SARE Professional Development Program grant deadline
November 5, 2025
Contact: Contact Sarah Zeiler at szeiler@msu.edu or Katie Brandt at brandtk7@msu.edu for more information.
SARE Professional Development Grants
SARE Professional Development Grants support training for agricultural educators, with a focus on using farmers as educators and addressing emerging issues in the farming community. Grants of up to $120,000 for projects lasting up to three years are available.
Eligible applicants include Extension, NRCS, private and non-profit farm educators working in one or more states in the North Central SARE region. Projects that involve farmers in developing and delivering training are strongly encouraged. Farmer compensation should be at least $25/hour and clearly outlined in the budget.
The primary goal is to provide train-the-trainer education that enhances the viability of existing farmers and ranchers. Proposals should emphasize:
- Farm profitability
- Environmental stewardship
- Quality of life
Be sure to address all questions in the Selection Criteria (p. 6 of the RFP).
Review the Request for Proposals (Word or PDF) carefully, paying close attention to:
- Allowed and unallowed expenses (pp. 4–5)
- Selection Criteria (p. 6)
- Proposal section descriptions (pp. 8–12)
- USDA-NIFA priorities (last page)
Register for the webinar on October 8 at 3 p.m. to learn more. The North Central SARE Grant How-To Video Series is another excellent resource to prepare you for writing a competitive grant that is more likely to be funded.
Deadline: November 5 at 5 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Central)
Notification: January 2026
Project Start Date: February 1, 2026
Funding Rate: In 2024, 54% of proposals were funded; typical success rates range from 30–40%.
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