By Philip J Vonada, National Grange Communications Director
The National Grange continues its commitment to revitalizing rural communities with the launch of a new competitive grant cycle through the Rural Life Initiative.
On January 13, during a webinar entitled “From Ideas to Impact,” National Grange President Christine Hamp announced the start of the “Bridging the Gaps” grant cycle through 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.
Bridging the Gaps allows Community and Pomona Granges to identify unmet, underserved, or under-attended needs in their areas, and to create projects, programs, or events to assist in meeting those needs.
“We want to help give Granges the results to show that they can be a change agent in their communities through partnerships that haven’t been possible before,” said Hamp. “This is about building capacity and resiliency in local communities.”
To date, more than $175,000 has been distributed to State and Community Granges through previous Rural Life Initiative grants and programs.
The grant is as follows:
$1,000 Bridging the Gap Grants (40 available)
- Applications reviewed as received. Must apply by February 28, 2026
- Projects must be completed by August 31, 2026, with final reports submitted by September 30, 2026.
While the grant amount is fixed, additional incentives are available for each verifiable new member Granges gain through their projects.
Because RLI aims to build stronger communities across the country, there are a few main components to the grants:
- Events must address a disparity seen within your community.
- The goal of the Rural Life Initiative: Bridging the Gaps grant cycle is to get Granges active, encourage flexibility, and help place Granges at the forefront of educating the community and addressing and mitigating a local disparity within your community.
- 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:
- Projects cannot involve building improvements or equipment purchases unless they’re essential to carrying out the project.
- Projects must include a plan for recruiting and engaging new members.
“We have seen Granges come alive through the previous grant cycles,” said Hamp. “Granges are thinking bigger and getting engaged in their communities again at a time when this kind of connection and involvement is crucial. They are connecting with each other and building bridges to future success and lasting impact. The Rural Life Initiative is an essential lifeline for community resiliency in towns of all sizes nationwide.”
During the January 13 webinar, presenters Beth Westbrook and Nona Bear outlined several ways the Bridging the Gaps grant could be used by Granges, walking participants through every step. They encouraged attendees to “dream big” and think outside of the box.
The tips and tricks presented also encouraged Granges to pursue other community-based grants, always aiming for success.
“By giving Granges—and Grangers—the tools to succeed, the permission to think big, and some grant funding to get started, we are sure to see meaningful, engaging, life-changing programs and events,” said Nona Bear, one of the webinar presenters and a longtime advocate for rural communities.
Two additional webinars in the Strategies to Strengthen Our Communities series will be held on February 10 – “Lessons Learned: Success Stories from 2025” and March 10 – “Engaging New Energy.”
“We encourage you to stay engaged – you never know what’s coming next,” teased Hamp.
To watch the full announcement, visit the National Grange YouTube channel, view the full grant requirements, and submit your applications at the Rural Life Initiative page on the National Grange website.