Purpose: Get matching funds from the USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) so you can scale your value-added farm venture.
Designed for: Farmers who market their produce or products as organic, local, free range, grass fed, etc. OR who make a finished product from their produce.
Making our value-added product line a reality
“Before working with Ellen to secure a Value Added Producer Grant from the USDA we had tomatoes rotting in the field. Every season I would think about preserving them, but I didn’t have the time to take on the work myself. Now that we have the grant, I am making our value-added product line a reality and something we are proud of.”
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.
Small farmers have secured over $1 Million dollars in funding for their projects through the grant writing mentorship. My one-on-one grant writing services have secured over $7.5 Million in funding for small farms and farm cooperatives (and one farm support organization). When I write a grant for you or you move through the mentorship we follow a step-by-step process designed to produce a well scoring application.
WHAT’S INCLUDED in the mentorship
Your DIY motivation gets a leg-up from a our success writing applications since 2016 :
Weekly virtual office hours and a Q&A portal to give tailored-to-you guidance on your project and your application
6+ hours of recorded trainings that lead you step-by-step through the process of putting together an application
A library of previously funded applications to use as a jumping off point
A 15 minute one-on-one deep strategy session with Ellen to get feedback on your project before you start building out your application (with the option of booking more one-on-one time along the way)
A personal review of your draft application before submission
A step-by-step workbook leading you through the phases of writing your grant
Spreadsheets to develop your budget, figure out your cost of goods, and build a sales projection
Template support letters
Research resources
Recordings of all office hours so you can access them at any time that fits in with your schedule
An archive of answered questions from previous mentees
I’ve-done-it-before guidance on filling out confusing forms
Final application prep checklist so you don’t end up on the heap of incomplete applications that never get reviewed
A LOOK INSIDE THE CURRICULUM
PLAN
How to determine your COGS and prove your project adds value
Creating realistic & achievable sales goals
Determining your breakeven and program income
COLLECT
Using letters of support to bolster your arguments
Building out a budget that is eligible for funding and flexible
Proving your project’s feasibility through research & analysis
WRITE
Writing a grant application that speaks to reviewers and satisfies requirements
Using the appendixes to your advantage
Preparing your final application without leaving anything out
weekly office hours for hands on support
Tuesdays at 11:30 AM Pacific / 2:30 PM Eastern
February 3rd 2026 - April 14th 2026
You won’t be doing this alone. You’ll work on your application alongside us, following the same proven schedule our team uses to guide clients to a completed submission by the USDA deadline. Recorded trainings gently guide you through each phase, so you always know what to focus on next. And in our weekly office hours, you’ll get accountability, encouragement, and hands-on support to troubleshoot your specific project. Our goal is for you to move forward feeling supported and confident in the application you’re building.
The mentorship is delivered through an online portal built into this website with one easy passcode and no account registration required. Office hours are held over Zoom. Once you sign up you have instant access to the portal with all the training recordings, templates, guidebook, and spreadsheets to help you start preparing your application.
READY TO APPLY FOR GRANT MONEY?
Join Us Today!
The professional support you need to put together an application worth funding:
9 hour of office hour calls ($2250 value)
A review of your draft ($500 value)
Weekly Q&As
A step-by-step workbook
Budgeting & projections spreadsheets
Template support letters
Research resources
Call recordings
Sample narrative arguments
Final application prep checklist
Farms That Have Received Funding Working With Me!
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 office hours be recorded?
Yes, all office hours 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 office hours and a Q&A portal. You can show up to the virtual office hours and work through a question with Ellen. You can also submit questions to Ellen through the online portal and she will answer them during her office hours. That way whether you can make it in person or not you’ll get your questions answered.
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 $1 Million 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!