The JLD Ag Fund Grant Program

About the JLD Ag Fund Program

 

Would you like us to consider funding your project?

Organizations, programs, and projects supported by the JLD Ag Fund are directly related to the preservation, protection and/or promotion of agricultural land and agriculture in Napa County, in keeping with the ideals set forward in our Mission and Goals. Programs or projects should occur in Napa County and should directly benefit Napa County. The JLD Ag Fund suggests alternative options for multi-year proposals or funding of ongoing operating expenses.

If your proposal meets the guidelines above, please submit a brief letter via email outlining your proposal. We will contact you for more information if necessary, and to request you make a presentation to the JLD Ag Fund board. The JLD Ag Fund board meets 4-6 times per year. In order for a proposal to be considered during a particular time period, inquiries should be initiated three months or more prior to the desired time review period.

 

For more information, please contact us at info (at) jldagfund.org
 

Proposals & Grant application requests should be sent to:
The Jack L. Davies Ag Fund
Attn: Grant Review Committee
811 Jefferson Street
Napa, California 94559
Fax: (707) 224-7836
Email: info (at) jldagfund.org

 

High School Scholarship Program

The JLD Ag Fund is proud to support the High School Scholarship program, in partnership with the Napa County Farm Bureau for Napa County’s graduating high school seniors pursuing studies in agriculture, public policy, environmental studies, or other related fields. Since 2017, multiple scholarships of up to $2,500 have been granted to qualified applicants to help cover the expenses of their first year of college or university.

Included in the application is an essay where students are asked to define the Napa Ag Preserve and explain its importance to Napa County. There will also be an oral interview at the Napa County Farm Bureau on a mutually agreed date in the Spring.

Find the application at https://www.napafarmbureau.org/foundation

Good luck!

Past JLD Ag Fund Grants & Commissioned Research

2022

Established the Volker Eisele endowment scholarship at the Napa Valley College Foundation, which honors the legacy of long-time Napa Valley land protection advocate and vintner, Volker Eisele. This annual scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing agricultural studies at Napa Valley College, and will be awarded at the NVC’s scholarship ceremony each year.

Provided college scholarships to 8 graduating high school seniors across Napa County, pursuing studies in agricultural fields.

2021
Hosted community discussion and webinar on “Housing, Open Space & Ag Land” in order to present our findings from Professor Tom Daniels’ report. Click to download the full report and/or Executive Summary.

Provided college scholarships to 9 Napa County graduating high school students pursuing studies in agricultural or environmental fields

Awarded funds as part of a multi-year pledge (2017-2022) to support the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and sponsored the addition of a trail plaque that educates trail users about the history of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve.

2020
Commissioned a report by Professor Tom Daniels, PhD, on Agricultural Land Protection, Annexation & Housing Development to highlight the case studies across the United States that demonstrated success in addressing the need for affordable housing alongside the ongoing protection of agricultural land. Reports available for download here.

Provided college scholarships to 5 Napa County graduating high school students pursuing studies in agricultural or environmental fields.

Awarded funds as part of a multi-year pledge (2017-2022) to support the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and sponsored the addition of a trail plaque that educates trail users about the history of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve.

2019
Created a rotating multi-media exhibition at the Napa Valley Museum, that was also on display at various public locations throughout Napa County throughout the year.

Provided college scholarships to 5 Napa County graduating high school students pursuing studies in agricultural or environmental fields.

Awarded funds as part of a multi-year pledge (2017-2022) to support the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and sponsored the addition of a trail plaque that educates trail users about the history of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve.

2018
Provided college scholarships to 5 Napa County graduating high school students pursuing studies in agricultural or environmental fields.

Celebrated the Ag Preserve’s 50th Anniversary through a campaign that included a dedicated website (napaagpreserve.org) and curated educational videos (available on our website and Youtube) promoting awareness around 50 Years of the Ag Preserve.

Orchestrated an auction lot filled with wines and experiences in celebration of the Ag Preserve’s 50th Anniversary for the annual community fundraiser, Auction Napa Valley.

