Pine Cone Foundation Grant

The PCF Grant Application is open to established small California-based aquaculture operations that are looking to complete a specific project within one year. When it comes to foodways operations, the state of California is struggling with racial and gender estate prices, political upheaval, and the damaging effects of climate change. California foodways purveyors face a great deal of risk, which threatens the future of food security in the United States. Despite these challenges, people of all ages and backgrounds are still pursuing careers in these fields because they understand the value of a thriving food system and are committed to preserving our status as the breadbasket of America. We are a private family foundation aiming to positively impact the security of our food supply chain in the face of climate rising costs. Our goal is to strengthen local food systems by connecting with and advocating for future generations of stewards in our Golden State. $10,000 The project presented in the application should be a game-changer for your for the benefit of underserved communities in your region.

Applicant must be 18+ years of age. Applicant and the operation must be based in California. The annual sales of the operation must fall between $15,000 and $400,000. Applicant must plan to continue the business throughout 2026, thus viewing the PCF grant as supplemental, not a lifeline to salvage the operation. Applicant must be the owner of the operation; if there are multiple owners, choose just one owner to represent the operation. Applicant’s operation must be an established business for 2+ years and have at least 1 year of sales. The operation must have at least one social media profile under the business name to demonstrate its ability to connect with communities and/or promote sales. Applicant is currently making a portion of their income from their aquaculture operations. Applicant must have a specific project in mind with costs and labor calculated; project proposals should be geared toward a one-year completion period, October 2026 to September 2027, ideally. Applications requesting funds to hire a consultant ( web developer, marketing firm, financial advisors, or otherwise) are not eligible. Farms - no more than 100 acres in agricultural production. Ranches - no more than 3,500 acres in grazing production. Fisheries and aquaculture - applicant’s operations should be small-scale or considered artisanal. For more information, please click here.

Phase 1 Preliminary Application July 6 to 20, 2026 Time commitment is approximately 15 minutes There will be no other opportunities to apply for our 2026 Grant Program, and this will be the only open call for applications this year PCF’s Review Period runs from July 21 to August 13 Phase 2 Secondary Application by Invitation Only August 14 to September 3, 2026 Time commitment is approximately 45 to 60 minutes PCF’s Review Period runs from September 8 to 25 Phase 3 Awardees will be contacted by email from September 28 to 30.