Birmingham Youth Garden Build Opportunity

Birmingham Youth Garden Build Opportunity

A youth garden can transform a courtyard or open space into an outdoor classroom, giving youth and educators the opportunity to interact with nature, be curious, engage in physical activity, practice cooperation, and learn problem-solving skills.

Not only are youth gardens getting kids outdoors and active, but they're also fostering much-needed connections. Youth gardens are bringing communities together and inspiring young gardeners to take action to help one another.

With a mission to support youth in housing, health, hunger, and education, RSM and KidsGardening are partnering to create a garden in Birmingham, Alabama, providing a space where young people can grow a better understanding of food systems, health, agriculture, and nutrition.

Apply by February 28, 2025.

About KidsGardening

For more than 40 years, KidsGardening has used its experience as garden designers and educators to install high-impact, fun, and sustainable youth gardens across the country. We have built gardens for youth of all ages, from preschool to high school.

Check out a few of our garden installations projects.

How it Works

KidsGardening and RSM employees will work with your organization to design and build the youth garden. Garden and event planning will kick off at a site visit in April. The garden build event will take place on June 5, 2025, with volunteers from RSM and your organization. Following the event, KidsGardening will be available to provide resources to support making the most of your new garden.

Applications are due February 28, 2025.

Eligibility

Any tax-exempt organization, such as a school, non-profit, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Head Start, child care program, library, etc., located in Birmingham, Alabama, is eligible.

Award Package

One organization will be selected for the garden build event. The garden installation includes:

• A site assessment and analysis of potential garden areas
• Three garden design options to choose from
• $10,000 worth of garden build materials, plants, and tools
• Day-of-event garden build coordination
• Support from 40 - 50 volunteers for four hours at the garden build event
• A year of support, guidance, and educational resources from KidsGardening

Funding Priorities

The winner selection is prioritized based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening considers a variety of factors when determining needs, including:

• Socioeconomic & Sociodemographic Factors: How does the program exist within or engage a community that has been systematically denied resources, whether physical assets and money or representative leadership and community services? Organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors are given priority.
• Program Funding and Support: Does an organization have access to consistent, substantial monetary support or prior funding? Or are pre-existing resources (financial or otherwise) limited? Organizations experiencing the latter are given priority.
• Impact: Will funding dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants? Does the intended impact reflect the needs of the community? Organizations working with greater than 50 youth will be given priority.

How to Apply

The deadline for application submission is Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT.
All applications must be submitted online. You can download a copy of the questions as a Word document or PDF file below. We strongly advise saving the questions and then pasting the answers into the online application rather than composing your answers directly into the online form. Many browsers time out after 30 minutes of inactivity (or sometimes sooner), so you may lose your work if it takes longer than your browser's setting to complete or save your entry.

Birmingham Build Application Questions Word
Birmingham Build Application Questions PDF

Award Notification and Fulfillment

The winner will be announced and contacted by email in mid-March 2025.

Grant Recipient Requirements

The grantee will need to be available for a site visit in April, planning for the build event in May, the build event on June 5, 2025, and complete a year-end report by June 15, 2026.

Site Visit:KidsGardening and RSM will visit the programs in April to complete a site analysis and learn more about the program’s idea for the garden design.

Planning: To prepare for the garden build event, KidsGardening, RSM, and the grantee will begin meeting weekly starting in May. Event logistics such as volunteer outreach, project descriptions, tool needs, and recommended food and drinks are a few of the topics for the planning meetings. The grantee will assist KidsGardening and RSM in securing food and water donations and volunteer tools for the event.

Event: The installation event will occur on June 5, 2025. Employee volunteers from RSM will attend the event to build the garden and assemble garden features. The grantee is welcome to invite local volunteers to the event too, but this is not required. All attendees will be required to complete a photo and liability waiver.

Year-End Report:Lastly, the grantee is required to complete a year-end report by June 15, 2026. These reports help KidsGardening and RSM determine the overall impact of the garden build. You can download a copy of the year-end report as a Word document or PDF file.

The grantee will receive a link via email to the brief 10-question online form in May 2026. Year-end reporting requirements include:

• 5-10 digital images of the garden
• Photo release forms to accompany pictures of youth and adults
• A short narrative about the impact of the garden program

If you do not feel you are able to comply with these reporting requirements, please do not apply.

Garden Installation Application Technical Support

If you have any questions, please contact KidsGardening Program Director Sarah Lane at [email protected].

About the Garden Build Sponsor

RSM is an accounting firm providing services in tax, assurance, and consulting with a focus on middle-market leaders. With offices across the globe, RSM strives to provide unrivaled experiences to its clients and the communities in which they live and work.

RSM's environmental efforts kicked off in 2021 and have since grown to local engagement in their 90+ offices across the U.S., Canada, India, and El Salvador. With the RSM US Foundation, whose mission is to support youth in the areas of housing, health, hunger, and education, their environmental stewardship efforts continue to expand.