Awarded funds as part of a multi-year pledge (2017-2022) to support the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and sponsored the addition of a trail plaque that educates trail users about the history of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve.

Provided college scholarships to 5 Napa County graduating high school students pursuing studies in agricultural or environmental fields.

Supported Ag in the Classroom for Napa County schools, and the Ag Program at Saint Helena High School.

2017
Awarded funds as part of a multi-year pledge (2017-2022) to support the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and sponsored the addition of a trail plaque that educates trail users about the history of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve.

2016
Completed analytical Mapping Project highlighting areas where agriculture is protected or at-risk throughout the Napa County Ag.

Preserve, Ag Watershed, conservation easements, in additional to areas potentially at risk of development or subdivision.

Awarded funds to support agricultural programs at Stonebridge School

Granted funds to support the LandSmart program Napa Resource Conservation Department, educating youth on preservation.

Publication and distribution of Second Edition of Oral Histories of the Napa Valley Ag Preserve

2015
Granted funds to support the Napa Valley Land Trust’s educational public conference regarding Conservation Easements.

Initiated analytical Mapping Project to review in Ag protections in Napa County.

Awarded funds for essential structural improvements and farming tools for Vintage Farm.

Granted funds to support the Ag Program of the Napa Chapter of Future Farmers of America at Vintage High School.

Granted funds to support the Ag Program of the St. Helena Chapter of Future Farmers of America at St. Helena High School.

Supported Leadership Napa Valley’s “Ag Day”, teaching leadership to a diverse group of Napa County residents.

2014 
Awarded funds to support Napa County Agriculture in the Classroom programs.

2013
Sponsored California Farmland Preservation Conference: A statewide conference highlighting the successes, defining the obstacles and exploring new directions for conserving California agricultural land.

Awarded funds to support Napa County Agriculture in the Classroom programs.

Granted funds to Stonebridge Elementary School to support their agricultural educational program.

Awarded funds to Napa County Resource Conservation District for their Landsmart program

2012
Sponsored the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (ALAFCO) statewide conference.

Published Oral Histories of Napa County’s Agricultural Preserve

2011
Sponsored Napa County Earth Day celebration

Awarded fund to support Napa County Agriculture in the Classroom programs.

Granted fund to Preservation Napa Valley to support Historic Barn Tour event.

Awarded funds to Napa Historical Society for Harvesting History project.

Granted funds to Napa County Resources Conservation District for Student & Landowner Education and Watershed Project .(SLWES)

Funded ongoing research for the Oral History Report on the creation of the Ag Preserve.

2010
Granted funds to Preservation Napa Valley to support Historic Barn Tour event.

Funded research on the housing needs assessment & available urban land inventory in Napa County.

2009
Granted funds to develop an Oral History Report on the creation of the Ag Preserve.

2008
Funded commemorative plaque for the 40th anniversary of the Ag Preserve which was installed in the lobby of the Napa County Administration building.

Funded creation and installation of Ag Preserve display at Napa Valley Museum and hosted several events to highlight the 40th anniversary of the Ag Preserve.

2007
Awarded funds to the Napa County Land Trust for the purchase of Wildlake Ranch Granted additional funding for legal research on the extension of Measure J.

2006
Granted fund for legal review and research of Measure J and the 2020 Sunset Clause.

Collaboration with the Napa Valley Museum on a permanent display on the Ag Preserve to be completed in 2008 for the 40th Anniversary of the Ag Preserve.

2005
Granted fund for St. Helena High School Ag Boosters garden tools

Granted funds to Acorn Soupe for Public Awareness and Education Program

Granted funds to Ag in the Classroom for Field Trip Program and Crop Report Art Contest

2004
Funding to support Measure Q, R and S campaign

Granted funds for legal use

2003
Granted funds

2002
Donated funds to the St. Helena High Ag Boosters for construction of teaching facilities and green house.

Donated funds to the Vintage High Ag program for material, equipment and tools.

