Apply for funding for compost on your farm or ranch.

Any rancher or farmer interested in purchasing compost procured from a Zero Foodprint approved facility. Only compost orders placed after you’ve been awarded a grant and have signed an agreement with Zero Foodprint are eligible to receive funds.

It’s easy! Fill out a grant application here.

Grants are awarded based on available Compost Connector funding which increases throughout the year. Growers are encouraged to apply as early as possible since applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Within 2 weeks of submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming your program status.

Awarded grantees will receive an email notifying them of a dollar amount per ton of compost they have been awarded along with a Compost Connector agreement that must be signed prior to the compost purchase.

Applicants that are not immediately awarded will be placed in a queue which will be reviewed as the program funding increases. You will receive a final notification about the status of your application one month before your preferred compost spreading month.

Your grant will be a fixed dollar amount per ton and will be outlined in your award notification email.

Your grant amount may be different from your annual compost usage noted in your application and may not cover the entire cost of your compost purchase.

Compost Connector will consider applications requesting a minimum of 20 tons.

In very limited cases, individual counties may have different minimums. For example, Nevada County Compost Connector will consider applications requesting a minimum of 5 tons.

That’s fine! You should specify this on your application.

Once awarded, all compost purchases must be made within the 2024 calendar year and documentation must be submitted to Zero Foodprint no later than December 12th, 2024.

When applying, you should specify the total amount of compost you’d like to purchase for the entire year. This may include compost spread over multiple seasons or over multiple months.

We may consider awarding an additional grant if you determine you need more compost than you estimated in your application. This will be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact compost[at]zerofoodprint.org if you find yourself in this position.

You can source any compost product from our list of Compost Connector approved facilities which you can find here.

Only the amount of compost listed on your invoice will be eligible for funding. You can purchase additional products at the same time as your compost, but these will not be covered by the grant.

You should apply separately for each location and/or business entity.

Yes. You can view suggested compost application rates here.

Please make your most accurate estimate on how much compost you think you will need for the entire year on your application. You’ll only receive funds based on the actual amount of compost purchased so there is no benefit in overestimating the quantity desired. For example, If you request and are awarded funding up to 500 tons, but only end up purchasing 400 tons, your payment will be based on the 400 tons reflected on your compost invoice.

1. Your invoice from a Zero Foodprint approved facility with the following
•Zero Foodprint mentioned on the invoice (PO or job notes fields work great)
•Product name includes the word "compost”
•Amount of compost purchased listed in tons or cubic yards
•Bill to information matches your name/farm name and address

2. Technical Data Sheet from your compost vendor

3. Two photos of the delivery and/or spreading of your compost

4. W9 form

For 2024, Compost Connector has moved away from a first come first served rebate to awarding compost grants. Applying does not guarantee you will be awarded funds. Once awarded, you will receive a notice of award letter with a breakdown of the funding amount and parameters specified. You will have until December 12, 2024 to purchase and use compost, and provide the requested documentation to ZFP.

We’re happy to answer it. Please email us at compost@zerofoodprint.org