HOW IT WORKS

Getting noticed in today’s marketplace is challenging and coming up with cash to put into sales and marketing can feel near impossible. The Value Added Producer Grant covers things you may already be paying for - like web design or product labels - or help you afford something you’ve only dreamed of - like branded produce boxes, a professionally designed logo, or silkscreened jars.

I’ve secured over $1.5 million dollars in funding for small farmers through this grant. When I write a grant for you or you move through the mentorship we follow this step-by-step process designed to produce a well scoring application.

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The professional support you need to put together an application worth funding:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How are documents delivered in the program?

Documents are delivered through an online portal built into the backend of this website. Meaning there is one password for all participants and you don’t need to create your own account to access course materials. The templates and info sheets are in Microsoft word and Microsoft excel formats which you can easily convert into google sheets or google docs if you don’t have the Microsoft office suite. Our goal is to make this program accessible to those without a ton of tech skills while also being a good fit for those who are really comfortable on the computer. 

How much time will I need to write my application?

We recommend that you have 8-10 hours a week available throughout the mentorship. The vast majority of this time goes towards developing and writing your application: researching your argument, collecting needed documentation, building and quoting out a budget, and writing your narrative. We know it’s a lot of time, but the mentorship is designed to make that time really effective and to result in a winning application. 

Will meetings be recorded?

Yes, all meetings are recorded and posted in our private portal with password protection to protect your privacy. We know that farmers are busy! Having the meetings recorded allows you to participate even if a call time doesn’t work for you and allows you to go back and listen to lessons as you prepare your application.

Will I have a chance to ask my specific questions throughout the program?

Yes! Once the live portion of the mentorship begins we have group calls and a Q&A portal. On each group call, you will have time to ask questions about your application. We also have time during a group call when each participant presents their main argument to get feedback from the group and Ellen herself. 

You can also submit questions to Ellen through the online portal. Once a week, Ellen answers all these questions and the questions and answers are published to the whole group, so you get your questions answered and are able to learn from the questions that others posed as well.

These features are available only during the application deadline (after the Request for Proposal drops until the application deadline) so that information is completely accurate to that funding cycle.

Can I really write a successful grant application myself?

Yes! The first year Ellen wrote these grant applications she herself was figuring it out as she went (which without a process included three nights of only 4 hours of sleep). So far, over $700,000 in funding has been secured by mentees.

How long does my access last?

Access to the mentorship portal and live calls lasts until a month after each funding cycles application deadline. Here’s what that can look like if you sign up when the USDA is not accepting applications: you sign up and get started with all our templates, once the USDA announces a new funding cycle you take advantage of the group calls and Q&A portal to ask questions particular to your application, before you submit your application you get your individual draft review, and after the application deadline you have a month to save any resources you’d like to keep. The password to the portal is then changed and your access is ended.

Do you have a money back guarantee or refund policy?

We do not offer refunds on the mentorship. Why? Because we cap mentorship participation. So if you sign up for a spot it stops someone else from joining and if you later decide you want to back out now we’re out of income. It’s kind of like if you had a CSA member and once harvest came they asked if they could get a refund for their advanced payment. We do have options though! If you decide you don’t want to join the live portion of the mentorship the year you signed up we can invite you into the live portion the following year. You can also find someone to take your spot (again, just like a CSA!). We hear from mentorship participants that the resources do more than support writing a grant application, they also teach them skills in evaluating their business and how to improve it. So we hope that no matter what you decide about applying for a grant, you find the investment in the mentorship was worth it!