Download the 2008 Application

Each year, in the early spring months, GreenNet administers the Green Chicago Mini-Grants program. The program, sponsored by the Prince Charitable Trusts assists urban gardeners working in publicly accessible green spaces with grants that fund gardening materials, supplies, and activities. The mini-grants are intended to fund a small project or a special part of a larger project, with awarded funds ranging from $100 to $1,000. Grant money is used to buy seeds, plants or soil, lumber or mulch, compost bins, buckets, nails, schoolbooks related to school gardening, even a garden festival for the community.

To qualify for a GreenNet Green Chicago Mini-Grant, the garden project must be in Chicago in a schoolyard or community garden, or other community greening project. The work and garden area should promote ecological issues, such as a pesticide or chemical-free food garden, plantings that showcase Illinois prairie or woodland plants for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, etc., a composting system that recycles waste and gives nutrients back to the soil, wooden structures free from dangerous chemical preservatives, or a garden that converts lawn to no-mow perennials, shrubs or trees. Applicants must also own or have permission to use the land, and must represent a group such as a block club, garden club, faith-based group, school or other youth group. Finally, funding priority is given to garden groups with an existing (rather than proposed) garden or greening project.

MiniGrant workshop – Thursday March 6
6:30pm at Garfield Park Conservatory

MiniGrants due – Thursday, March 20, 5pm

Mini-grants applications will be mailed out to Chicago school and community groups in mid-January with an application deadline of mid-March. Groups are notified of their grant status by early April and funds are distributed near the end of April. To find out more about GreenNet’s Green Chicago Mini-Grants Program, or to be included on the program mailing list, please call Sherry Legare at 312/863-6266, or e-mail slegare@openlands.org.