“Living to Serve” is the last pillar in the FFA motto, but still a very important one. Community service opportunities are an integral aspect of the FFA organization at all levels. And one way that chapters and state associations can help make a difference in their communities is through the Living to Serve Grants.
Each year, FFA chapters and state associations receive funding to support service projects in their communities through a competitive application process.
»Related: Ryan Williamson on FFA: Instilling service and personal value
This year’s Spring Semester-Long Living to Serve Grant applications are due February 1, 2023. Applications are available on the FFA website.
The best way to plan for a service project is to spend time investigating and planning ahead of time to see what your community needs most. Applicants must identify a community need that falls within one of four focus areas: community safety, hunger, health, nutrition, environmental responsibility, or community engagement.
Grants are available for all of the following lengths and amounts:
- Yearlong Grants – This grant provides middle/high school FFA chapters with up to $3,000 to support a service-learning project that spans an entire school year.
- Semester-Long Grants – This grant provides middle/high school FFA chapters with up to $1,200 per semester to implement a service-learning project in their community for one semester.
- Day of Service Mini-Grants – This grant provides alumni or middle/high school chapters with up to $400 to conduct a one-time service event.
- State Day of Service Grants – This grant provides state FFA associations/foundations with up to $8,000 to support a state-level day of service event to engage FFA members. Only one grant per state will be awarded. The state day of service event may occur in conjunction with a statewide FFA event or as a stand-alone event.
After FFA members have put their plans into action, it’s important to track progress throughout the process and gather results. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact FFA continues to make on communities through 2023!