2001
Granted funds to the Napa County Ag in the Classroom program.

Granted funds to the Napa County Farm Bureau to assist in funding legal research on conversion of ag grazing land in the south county area to a hotel/resort/conference center.

2002
Donated funds to the St. Helena High Ag Boosters for construction of teaching facilities and green house.

Donated funds to the Vintage High Ag program for material, equipment and tools.

Funded a Napa County Land Use Analysis research paper which compared the economic impacts of resort hotels vs. permitted warehouse/office use.

2001
Granted funds to the Napa County Ag in the Classroom program.

Granted funds to the Napa County Farm Bureau to assist in funding legal research on conversion of ag grazing land in the south county area to a hotel/resort/conference center.

2000
Granted Funds to the Jack L. Davies Napa County Agricultural Land Preservation Fund to update the ABAG Housing Demands Study.

Granted funds to the Land Trust of Napa County to create a Powerpoint multimedia presentation.

1999
Granted Funds to the St. Helena High School Ag Program building project.

1997
Awarded funds to the Napa County Farm Bureau to offset costs associated with legal research which was necessary to defend Measure J in the Supreme Court.

Funding contribution for landowner education produced by the Napa County Land Trust regardting the benefits conservation easements.

Underwriting for legal expenses associated with the fight to preserve and oppose the Juliana development project in Pope Valley.

FAQ's

 

 

What is the primary purpose of the JLD Ag Fund?
 
Our primary goal is simple: to conserve a valuable, non-renewable resource – Napa Valley agricultural land, which includes the Napa County Agricultural Preserve. Our objective is to preserve the unique agricultural, rural, and small-town environment presently enjoyed by the community at large.
 
We work towards our primary goal in two major ways. First, by funding continual education about the importance and contribution of agriculture to our community. Secondly, whenever the agriculture lands of Napa County may be threatened, our organization takes the initiative by supporting land use and planning research.
How Does the JLD Ag Fund Work?
 
Our strategy is very basic. Our organization was born of three separate funds, but we found strength in joining together. As a group, we are an excellent information resource, as well as being a ready strategic partner and source of funding for others who contribute to land preservation objectives. Our Board of Directors meets 4-6 times per year to consider grants, other opportunities, and to discuss ways on how to protect the future of Napa County’s agriculture.
 
What are the JLD Ag Fund’s Fundraising Goals?
 
In 2014, we reached our endowment goal, and each year plan on providing up to $50,000 in annual community enhancing grants pursuant to our mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting agricultural lands in Napa County. 
 
How do you raise money?
 
Through the proceeds of public fundraising efforts, private donations and the sales of Querencia, a wine created and produced by the Davies family of Schramsberg. We are also registered with the 1% for the Planet program enabling businesses to donate 1% of their business profits to agricultural preservation in Napa County.

How Can I help?
 
You can make a direct donation, which is tax deductible (501(c)(3) Tax ID 94-2843178) and helps us reach our community outreach goals; you can help sponsor an event by providing resources such as food and wine or support services; or you can volunteer your time or professional services as appropriate. Visit our Contact page to find out how you can connect with us.
 
Stated Goals of the Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Preservation Fund
 
Goal 1
To preserve and enhance the agricultural heritage of the Napa Valley through research, education, and stewardship of the county’s agricultural lands. To support patterns of land use and human activities that preserve and enhance the Agricultural Preserve concept and fact.
 
Goal 2
To encourage and support the appropriate use of land through good land use planning as a means to enhance the character and future of Napa Valley.
 
Goal 3
Encourage and support awareness, education, and conservation programs, projects and activities that promote the preservation and stewardship of agricultural lands, including broad public participation in the agricultural decision making process through publications, public forums and printed material.
 
Goal 4
Promote the sustainable use of agricultural lands and encourage the development and implementation of technology and practices that minimize the intrusion of urban uses into agricultural areas.
 
Goal 5
Support patterns of land use and human activities that preserve agriculture, promote environmental quality and a high quality of human life.