New England Grassroots Environment Fund

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Revitalizing Community from the Ground Up:

A One-day Workshop to Explore “How Food is Remaking the Rural Economy of a small corner of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and What Role Grassroots Grantmaking Made in Seeding this Healthy Food and Renewable Energy Renaissance.”

Co-hosted by the national funders’ network, Grassroots Grantmakers and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund (NEGEF), this event will be the first of three workshops for regional funders who want to learn about the importance of grassroots grantmaking. After a general presentation and conversation about grassroots grantmaking, this program will focus on examples of rural grassroots grantmaking. As a platform for learning about how your fund could support the work of the very small, newly formed, mostly volunteer and frequently informal (ad hoc, unincorporated) grassroots groups, NEGEF will share lessons learned and host two amazing site visits.

We will use our time together to explore the following questions:

• What are the challenges and opportunities associated with supporting local, grassroots efforts, especially when the groups are newly formed and not incorporated?
• How can a funder combine grassroots grantmaking’s small grants approach and regional organizing within a broader frame of building and maintaining healthy, just, safe and environmentally sustainable communities?
• What is the synergy between a small grants program and community organizing?
• What is the synergy between community organizing and community development?
• What is the synergy between a small grants program and community development?
• How do local initiatives connect and enhance state and national advocacy campaigns and public policy development?
• Why is it important to give grants directly to the informal community groups?
• How can a place-based funder enlarge the culture of learning associated with its work and the work of its partners in the interest of advancing community change and the effective investment of philanthropic resources?

We will match “on the ground” time with discussion and reflection to connect insights from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund’s experience with grassroots grantmaking work. This event will focus on two NEGEF “portal issue areas” – 1) Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture; and 2) Energy and Climate Action – and how the synergy among a half dozen NEGEF grantees are implementing a rural economic renaissance built around food, renewable energy and sustainable use of their natural resource base.

Registration will be limited to 50 participants to maximize opportunities for peer to peer dialogue and exchange, and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Who can attend?

This learning event is designed for funders. Registration will be limited to private foundation and community foundation trustees, donors and staff of these organizations or people who are sponsored by a funding organization. In addition to the Grassroots Grantmakers and NEGEF staff and board, several local NEGEF Grantees will be part of the program.

What does it cost to attend?

A $150/person early-bird registration rate is available through Wednesday, September 16th. After that date, the registration fee will be $175/person. The registration fee will cover program materials, a continental breakfast, an all-local lunch and a local wine/cheese reception at the end of the day. Participants are expected to cover their own lodging expenses. Rooms will be available at the Lakeview Inn and Highland Lodge and other area bed and breakfast inns at very reasonable prices.

Where will the event be held?

The morning session will occur in the meeting room at the Lakeview Inn. Two afternoon site visits to Pete’s Greens, one of the most successful CSAs (community supported agriculture) in the country, and the Caves at Jasper Hill Farms, a new state of the art cheese cave that will support 30 – 40 family farms making artisan cheese.

What accommodations are available?

For those coming from a distance and/or attending the Vermont Community Foundation’s annual meeting in Burke, VT the day before, there will be rooms available at both the Lakeview Inn and Highland Lodge ranging in price from $85/single to $115 for a shared room. Only eight rooms are available at the Lakeview Inn and will be reserved through NEGEF. Additional rooms are available at the Highland Lodge. Participants will cover the cost of their own lodging. Please indicate your need for lodging while registering. Click here for a map and directions to Greensboro, the Lakeview Inn and the Highland Lodge.

What is the agenda for the gathering?

Click here for the working program. We will kick off on Wednesday morning at 8:00 with a continental breakfast. Session starts at 9:00 and will conclude with a local wine/cheese reception at 4:00. The day will include a presentation on grassroots grantmaking, stories from two key community groups that both got started with a grassroots grant, conversation with your peers, two site visits and then conclude with the reception. NEGEF will be happy to help those interested in additional visits to other key players in this food renaissance movement connect and make plans for additional visits on Thursday.

For those who arrive in time for dinner on Tuesday evening, NEGEF encourages you to dine at Claire’s Restaurant in Hardwick, a new establishment serving food made almost entirely from local ingredients, a business that was organized on a community cooperative model, part community owned. If enough people indicate interest in this informal “dutch-treat” supper, NEGEF will help us connect and make it a networking dinner.

What about hotel accommodations?

The Lakeview Inn has 8 rooms that they will offer for $85 for a single and $115 for double occupancy. Highland Lodge has a dozen or so rooms in several cottages. Wednesday night occupancy is also available for the same rates only at the Highland Lodge. Please make your reservations for the Lakeview Inn through the registration process or by contacting NEGEF staff.

How do I register?

Registrations can be submitted on-line by clicking one of the links on this page. Multiple registrations from one organization should be submitted one at a time; registration fees for multiple registrations can be easily handled with one check. You will receive an email confirmation after you register, and we will hold your space unless you notify the NEGEF Office that you will not be attending.

How do I submit payment of my registration fees?

Registration fees can be made online or should be paid by check and mailed to:

New England Grassroots Environment Fund
PO Box 1057
Montpelier, VT 05601

You will receive an email confirmation after you register and after your online payment or check has been received.

What if I register but need to cancel?

We can accept cancellations and issue a full refund of your registration fees until September 15th. After September 15th, we will accept your cancellation but will not be able to issue a refund.

When will I receive meeting materials and specific logistical info?

Meeting materials and more detailed logistical information will be sent on September 8th or upon registration after that date. Those registering after September 15th can, time permitting, have the materials over-nighted, but NEGEF will appreciate reimbursement for the cost of that mailing when you attend. Those registering after Friday, September 18th will be given the materials when they arrive.

What is the proper attire for this gathering?

Casual, of course! We will be traveling the short distance to the site visits in a car caravan so comfortable clothes and shoes for walking are definitely in order!

Other questions?

Contact Cheryl King Fischer, Claire Wheeler, Bart Westdijk or Ginny Callan at the NEGEF office. You can reach any of these people through .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by calling 802-223-4622.

HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US…THIS WILL BE A FUN AND INFORMATIVE EVENT!