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CCOF FOUNDATION GRANTS

Hardship Assistance Fund

Direct financial support for organic producers

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Giving direct financial assistance to organic producers

The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund gives $5,000 – $20,000 direct financial disaster assistance grants for hardship related to drought, extreme weather or climate impacts to organic farmers and processors.

CCOF has partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to administer drought relief grants through the CUSP, and additional funding for extreme weather and climate impacts.

These are reimbursement grants for expenses incurred as a result of drought, extreme weather, and climate impacts.

Drought, extreme weather and climate impact relief funding is open to organic producers in California.*

Grant amounts range between $5,000 to $20,000.

*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

Currently Open:

    •  Extreme Weather and Climate Impact Relief for Farmers and Ranchers in California
    • Drought Relief: Grants for Organic Farmers and Ranchers in California

About the Grant

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Hardship Assistance Fund applicant requirements:

  • Be a certified organic operation with a valid organic certificate from any third-party USDA-accredited certifier (CDFA registration alone is not sufficient).*
  • Must be an organic farming or ranching business in California*
  • Submit a complete and detailed description of hardship endured
  • Submit supporting financial documentation of economic loss (Ex: Profit and Loss Statements)**
  • Grant funds cannot be used for organic certification fees
  • Submit receipts and/or verification of loss
  • Submit a final progress report six months after grant is awarded (for grant recipients only)

*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

**Drought applicants only

Timeline and Details:

  • Applications must be completed online
    • Click  here to review a sample application
  • Applications periods are on a quarterly basis
    • Granting rounds will open on the first Monday, and close the last Friday of each quarter
      • January 6 – March 28, 2025
      • April 7 – June 27, 2025
      • July 7 – September 26, 2025
      • October 6 – December 19, 2025
    • Awards granted the following quarter

*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

Applications accepted quarterly. 

Review Sample Application

Allowable and Unallowable Costs

  • Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:

    • Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates.
    • Surface water costs if increase from year prior.
    • Cost of hauling water for livestock.
    • Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost.
    • Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
    • Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land.
    • Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if they are the sole source of water for operation. To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.

    NOT Covered:

    • Upgrading to a larger pump that will draw more water

    Producers are eligible for a maximum of $20,000 per 12-month period through CDFA CUSP funding. Only California organic producers are eligible for CDFA CUSP Drought Relief funding.

  • Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:

    • Infrastructure damage/loss
    • Equipment damage/loss
    • Expenses associated with soil erosion/mud or water damage and/or clean-up/debris removal
    • Purchase or rental of flood control equipment
    • Replacement of livestock feed, fertilizer, or other farm inputs or soil inputs (including compost and cover crop)
    • Livestock mortality/beehive loss/livestock veterinary expenses or transportation/moving costs
    • Water/soil testing
    • Replacement of crops: trees, nursery stock, perennial plant losses or payments to services for tree removal or replacement
    • Crop Loss/Replacement: Annual vegetable production, perennial crops, and cover crops due to extreme weather (flooding, extreme heat/sunburn, wildfire)
    • Labor
    • Land Tenure

    *Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.

Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:

  • Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates.
  • Surface water costs if increase from year prior.
  • Cost of hauling water for livestock.
  • Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost.
  • Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
  • Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land.
  • Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if they are the sole source of water for operation. To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.

NOT Covered:

  • Upgrading to a larger pump that will draw more water

Producers are eligible for a maximum of $20,000 per 12-month period through CDFA CUSP funding. Only California organic producers are eligible for CDFA CUSP Drought Relief funding.

Accepting applications during the following dates:

  • January 6 – March 28, 2025
  • April 7 – June 27, 2025
  • July 7 – September 26, 2025
  • October 6 – December 19, 2025

Applications must be completed online

  • Applications periods are on a quarterly basis
    • Granting rounds will open on the first Monday, and close the last Friday of each quarter
    • Awards granted the following quarter
  • Only fully complete applications are reviewed
  • Once applications are initiated, they should be completed by the quarterly deadline
  • If not submitted by the quarter deadline, applications will be abandoned
  • Submitted applications missing required documentation will be followed up with once, then denied if documents are not received
  • Funds are provided as direct assistance
    • Grant amounts range from $5,000 – $20,000

The application is available in both English and Spanish.

Accepting applications for farmers and ranchers in California who have been affected by the drought, extreme weather and climate impacts.

Community is at the heart of the CCOF Foundation and we’re here to support you. If you have questions, please reach out to grants@ccof.org or 831-346-6324. Se habla español.

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We are so deeply grateful for this grant!  It will be a key factor in our farm’s survival.  Blessings to all of you who made this possible.  ”

Patricia Rockwell , CCOF grantee
owner of Green Gift Gardens

Our dairy means everything to us, and we vow to keep it going even in the hard times. The past few years have been hard, this last year especially so. The grant we were awarded by the Bricmont Fund came at exactly the right time, giving us much needed relief. ”

Marissa Silva , CCOF Grantee
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