Organic Valley – Farmers Advocating for Organic (FAFO) Grants

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Fall 2026 Cycle

LOI Deadline: August 1, 2026

Organic Valley administers the Farmers Advocating for Organic (FAFO) grant program—one of the nation’s only and largest farmer-funded grant programs dedicated exclusively to advancing organic agriculture. FAFO is funded entirely through voluntary annual contributions from Organic Valley farmers, making it a true peer-investment model: organic farmers helping organic farmers.

Organization: Organic Valley (Farmers Advocating for Organic – FAFO)
Support Type: One-time project grants
Geographic Focus: United States (projects must have impact beyond a single local community)

About the Funder

FAFO was created after the 2002 Farm Bill allowed organic farmers to opt out of national commodity promotion programs (e.g., “Got Milk?”). In response, Organic Valley designed a way for its farmer-members to pool those exemptions into a grant fund that protects, promotes, and strengthens the organic industry.

Through FAFO, Organic Valley farmers collectively invest in long-term solutions that support organic markets, soil health, research, and advocacy nationwide.

What This Program Supports

FAFO funds research, education, and advocacy projects that advance organic agriculture and the livelihoods of organic farmers.

Priority is given to projects that focus on:

Family farmers producing organic dairy, eggs, meat, produce, and grain/forage
Organic soil health and soil biology
Strengthening the CROPP Cooperative (internal priority)

Projects should address system-level challenges and contribute to the long-term health of the organic marketplace.

Funding Amounts

Grant Range: $5,000–$50,000
Average Award: ~$20,000
Awards over $50,000 or multi-year grants: Considered only under extraordinary circumstances and by invitation
Administrative overhead: May not exceed 5% of the amount requested

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

Nonprofit organizations
Academic or research institutions

Projects must:

Explicitly focus on organic agriculture
Fall within research, education, or advocacy
Advance FAFO’s mission of protecting the organic industry or farmer livelihoods
Demonstrate regional or national impact

Application Process – Fall 2026

FAFO uses a Letter of Interest (LOI) process.

📅 Grant Cycle Opens: June 15, 2026
📅 LOI Deadline: August 1, 2026
📅 Full Application Deadline: August 15, 2026

LOIs are reviewed within approximately two weeks.
If approved, applicants are invited to submit a full application. (Earlier LOI submissions allow more time for the full proposal.)

Application / Request Process

All applicants must begin by submitting an online Letter of Interest through Organic Valley’s FAFO portal.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic-valley/power-of-we/farmers-advocating-organics/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

Advance organic farming systems, soil health, or farmer education
Support family-scale organic producers
Focus on long-term, scalable solutions for the organic sector
Can demonstrate impact beyond a single community

Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Funder: Organic Valley (FAFO)
Review Type: Competitive, LOI-based
LOI Deadline: August 1, 2026
Grant Size: $5,000–$50,000
Best Suited For: Nonprofits and research institutions advancing organic agriculture nationwide