Farming is hard work, and producers are often affected by events outside of their control like drought and extreme weather impacts.
The CCOF Foundation is here to help people go and STAY organic—when you run into hardship, we want to support you through it. If heat waves, storms, or unpredictable weather have disrupted your organic operation, the CCOF Foundation is here to help.
Through the Hardship Assistance Fund, eligible organic producers in California can receive direct financial disaster assistance grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. These grants are designed to help with recovery efforts. This is everything from repairing damaged equipment and infrastructure to covering operational costs due to weather-related losses. Producers can apply for relief for events dating back to 2017 through this year. Just as long as they can provide documentation.
Note: The Hardship Assistance program is open to any third-party certified organic producer in California—you do not need to be certified by CCOF to apply.*
Whether you’re still feeling the effects of drought, recovering from a storm, or managing financial setbacks from extreme weather, this fund is here to help you keep farming organically. Our organization is governed by farmers, and we understand what it means to face hardship and keep going—for your land, your community, and your values. We’re here to support you.
A past grantee shared:
“The funds were incredibly helpful. They allowed us to relieve the high-interest debt we had incurred because of drought-related effects on the farm. This ensured financial security in the spring, for which we are eternally grateful. We were able to replace irrigation valves damaged by sediment from low water levels, build more compost, establish no-till beds, add micro drip irrigation, and shade necessary crops from damage.”
Applications are open through June 27, 2025, in both English and Spanish. Learn more and find out if this grant is right for you. If you know someone who has experienced decreased crop yields due to drought or other climate impacts in California, share this grant opportunity with them.
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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*Applications from non-certified operations are accepted for extreme weather and climate impact grants, but certified organic operations will be prioritized.
