Applications Open for Traditional Bee Grant Program
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The Whole Foods Market Foundation, in partnership with The Bee Cause Project, is buzzing with an inspiring opportunity for K–12 schools and nonprofit organizations to bring the wonder of live bees into their educational spaces.
Tailored for those serving at least ten children in the U.S. or Canada, this Bee Grant program aims to foster pollinator awareness through hands-on learning that connects students directly with the vibrant world of bees.
New applicants may choose between two engaging paths to welcome bees into their curriculum. One option offers a $1,500 monetary grant to help launch or expand a live bee program, while the other provides an indoor observation hive—a fascinating window into hive life—for classrooms to study bees up close. Either choice comes with access to a digital PDF application to prepare your entry before officially submitting through the online portal.
If you’ve already received a Traditional Bee Grant in 2024 or earlier and have completed your progress report, you’re invited to reapply through the Renewal Bee Grant. Valued at $500, this grant goes beyond financial support—it includes personalized one-on-one support from The Bee Cause Project, an educator resource pack filled with age-appropriate lessons, planning tools, community engagement ideas, and an optional online “Bee a Friend to Pollinators” summer course hosted by Clemson University.
This initiative is backed by a decade of impact: as of May 2025, the foundation has awarded $375,000 in Bee Grants to 150 schools and nonprofits, contributing to over $2.1 million invested in pollinator education. These efforts have empowered communities across North America to cultivate not just beehives, but also curiosity, environmental stewardship, and connections to our food systems.
To get started, prospective applicants can prepare by downloading the Traditional or Renewal Bee Grant application PDFs and consider participating in upcoming webinars designed to walk educators through the grant process, answer questions, and provide helpful guidance.
With this program, Whole Foods Market Foundation and The Bee Cause Project invite communities to nurture both bees and young minds, creating vibrant pollinator programs that buzz with learning and conservation.
