Win $60,000 for Regenerative Agriculture 2026: BMO Generation Regen Challenge with One Young World Scholarship

If you run a young non-profit or social enterprise tackling soil, water, biodiversity, or food access in Canada or the United States, this is the kind of opportunity that actually pays for what matters. The BMO Generation Regen Challenge funnels $200,000 into organizations like yours — two winners receive $60,000 each, four finalists receive $20,000 each — and sends winners and finalists to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town with flights and accommodation covered. Think of it as funding plus a global stage and a network that keeps giving long after the money is spent.

This is not a small pilot stipend or a symbolic check. A $60,000 grant can fund a season of farmer training, buy crucial equipment for regenerative practice, support staff to scale an impact model, or underwrite community-led food distribution in an underserved area. Beyond cash, the prize offers mentorship, an audience at a prestigious summit, and membership in a global alumni network. If your organization is between the scrappy pilot phase and full national scaling, Generation Regen could be the push that turns promise into measurable, sustained impact.

The challenge explicitly targets regenerative and sustainable agriculture solutions that restore ecosystems, improve soil and water health, support animal welfare and biodiversity, and strengthen local food systems — with special attention to Indigenous and culturally rooted practices. Applications are open through February 23, 2026, so plan your timeline now; the judges will be looking for projects that are practical, evidence-informed, and ready to deliver in Canada or the U.S.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

Money matters, but context matters too. The Generation Regen Challenge is built to do three things at once: provide meaningful funding, amplify promising leaders, and accelerate the adoption of practices that heal land and communities. The cash awards are arranged to support different stages of organizational growth. The two $60,000 winner grants are ideal for organizations ready to scale a proven model, expand geographic reach, or deepen impact measurement. The four $20,000 finalist grants are better suited for organizations that need to complete a pilot, run robust trials, or develop a rigorous business or impact case.

Beyond the dollars, winners and finalists receive full scholarships to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town — flights and accommodation included. That scholarship is not window dressing: the summit gathers young leaders and decision-makers from around the globe, giving you exposure to potential partners, funders, and mentors. It also grants access to the One Young World Ambassador Community, a 20,000+ member network spanning 190+ countries, which can open doors to collaborations you wouldn’t find from grant work alone.

The Challenge prioritizes projects that protect or restore local farming systems, improve soil health and water stewardship, increase biodiversity, raise animal welfare standards, diversify cropping systems, bolster Indigenous and culturally grounded agricultural practices, and strengthen local food security. In short, if your work measurably improves the ability of land and communities to sustain food production and withstand climate pressures, this grant will take notice.

Who Should Apply

This challenge is for leaders aged 18–35 who run a non-profit, charity, or social enterprise registered in Canada or the U.S. Your organization must have existed for at least one year by February 23, 2026, and your proposed project must be based in and focused on Canada and/or the United States. One application per organization is allowed.

Real-world examples of good fits:

• A Canadian non-profit that over the past two years has piloted a farmer-to-farmer compost training program and now needs funding to expand across a province and measure carbon sequestration.
• A U.S. 501(c)(3) working with Indigenous partners to revive traditional agroecological practices and incorporate cultural curricula into on-farm education.
• A social enterprise registered in the U.S. that sells cover-crop seed mixes and proposes a revenue-neutral project to supply small farms in food-insecure regions while training farmers in multi-species rotations (note: if you are a social enterprise you must commit 100% of grant funds to the social project).
• A community-based group launching soil health monitoring and water filtration pilots that need funds for equipment, data analysis, and community engagement to make the case for municipal adoption.

This is not for purely research proposals with no implementation plan, nor for organizations whose activities are primarily outside Canada and the U.S. If your project spans both countries, that can be a strength — especially if you can show replicable models across geographies.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Lead with measurable outcomes, not just good intentions. Judges want to see what success looks like in tangible terms: acres converted to regenerative practice, kilograms of carbon sequestered, number of households with improved food access, or measurable biodiversity indicators. Avoid vague language like “improve resilience.” Say how many farms, hectares, or people, and over what time period.

2. Match your project stage to the award expectations. The panel divides innovation into stages — Developing and Testing, Making the Case, Delivering and Implementing, Growing and Scaling, and Changing Systems. If you’re asking for $60,000, show that you’re in the Growing and Scaling or Delivering and Implementing stage with evidence of results. $20,000 requests should demonstrate a focused pilot or a clear next step in testing.

3. Prioritize community and equity in your narrative. The Challenge weighs safety and equity heavily. Describe how decisions will be shared, how local and Indigenous knowledge will be respected, and how labor will be paid fairly. Give concrete examples: community advisory councils, signed MOUs with Indigenous partners, or wage scales for workers.

4. Show a firm budget story. Break down costs and connect each line to project outputs. If you’re requesting funds for staff, explain roles and percent time. If equipment is requested, explain how it will be used, maintained, and how it contributes to longer-term sustainability.

5. Use plain language and tell a compact story. The judges are smart but busy. Start with a two-sentence summary of the problem and your solution. Follow with an explanation of impact, a short timeline, and a realistic budget snapshot. Include one or two short case studies (50–100 words) demonstrating past success or piloting.

6. Anticipate monitoring and reporting questions. Make a clear plan for how you’ll track impact and report back. If you lack formal monitoring experience, partner with a university, use low-cost monitoring tools (mobile surveys, soil testing services), or describe a plan to contract evaluation.

