Financial Stewardship
Farmers markets need multiple sources of funding to sustain them.
While vendor fees form an important foundation, at most markets, it won’t cover total operational costs and programs that expand your impact.
Fundraising is what propels markets through every stage of development. You might need to upgrade equipment, hire your first staff members, or launch food assistance programs. Whatever your goals, the right funding strategies can help you build a financially stable, community-focused market.
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A folder of examples and templates related to fundraising shared by and for Oregon farmers markets.
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The Washington State Farmers Market Association explains the pros and cons to different fundraising strategies and how what’s right for your market depends on the capacity you have to implement them.
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Everyone in the community can play a role in supporting the local farmers market. This NOFA Vermont manual provides ideas on how to respond when someone asks what they can do to help.
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Follow CCF for inspiration from a fundraising movement that prioritizes the entire community over individual organizations, fosters a sense of belonging and interdependence, presents funding work not as individual transactions but holistically, and encourages mutual support between nonprofits.
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This is a great place to start searching for grants your market may be eligible for. Contact your local library to see if they have it, many offer free access to this database!
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A directory managed by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
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The United States Department of Agriculture offers FMPP grants annually to support farmer-to- consumer direct marketing projects such as farmers markets, CSAs, roadside stands, and agritourism. These grants are complex to apply for and manage, but they can provide a market with a large amount of funding for a period of up to three years.
Overview and How to Apply: Go right to the source: the USDA’s website is the place learn what you can do with FMPP funding and if your market is eligible to apply.
Successfully applying for FMPP grants: OFMA's Programs Manager shares what the FMPP application process is actually like in this Farmers Market Pros podcast episode.
Contact OFMA: Thinking about applying for an FMPP grant? Get in touch with us at OFMA, we are happy to provide your market with a letter of support and to connect you with more resources to help you succeed.
Webinar Recordings
Learn to craft compelling narratives to tell your market's story in a way that builds a more engaged, supportive market community
How to attract and sustain individual donors, an important step in laying the groundwork for a more financially resilient market.
Learn how to build partnerships with businesses in your community and secure sponsorships. Nonprofit Association of Oregon’s Director of Membership, Communications, and Advancement, Kirsten Saladow (and board member at Portland Farmers Market), discusses the key motivators for sponsors to invest in your organization, how to identify prospective sponsors, building your sponsorship proposal package, and how to effectively measure and communicate value.
Learn simple and effective approaches to building a diverse, sustainable funding base that keeps your farmers market financially strong and adaptable, even in uncertain times.
Reimagine fundraising by developing a deeper understanding of how equity-centered fundraising builds trust and relevance; ideas for creating funding partnerships that align with your mission; strategies to shift away from reactive fundraising and toward long-term impact
If your board isn’t raising all the money it could — indeed, if your board isn’t raising any money at all — you’re not alone. In this webinar from the Farmers Market Coalition, get strategies to turn things around. You’ll leave with several practical, specific ideas for increasing board involvement and effectiveness.