ACCELERATOR MINI-GRANT PROGRAM

Four Bellies Farm (2020-2021 Accelerator Cohort), photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism

Farmers come through our doors striving to build a successful career in agriculture. 

They want to feed their neighbors, steward the land, possibly continue a family tradition of farming, enjoy a good quality of life, and care for their rural communities. We’ve seen many of these farmers succeed, but we’ve also seen many people begin farming only to quit after a few years. Why?  

Farming is a business and as with all businesses, there are benchmarks for growth.   

These benchmarks signify pivotal moments when a small to medium-sized farm needs strategic investment to either scale up or evolve their business from day-to-day survival mode to true sustainability. While commodity agriculture uses one-size-fits-all solutions, small, diversified farm businesses need a more tailored approach. This means that oftentimes critical services are out of reach. 

2020 - 2024 | Accelerator Cohort Program 

The Georgia Organics Accelerator Program launched in 2020 to fill these gaps by combining personalized expert coaching with on-farm capital investments for small to medium-sized diversified farms. With the intention of growing the vitality and resiliency of Georgia farms and improving the quality of life for its farmers, three cohorts of Accelerator farmers received coaching in the fields of accounting, business and finance, profit analysis, loans, leasing, production, and employee management. Each Accelerator farm also received strategic financial support to offset the costs of infrastructure, continued education, employee stipends, healthcare costs, and climate-resilient investments. Georgia Organics staff worked with these farms over the course of one to two years to provide programmatic support and help them utilize their coaches and spend down their funds.

From 2020-2024, Georgia Organics moved 25 farms through the cohort program. In total, these farms executed $241,250 in strategic capital investments and completed over 500 hours, amounting to $50,000, in one-on-one coaching support. Many of these farms scaled up their operations, hired their first full-time employees, and developed stronger financial and bookkeeping skills, all significant benchmarks for a business. 

2025 - present | Accelerator Mini-Grant Program 

In 2025, we adapted the cohort model into a mini-grant program covering three thematic pillars of farmer prosperity: Business Development, Capacity Building, and Climate Resiliency.  

The 2025 Accelerator Mini-Grant Program awarded $12,500 in Coaching Mini-Grants to 14 farmers, and $28,000 in Strategic Capital Mini-Grants to 13 farmers. 

The 2026 Accelerator Mini-Grant Program will continue supporting the pillars of farmer prosperity through Coaching Mini-Grants and Strategic Capital Mini-Grants. 


2026 Accelerator Mini-Grant Program Details

Interested in applying for this opportunity? You must be a current Georgia Organics Farmer Member in order to be considered for a Mini-Grant.  

Not a member? Join today at https://www.georgiaorganics.org/farmermembership 

Not sure what your membership status is? Email farmerservices@georgiaorganics.org 


Coaching Mini-Grant Strategic Capital Mini-Grant
  • Application period will be open July 22 – August 23, 2026; applications will be reviewed and awardees will be notified by September 1, 2026.

  • Coaching support includes one-on-one consulting with a coach of your choice. If you don’t have a preferred coach, Georgia Organics will try to find one for you.

  • Coaching awards require a minimum of 3 hours working with a coach, and can reach up to a $1,000 spending cap.

  • We will award up to 14 farmers a $1,000 mini-grant.

  • Farm owners and farm workers are eligible to apply.

  • Due to our funder's requirements, priority will be given to applicants in South Georgia counties.

  • Awardees will receive funds via direct payments to coaches.

  • Awards must be spent by December 7, 2026.

  • Awardees are required to complete a post-award report by December 31, 2026. 



  • Application period will be open July 22 – August 23, 2026; applications will be reviewed and awardees will be notified by September 1, 2026.

  • Strategic Capital support can include infrastructure improvements or new builds, equipment, new labor costs, marketing, production supplies, etc. (We will not accept applications for operating costs, such as rent or utilities.)

  • Applicants can request a mini-grant of $1,500 or $3,000. Selected farms are not guaranteed the full amount of funds they request.

  • We will award up to 9 farmers a $3,000 mini-grant and 5 farmers a $1,500 mini-grant.

  • Only farm business owners are eligible to apply.

  • No county-specific prioritization.

  • Awardees will receive funds up-front as a grant award and will need to submit proof of purchase documentation, receipt(s), and/or invoice(s) within 30 days of project purchase(s) or when requested by Georgia Organics.

  • Awards must be spent by December 7, 2026.

  • Awardees are required to complete a post-award report by December 31, 2026. 

Ideal farmer candidates Must fit all of the following criteria: 

  • Are a part-time or full-time farmer based in Georgia 

  • Are selling products 

  • Are a soil-based farmer with a soil-based operation 

  • Are using sustainable and/or organic farming practices 

  • Are a current Georgia Organics Farmer Member 

Ideal farmer candidates fit most or all of the following criteria: 

  • Currently own land or in a long-term lease of at least 5 years 

  • Have at least two years of farming experience 

  • Have a commitment to building their farm’s capacity and climate resiliency 

  • Have knowledge of on-farm record keeping and accounting and currently have systems in place 

  • Have clear farm goals and intended outcomes in mind 

  • Have an interest in continued agricultural education   

  • Are ready to use mini-grant funds in the next 1-3 months 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please review the following information thoroughly and completely before applying for a Mini-Grant.

CLICK BELOW TO learn more and apply for a 2026 Accelerator Mini-Grant! 

OPEN NOW! Apply by Aug. 23, 2026 

Awarding by Sept. 1, 2026 

OPEN NOW! Apply by Aug. 23, 2026 

Awarding by Sept. 1, 2026 

Please limit the use of AI in writing your application responses. All applications will be run through an AI detector and we will more likely consider your application if it is written in your own words.


CHECK OUT OUR PAST ACCELERATOR FARMERS!

Visit the Accelerator Alumni Gallery to view the past 2020-2024 farmer cohorts and 2025 mini-grant awardees!