Nonprofits and organizations that are developing programs to enhance the skills of students or dairy producers, or to build public trust in the people and products of the dairy industry, are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $10,000 from Dairy’s Foundation.
“You don’t need to be a dairy farmer to apply for a grant from Dairy’s Foundation,” said Nicki Ciurro. She is the executive director of the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum in Waukesha, Wis. “The Dairy’s Foundation team has been wonderful to work with,” she added. “The grant gave us the opportunity to bring educational information about dairy farming into our museum setting.”
The Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum received funding to create “Cow to Carton” displays and activities. These interactive displays are part of the Agricultural Legacies of Waukesha County exhibit. The exhibit features signage and interactive elements showing the journey of modern dairy production from farm to table. It includes a barn with a life-size dairy cow, farm toys, and a shopping area. The shopping area has replicas of dairy products like milk, ice cream, and yogurt.
Other recent grants have supported the creation of the “Mable the Cow” interactive toy veterinary care kit by Little Medical School and provided funding for the Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management Career Development Event hosted by the Tennessee FFA Foundation.
Since 2010, the foundation has awarded more than $335,000 in grants to programs that equip the dairy community with the tools and resources to be effective managers, leaders, and ambassadors for dairy in both rural and urban areas.
The next application deadline for Dairy’s Foundation grants is December 1, 2024. Grant criteria and guidelines are available at www.DairyFoundation.org/grant-seekers/. An independent grant selection committee will review the applications. Organizations with 501(c)(3) or (5) tax status are eligible to apply.