Volume 2 | Issue 12
June 27, 2025
A publication of the National Grange
National Grange Launches Rural Life Initiative Grants by Philip J Vonada
National Grange Communications Director
The National Grange is doubling down on its commitment to revitalizing rural communities with the launch of two new competitive grant opportunities through the Rural Life Initiative. On June 24, during the “GPS to Success” webinar, National Grange President Christine Hamp announced the launch of two new grant opportunities as part of the expansion of the Rural Life Initiative (RLI), a program designed in partnership with Grange Advocacy to strengthen rural communities through health, wellness, agriculture, and community projects and events. If you missed the webinar, it is available to watch on the National Grange YouTube channel. Following the 2024 successes of programs in seven pilot states and nearly 25 Granges that received mini-grants for holiday events, the National Grange is expanding the RLI program and eligibility for all Granges. Successful examples of past projects include senior fitness classes, building Grange awareness at a community zucchini race event, vaccination and wellness clinics, a cancer research fundraising 5K, and more.
The grant opportunities are as follows: $1,000 Summer Grants (30 available) • Projects must be completed and report submitted by September 30, 2025 • Applications reviewed as received. Must apply by July 31, 2025.
$5,000 Long-Term Grants (2 available) • Projects must be completed and report submitted by December 31, 2025. • Applications are due by July 31, 2025, with notification of grant winners on August 8, 2025. Both grant opportunities are open to either local or State Granges. While the main grant amounts are fixed, there are additional incentives available for completing projects and submitting reports on time, and for each new member gained through your project.
In This Issue National Grange Launches Rural Life Initiative Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Opinion: Cancer Care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code . . . . . . . . . 2 Have you registered? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 View from the Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Grange Member Benefit: Harvest Hosts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 National Grange kicks off celebration for America’s 250th with “Red, White and You” Campaign . . . . . . . 7 45 Degrees North: Parade Protocols ............8 You could be chosen to help close the business meeting at this year’s National Grange session . . . . . . . . . . 9 Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President this month? . . . . 10 Participate in Virtual Learning Session on Alcohol Misuse in Women . . . . 12 Support Burr Oak’s Mitten Tree . . . . 12 Grange Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
What are the grant requirements?
Because RLI aims to build stronger communities across the country, there are three main components to the grants: • You must include at least one partner organization beyond your Grange. • You must submit a current membership list with the application proposal. • You have the flexibility to choose topics based on local needs, but:
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