The Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Association (RAMGA) has announced that it is launching its 2026 “Giving Back” community grant program. RAMGA will provide awards of between $300 and $600 to Rockbridge County nonprofits for projects that align with RAMGA’s mission.
The types of eligible Rockbridge County nonprofits could include, but are not limited to, schools, community centers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and public libraries. The proposed projects should align with RAMGA’s mission statement, which is to educate and inform the community about sustainable horticultural.
Examples would be native, pollinator and natural habitat planting, fruit or vegetable gardens, public gardens (vegetable and flower), raising plants for sale (4-H), composting, purchasing plant labels and other signage that are considered to have educational value, reduce food insecurity, or have a positive environmental impact (which could include removal of invasive plants). In 2025, for example, RAMGA provided grants to Project Horizon and to Friends of Woods Creek, both of which used the funds to plant native plants.
To be eligible, a project must take place either on public or nonprofit-owned property and must not use or introduce invasive plants. A list of invasive plant species can be found at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/ natural-heritage/invsppdflist.
Grant applications, which are available at RAMGA. org, can be submitted between now and close of business on March 6. Grant announcements will be made by March 20.
Applications can be sent electronically to [email protected] or via U.S. mail to Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners, P.O. Box 1383, Lexington, VA 24450.
