to submit requests at least 30 days before their planned planting or product-use date.
Applicants should therefore apply at least 30 days in advance whenever possible.
Coast of Maine cannot guarantee that every request will be fulfilled. All requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Application / Request Process
Organizations must complete the Growing Good application available on the Coast of Maine website.
Before applying, organizations should be prepared to provide:
- Organization or school name
- Applicant contact information
- Organization type
- Project or garden description
- Population served
- Planned planting or product-use date
- Products or quantities requested
- Information about the local retailer or garden center
- Pickup availability
- Additional details demonstrating community benefit
Applicants should make their request as specific as possible. Rather than simply requesting “soil,” organizations should describe the garden’s dimensions, number of raised beds, anticipated planting activities, and estimated product needs.
After applying:
- Coast of Maine will review the request.
- Approved requests will be coordinated with a local participating retailer.
- Coast of Maine will provide final confirmation and pickup instructions.
- The organization may then contact or visit the approved pickup location as directed.
Applicants should not independently contact retailers before receiving approval.
Apply / Learn More
➡️ Apply for the Coast of Maine Growing Good Program
To determine whether Coast of Maine products are available in your area:
➡️ Find a Coast of Maine Retailer
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity may be a strong fit for organizations that:
- Operate a school, public, nonprofit, or community garden
- Need soil or soil amendments rather than cash funding
- Use gardening as an educational tool
- Grow fresh food for students, families, or community members
- Provide gardening or environmental programming for children
- Are developing an outdoor classroom
- Promote nutrition, health, or environmental awareness
- Can pick up donated products from a local participating retailer
- Can submit a request at least 30 days before planting
The Growing Good Program is particularly valuable for smaller garden projects that may have volunteers and community support but lack the budget to purchase enough quality soil, compost, or amendments.
Tips for a Strong Request
Applicants should clearly connect the product request to measurable community benefits.
A strong application may explain:
- How many students, families, or community members will participate
- How gardening will be incorporated into educational programming
- Whether produce will be distributed to families or food assistance programs
- How the garden will be maintained after installation
- Whether volunteers, teachers, or community partners are involved
- The precise size and number of planting areas
- How much soil is needed and how that estimate was calculated
- How the organization will transport the products from the retailer
Providing a clear planting timeline and a realistic product estimate can make the request easier to evaluate and fulfill.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Rolling, case-by-case review
2026 Status: Applications currently accepted
Support Provided: Organic soils, amendments, and qualifying Coast of Maine products
Cash Grants: No
Geographic Reach: Nationwide where participating local retailers are available
Recommended Lead Time: Apply at least 30 days before planting
Fulfillment Method: Local retailer pickup only
Best Suited For: Schools, community gardens, public gardens, youth programs, and nonprofit growing initiatives
