Dig In! Seed Grants

Dig in to Farm to School!  

Dig In! Seed Grant grants are now closed.
In partnership with The Schad Foundation, Farm to Cafeteria Canada is pleased to announce the third round of Dig In Seed Grant, back by popular demand for the 2025/26 school year. These flexible grants are intended to help improve school food environments across Canada by increasing access to healthy, local and culturally appropriate foods in schools and/or improve opportunities for hands-on learning through food and food systems.

See past grant stories

The term “Local food to school” can be used instead of “farm to school.” This term is preferred in some regions and Indigenous communities. It reflects the diversity of local and traditional foods that can be enjoyed in schools from coast to coast to coast, many of which are not sourced from a farm.

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Information for applicants

What are the grants?

Seed Grants provide schools with access to funds, knowledge and inspiration to ‘Dig in’ to farm to school by making small, positive changes in their school food environments. They are best suited for schools that are looking to get started,  although schools that have an existing project that could use a boost are also eligible to apply. Seed grants can serve as an excellent stepping stone to our Farm to School Canada Grants program.

  • Schools can apply for any amount between $500 and $3,000.
  • The total grants available will depend on the individual amounts requested by schools. We expect at least 30 grants to be awarded in 2025. 
  • Grant project activities should be implemented by the end of the 2025/26 school year.

Key dates

September 8, 2025
Grant application window OPENS

October 20, 2025 Grant
Application window
CLOSES

December 1, 2025
Grant recipients notified

January – June 2026
School projects are implemented
Networking and knowledge sharing opportunities will be hosted by F2CC

June 13, 2026
Deadline for participating schools to complete grant experience survey

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Review the Grant Guidelines.
  2. Complete the online form and submit your application (new for 2025—you can now save your progress and return to complete your responses!).

Dig In! Seed Grant grants are now closed.

Who can apply & how grants will be selected

Applications are open to schools (kindergarten to grade 12) across Canada. 

Available grants will be equitably distributed across 6 geographic regions:

  • British Columbia
  • Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
  • Territories (Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island)

Schools in Indigenous communities/nations and schools that serve a high-proportion of low-income, racialized or other equity-deserving communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please reach out to us at grants@farmtocafeteriacanada.ca if you have questions or would like support submitting your application.

Get Inspired!

Looking for ideas on how the grants can be implemented in your school community?

2024/25 Dig In! Seed Grant Recipients
Past Cycles