Netiya is excited to announce a new Matching Micro-grant program to help faith-based institutions convert decorative landscaping or unused congregational land to edible, water-wise gardens that foster food sovereignty, and to educate and empower the collective about food choices. Matching grant applications are available at http://bit.ly/1LU56XM. They are due on February 1, and awards will be announced on March 15. Organizations are required to raise $500 on their own, making them eligible to receive up to $1,500 from Netiya toward their garden installation or upgrade.

Netiya Executive Director, Devorah Brous says, “We’re excited to present this Matching Micro-Grant opportunity to our existing 42 network members as well as faith-based institutions who wish to make Los Angeles more equitable by growing community food security. Thanks to our partners at the Simply Organic 1% Fund and other generous Netiya donors, we look forward to working with people of faith from across the most diverse county in the country.”

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Netiya is a food and faith network that cultivates gardens on unused land at faith-based institutions to grow and tithe nutritious food. Netiya fosters self-reliance and stewardship to lead Angelenos of all faiths toward greater access to food worthy of a blessing.

Links

Netiya Website: http://www.netiya.org

Matching Micro-grants:    http://www.netiya.org/programs/matching-micro-grants/


Netiya’s Matching Micro-Grant Program: FAQ

How do Netiya's matching micro-grants Work?

Generous individual supporters and foundations provide donations for Netiya’s matching micro-grants program. To be considered for a matching micro-grant from Netiya, your community raises a minimum of $500 toward your project. Then the leadership of your faith-based institution submits a project for consideration to Netiya. Netiya's Executive Council reviews the matching micro-grant applications annually and recommends projects for funding. Through Netiya’s Just Gardens program, Netiya provides services to help design and install or upgrade a garden/orchard at your faith-based institution.

How much is a matching micro-grant from Netiya?

Select Netiya matching micro-grants are between $500- $1500.

Can individuals apply for a Netiya matching micro-grant?

Netiya's micro-grants are not awarded directly to individuals.

How can our institution qualify for Netiya’s $500-$1500 grants?

Netiya only accepts applications from faith-based institutions in LA County that are (or are willing to become) members of Netiya’s collaborative food and faith network (membership dues are $200). Micro-grants applications are submitted once a year, and approved by Netiya's Executive Council. To qualify for a micro-grant, the project must be on land owned (or leased) by a faith-based institution.

What projects qualify for a matching micro-grant from Netiya?

Any plants or trees that will add an edible component to the property at your faith-based institution (fruit trees in pots, a hydroponic install inside your school); any upgrade to existing garden infrastructure to make it water-wise (drip irrigation, leak repairs, timers); or and any conversion from decorative landscaping to edible and or native (fruit trees instead of grass or ivy).

Do these $500-$1500 matching micro-grants from Netiya need to be paid back?

No, but they must be matched by funds raised by the recipient institution. As the name implies, they are grants, not loans. Netiya wants to help recipients to steward their faith-based land and resources to build food justice and equity, not acquire debt.

How does my faith-based institution apply?

Netiya is always interested in creating new partnerships. There is a simple application process.

To become a Netiya network partner you must:

– be a faith-based institution (congregation, camp, school etc)

– operate in Los Angeles

– be committed to growing food to help low-income people get to self-sufficiency