Compeer Financial – Next ACRE Grant
Supporting Agriculture Classrooms, Resources, and Equipment
Compeer Financial’s Next ACRE Grant supports agriculture education classrooms in Compeer’s 144-county service territory across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The program helps high school and middle school agriculture teachers access the tools, equipment, technology, and learning spaces needed to create hands-on agriculture experiences for students.
Organization: Compeer Financial / Compeer Giving
Support Type: Agriculture education grants
Geographic Focus: Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Deadline: August 15
Application Opens: July 1
Grant Amount: Up to $7,500
New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.
About the Funder
Compeer Financial is a member-owned financial cooperative serving agriculture and rural communities across portions of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Through Compeer Giving, the organization invests in programs that help agriculture and rural communities remain dynamic, collaborative, and thriving.
The Next ACRE Grant reflects Compeer Financial’s commitment to agriculture education by supporting classrooms, programs, and learning environments that expose students to the opportunities, innovation, and career pathways within the agriculture industry.
What This Program Supports
The Next ACRE Grant supports agriculture classrooms and educational environments through two primary categories:
Equipment for Hands-On Learning
New tools, technology, equipment, or upgrades used as part of agriculture education in classrooms.
Resources for Agriculture Learning Spaces
Renovations, improvements, or building projects for non-traditional classrooms focused on agriculture education, such as greenhouses, shops, livestock barns, or similar learning spaces.
Eligible Applicants
Qualified applicants must:
Offer agriculture education classes in a high school or middle school
Be located in or provide direct services within Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Use grant funds to support agriculture education resources, equipment, or hands-on learning spaces
Compeer Giving notes that past recipients may be limited in when they can apply again.
Recipients of the 2024 grant will be eligible to apply again in 2027.
Recipients of the 2025 grant will be eligible to apply again in 2028.
Funding Amounts
Grants are available for up to $7,500.
Awarded funds must be spent during the upcoming school year.
Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to:
High school-level agriculture education programs
New agriculture programs
New agriculture teachers
Requests that expand hands-on learning opportunities
Projects that expose students to agriculture careers, technology, innovation, and industry knowledge
Ineligible Requests
Funding is not available for all requests. For this grant opportunity, awarded dollars are not intended for:
Textbooks
Printed publications or materials
Deficits already incurred
Compeer Financial also notes that it is no longer offering the Community Building Grant Program. Agriculture programs with building projects should apply through the Next ACRE Grant instead.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Opens: July 1
📅 Application Deadline: August 15
📅 Notification: Applicants will be informed of their grant status approximately six weeks after the deadline
📅 Spending Period: Awards must be spent during the upcoming school year
📅 Reporting Deadline: May 1
Failure to complete required reporting may impact future eligibility.
Application / Request Process
Applicants should complete the Next ACRE Grant application during the annual grant cycle. Schools and agriculture education programs should be prepared to describe the requested equipment, resources, classroom improvements, or building-related needs and explain how the project will support hands-on agriculture education.
Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.compeer.com/investing-in-rural-communities/giving-back/grants/agriculture-education-grant
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity is a strong fit for middle school and high school agriculture education programs in Compeer Financial’s Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin service area that need equipment, technology, tools, or improved learning spaces to provide hands-on agriculture experiences.
The Next ACRE Grant may be especially relevant for new agriculture teachers, new programs, high school agriculture classrooms, and schools seeking to expose students to agriculture careers, innovation, and rural community leadership.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Annual grant cycle
Grant Amount: Up to $7,500
Application Opens: July 1
Deadline: August 15
Geographic Focus: Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Notification: Approximately six weeks after deadline
Reporting Deadline: May 1
Best Suited For: Middle school and high school agriculture education programs in Compeer Financial’s service area
