Micro-grants to support local food projects available

Two local foundations are partnering to provide small grants to organizations and groups in Lake County engaged in innovative local food projects that are feeding communities across the County.

The Liberty Prairie Foundation (LPF), a small private operating foundation headquartered at the Prairie Crossing Farm in Grayslake, recently released a request for proposals for its annual Lake County Community Food Systems Micro-grant Program. This program supports projects using food as a catalyst for change, whether by relief efforts, school and community gardens, food education, and more.

As the program’s fifth cycle opens, LPF is excited to announce a partnership with The Lake County Community Foundation to increase the amount of funds provided through the program to $15,000. The program has historically provided a $10,000 pool of funds. This partnership is a result of The Lake County Community Foundation’s generous support of the Liberty Prairie Foundation’s Community Food Systems Program over the last two years. LPF is grateful for the partnership and for the opportunity to provide important, innovative local food projects with additional support during this funding cycle.

The program provides grants ranging from $500-$2,500. Eligible applicants must be a 501(c)3 organization, educational institution, or government entity located within Lake County, Illinois. Both foundations look forward to supporting local groups working diligently to provide fresh food in communities where it can be difficult to find, conduct food and nutrition education, encourage food sovereignty through gardening initiatives, and much more.

Applications are due by Monday, March 25. For more information and to view to request for proposals, please visit here, and email Emily(at)libertyprairie.org with questions.

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About Liberty Prairie Foundation

The Liberty Prairie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation located in Grayslake, Illinois. The Foundation works across the region to incubate and mentor beginning sustainable local food farmers, provide fresh food access in underserved communities, educate and inspire youth, connect farmers with land, and shape policy that affects our local food system. Since 1993, the Liberty Prairie Foundation has provided leadership and financial support for sustainable local food system development, social entrepreneurship, conservation, and environmental education. We envision a world where people of all ages are deeply connected to their food, land and community, and therefore make choices toward sustainable systems in nature and society.

The Foundation owns and is headquartered on the Prairie Crossing Farm, our working organic farm nestled inside Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community. For more information, visit www.libertyprairie.org. Follow the Foundation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PrairieCrossingFarm/.

About The Lake County Community Foundation

The Lake County Community Foundation, an affiliate of The Chicago Community Trust, brings together philanthropists and donors, dollars and ideas to build permanent funds to benefit Lake County, Illinois – today and for generations to come. Since 2003, LCCF has grown to over $12 million in assets, and has served as a catalyst for generosity and change; a connector of people and organizations; and as the permanent steward of charitable funds dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable residents of Lake County.

LCCF has awarded grants totaling nearly $5 million to nonprofit agencies serving the residents of Lake County and beyond. The organization provides leadership on key issues, insight on emerging trends and helps donors learn more about local needs to make their giving as effective as possible. Through collective philanthropy and by partnering with others, LCCF’s donors help make a greater impact together than any one organization can make alone.

For more information, visit http://www.lakecountycf.org. Follow the Foundation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/The-Lake-County-Community-Foundation-158332597322/ or on LinkedIN at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lake-county-community-foundation/.