Dig In!
Community Garden Grant for Community Organizations
Through the Dig In! Community Garden Grant, City Green provides funding, in-kind materials, and technical assistance to support community organizations, garden clubs, green teams, and faith-based organizations looking to start and sustain a community garden.
There are TWO types of Community Garden Grants:
1) New Community Garden Grants for first-time applicants
2) Returning Community Garden Grants for applicants who have been granted in previous years
New Community Garden Grants / First-Time Applicants
New Community Garden Grants support community organizations seeking to start or revitalize a community garden in Passaic County. This grant is only eligible to groups who have not received a Dig In! Community Garden Grant in the past.
Community Garden Grant Process for First-Time Applicants
Grant Funding Available
Funding up to $3,000 with a 15% in-kind match toward a community garden installation
OR
a City Green garden installation of up to $3,000 value.
Grant Timeline
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Letter of Inquiry Submission Period: July 1st - September 25th, 2026
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Site visit and application invitation period: September 25th - November 20th, 2026
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Application deadline: December 12th, 2025
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Grant award notification: Late January, 2026
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Grant delivery: March - May 2026
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Grant report deadline: November 2026
Eligibility
This program supports municipalities, community organizations, faith-based organizations, garden clubs, high school garden or green teams, youth-serving organizations and community members looking to spearhead a community garden project.
All projects must be:
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food-producing gardens
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located in Passaic county
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have a minimum of three adults committed to their project
Garden sites must:
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have a level site with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight and water access within 100 feet
Not eligible:
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Schools (Pre-K - Middle Schools)
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Commercial for-profit entities
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Private Residences
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After submitting a Letter of Inquiry, City Green will reach out to eligible grantees to schedule a site visit at the proposed garden location starting in October. At the site visit, City Green staff will determine if the location is suitable for a sustainable community garden.
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Sites deemed suitable for a garden will then receive a grant application due December 5th.
Applicants seeking monetary funding
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will be required to complete a project budget with their application.
Applicants seeking a City Green garden installation
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will collaborate with City Green after they receive their grant award to create a garden design proposal.
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Once the design proposal is approved by the grantee, City Green will purchase the materials outlined in the approved proposal and install the garden in spring 2026 with participation from the Community Organization.
Now Open: First-Time Applicant Letter of Inquiry
Returning Community Garden Grants
Returning Dig In! Community Garden Grants support active, existing community garden projects that have recieved Dig In! funding in the past. These grants are intended to help sustain gardens through monetary funding or in-kind materials procured by City Green.
Grants Available
Second-time Applicants
Award Options
Up to $1250 in items from the Garden Grant Menu
or
Up to $1250 in grant funding
Multi-Year Applicant (3+ years)
Up to $750 in items from the Garden Grant Menu
or
Up to $750 in grant funding
Grant Timeline
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Application period: September 25th, 2026 - December 11th, 2026
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Grant award notification: Late January 2027
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Grant delivery: March - May 2027
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Grant report deadline: Late November 2027
Grant Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated with special attention to the following categories:
1) Previous Year's Garden report (including photos)
2) Participant testimonials
3) Site need
Questions? Reach out to Miranda Madrazo at mmadrazo@city-green.org or call 973-869-4086.