Madison Reporter

A recent evaluation report by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Extension highlights the positive impact of the City of Madison’s SEED grant program. The program has been effective in supporting projects that improve access to healthy food across Madison.

The report outlines several benefits provided by SEED grants over the past decade. These include bolstering emergency food assistance, increasing food access for high-priority communities, and building organizational capacity to expand programs aligned with the grant's vision. The grants have also enabled organizations to strengthen relationships with target audiences and expand their reach to BIPOC communities. Additionally, they have helped recipients leverage further funding from other sources and contributed to neighborhood vitality through youth development and community projects.

SEED grants have supported numerous local initiatives over ten years. Past recipients noted that "SEED money was a small igniter for bigger things," and described it as "a really nice dollar amount to kickstart something." One recipient shared how an initial $3,600 grant grew into a program with an annual budget of $167,000.

For many organizations, the City's investment improved their chances of securing additional financial support. About 80 percent of recipients reported that the grant facilitated access to further funding. A recipient explained that "[the SEED grants program shows] the City is committed to the [project] idea."

The full report is available on the City of Madison's SEED grant website.

In 2024, several local organizations received SEED grants:

- East Madison Community Center: up to $4,200 for commercial refrigerators

- OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center: up to $8,600 for infrastructure and inventory costs for a food pantry

- River Food Pantry: up to $10,000 for expanded access to culturally-inclusive ingredients

- Allied Food Pantry: up to $8,200 for food inventory

- Aldo Leopold School Parent Faculty Organization: up to $9,800 for a new shed and gardener-in-residence program

- Bayview Foundation: up to $9,200 for garden tools and soil

The SEED Grant Program awards small grants through the Madison Food Policy Council, distributing approximately $50,000 annually. The maximum individual grant is $10,000. An analysis found most awards from 2014 to 2020 were under $3,500. Grants funded community gardens, meals programs, emergency assistance, infrastructure improvements, and nutritional programming.

More information about applying can be found on the City of Madison’s website.