Help Secure the Future of Climate-Beneficial Agriculture

In 2022, the U.S. reached a historic inflection point when congressionally approved federal grants were allocated through agencies like the USDA, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency. These investments moved funds directly into communities—through small, agile organizations like ours—to build long-term climate and market-based resilience.

These grants are vital for advancing climate-focused agriculture, reducing carbon emissions, and strengthening rural economies. Without them, the progress we’ve made together is at risk. Fibershed is in our second year of enrolling fiber farmers, helping them develop carbon farm plans, and implementing climate smart practices for healthier land stewardship.

For every federal dollar we receive, we secure three times that amount in matching funds. By blending philanthropic capital, corporate contributions, and local, state, and federal dollars, we’ve built a funding model that maximizes resources for the greatest impact. And we do this with remarkable efficiency—allocating just 2.5% of our total grant award to administration and receiving less than 1% for the technical assistance needed to move funding to the soil.

What’s at Stake
The White House’s recent attempt to pause federal grants and loans threw essential programs into uncertainty. While the freeze was lifted after backlash and legal challenges, the administration has signaled its intent to cut funding for climate and agriculture programs—putting hard-won progress at risk.

This moment highlights just how fragile our funding landscape can be. Small, community-based organizations like Fibershed efficiently move federal dollars to the local level, blending funds from philanthropy, corporate contributions, and state programs to maximize impact. Fibershed is part of a broader network of agriculture- and climate-focused organizations developing economies that function within ecological boundaries while supporting the farmers, ranchers, and artisans who sustain our food and fiber systems. Federal grants provide crucial resources for climate-focused agriculture, carbon-reducing supply chain investments, and rural economic development. Without this funding, the momentum we’ve built together is at risk.

But we cannot rely solely on federal support to sustain this work.

The Importance of Public Investment
This work is essential for advancing climate-beneficial agriculture, strengthening regional food and fiber systems, and ensuring that regenerative practices become embedded in both our economy and ecosystems. But this brief funding freeze is a stark reminder of how easily these investments can be disrupted.

If we’ve learned anything from this moment, it’s that federal funding alone cannot sustain this work. Fibershed remains committed to scaling climate-beneficial agriculture, strengthening regional fiber economies, and advocating for policies that build a just and resilient future—but we can’t do it alone.

If you’re in a position to contribute, your support will help sustain this work in the face of uncertainty. Every dollar ensures that the progress we’ve made—reducing carbon emissions, developing climate-beneficial fiber systems, and building resilient rural economies—continues, regardless of shifting political winds.

Support American-Grown Fiber
Every dollar raised through this campaign directly supports Fibershed’s efforts to move project dollars to 1.9 million acres of farm and ranch land, draw down 2.7 million metric tons of CO₂e, develop a national Climate Beneficial verification system, and expand markets for over 100 million pounds of American-grown fiber.

Your contribution today ensures that the systems we’re building—holistic, nature-based and farmer-led—continue, regardless of shifting political winds. Every dollar supports:

  • Climate-beneficial farming and ranching practices
  • The development of regional fiber economies
  • Education and advocacy for long-term systemic change

Donate now to help secure the future of Climate-Beneficial fiber systems. Together, we can keep this movement strong.

With gratitude,

The Fibershed Team