The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is proud to announce the awardees for year two of the Composting for Community Mini-Grant Program. Recipients include community gardens, farms, schools, tribal communities, and nonprofit organizations across New England coastal states and – for the first time – New York City. This opportunity was again made possible with the support of 11th Hour Racing, as well as an anonymous donor’s significant contribution towards the New York City applicants. In total, ILSR awarded $370,000 in $10,000 sub-awards to 37 grantees.
Projects are diverse in scale and operation but are united in their mission-driven, innovative approach to community improvement. Projects include:
Cities and states on the Eastern coastline of the US are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as has been exemplified by the extreme summer heat in New England and the recent flooding in New York City. At the same time, declining federal support for climate action and environmental justice means that many of the frontline communities and historically disadvantaged communities are left under-resourced. It’s vital to invest in local initiatives making an impact to combat climate change, divert food scraps, and build healthy soils in their communities. This program partially addresses these disparities by providing resources to the communities that have been historically underserved.
This year marks an expansion on last year’s pilot program. Read more about last year’s awardees.
“This grant will allow us to turn food waste into community power—growing healthier soil, educating our neighbors, and launching Wareham’s first composting initiative right where it’s needed most. It’s not just about compost; it’s about dignity, sustainability, and creating a model for local, inclusive environmental action.”
– Rachel Resendes, The Family Pantry-Damien’s Place
“This grant supports our work in teaching the community that if you care for your environment, your environment will care for you. There is no clearer example than remediating the soil so we can continue to grow food, medicine, and native plants that support the local ecosystem for years!”
– Asmara, Ujamaa Garden
“This grant represents more than just an agricultural improvement—it is an investment in the food sovereignty and sustainability of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. By building healthier soil today, we are ensuring a stronger, more resilient future for the next generations of Wampanoag farmers.“
– Kimberly Maida, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
“This grant fuels the movement we are growing in the South Bronx. It empowers our BIPOC led regenerative urban farm to expand composting, train new community leaders, and turn a food desert into fertile ground for opportunity. Every pile we turn and every young person we train strengthens a living network restoring balance to our neighborhoods and to the Earth.“
– Hector Bardeguez, Morris Campus Educational Farm Inc
Brenda Platt was awarded the prestigious Jerome Goldstein Lifetime Achievement Award by the US Composting Council.
Across coastal New England and NYC, 37 organizations received grants of $10,000 each to support new or existing mission-driven composting projects focused on community improvement.
Community Composting 101 provides an overview of the importance of and science behind composting, and recommended best practices for implementing community-based programs.
ILSR collaborated with the EPA to include 483 community composting sites on their Excess Food Opportunities Map (EFOM).