7. Be selective with attachments and letters. Provide letters of support that add something new — confirmation of land access, letters from municipal partners, or endorsements from community elders. Avoid generic praise; specificity matters.

These tactics help convert a sympathetic reader into a convinced funder.

Application Timeline (Work Backwards from Deadline)

Treatment of time is everything. Don’t wait until January. Here’s a realistic schedule to ensure a polished submission by February 23, 2026.

• 8–10 weeks before deadline (late December to early January): Decide to apply and assign roles. Identify the primary writer, budget lead, and who will secure letters of support.
• 6–8 weeks before (mid-January): Draft the core narrative: problem, solution, impact metrics, timeline, and budget. Pull preliminary figures for cost estimates.
• 4–6 weeks before (late January to early February): Request letters of support and partner confirmations, and ask them for specific language tied to your project. Draft M&E plan and finalize the project timeline.
• 2–3 weeks before (early February): Circulate the full draft to at least three reviewers — someone in your field, someone from a partner organization, and a non-specialist. Tighten language and fix clarity issues.
• 72–48 hours before (Feb 20–21): Final proofreading. Confirm attachments are correctly named and within size limits. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline to avoid technical hiccups.
• By Feb 23, 2026: Submission must be complete.

Give yourself buffer time for institutional sign-offs if needed, particularly if your organization requires board approval to apply.

Required Materials

While the exact application portal will specify file types and page limits, you should prepare the following in advance. These documents will make the difference between a rushed submission and a thoughtful one.

• Project narrative: A concise overview of the problem, your approach, expected outcomes, timeline, and how you will measure success.
• Detailed budget and justification: Show itemized costs and explain why each is necessary. Include staff time, equipment, travel, and indirect costs if allowed.
• Organizational information: Proof of registration (charity/non-profit status or social enterprise registration), description of your team, and a short organizational history (1–2 pages).
• Monitoring and evaluation plan: Indicators, methods, baseline data (if available), and reporting cadence.
• Letters of support or partnership: Specific letters that confirm land access, cooperative agreements, or local endorsement.
• Short bios for key personnel: 150–300 words each describing relevant experience.
• Supplemental media (if allowed): Photos, short videos, or maps that clarify the project. Only submit if they add real value and meet file requirements.

Prepare these in English or French depending on your application language. If you are a social enterprise, include a clear statement confirming that 100% of grant funds will be used for the proposed social project.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Applications that rise to the top do three things well: they are credible, measurable, and community-rooted.

Credible: Reviewers want proof you can deliver. Include past metrics, pilot results, or testimonials; show institutional support; and demonstrate a team with the right skills. If you lack a particular skill, show a plan to access it via partnerships.

Measurable: Success must be expressed in numbers and timeframes. Don’t say “we will increase soil health.” Say “we will increase soil organic matter by X% on 50 hectares within 18 months, measured using [method].” Describe baseline data and how you’ll measure change.

Community-rooted: Projects that partner with local farmers, Indigenous groups, or municipal agencies are more persuasive than isolated technical fixes. Show how you will share decision-making and how benefits will flow to the most impacted people.

Finally, programs that articulate a clear pathway to scale — replication plans, cost per unit of impact, or policy hooks — show judges that a $60,000 investment could catalyze far greater change beyond the grant itself.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Vague impact claims: Don’t promise systemic change without a pathway. State specific outcomes and how they will be achieved and measured.

2. Weak budgets: Budgets that lack detail or don’t align with activities signal poor planning. Match each budget line to an activity and expected output.

3. Ignoring equity and safety: Projects that do not show how they protect participants or share benefits equitably are less competitive. Include tangible practices like safe labor standards, consent for Indigenous knowledge use, and inclusive governance.

4. Late or incomplete attachments: Missing registration proof, unsigned letters of support, or incomplete budgets can disqualify otherwise strong applications. Use a checklist and submit early.

5. Overcomplicated jargon: Write for an intelligent but non-specialist reviewer. Define acronyms and avoid dense technical paragraphs that bury the main point.

6. One-size-fits-all proposals: Tailor your application to regenerative agriculture priorities and the Challenge’s stated areas (soil, water, biodiversity, animal welfare, crop diversity, Indigenous practices, and food security). If your project doesn’t clearly fit, explain the link.

Address these mistakes head-on and you’ll markedly improve your chance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can submit an application? A: Applicants must be 18–35 years old and leading a registered Canadian non-profit/charity, U.S. 501(c)(3), or a social enterprise registered in Canada or the U.S. Your organization must have been registered for at least one year by February 23, 2026.

Q: Can a social enterprise apply? A: Yes. Social enterprises registered in Canada or the U.S. can apply, but you must commit that 100% of the grant funds will be used for the described social project.

Q: Can the project be outside Canada or the U.S.? A: No. Projects must be based in and focused on Canada and/or the United States.

Q: Are partnerships required? A: Not strictly, but partnerships — especially with Indigenous groups, local farms, municipalities, or research institutions — strengthen applications by demonstrating feasibility and community buy-in.

Q: How many applications can an organization submit? A: Only one application per organization is permitted.

Q: What language can I submit in? A: Submissions may be in English or French.

Q: What will the evaluation prioritize? A: Judges will prioritize regenerative impact, feasibility, innovation stage alignment, ability to use funds responsibly, demonstration of safety and equity practices, and clear monitoring plans.

Q: When will winners be announced? A: The timeline for announcements will be posted by the program. Expect follow-up communication within a few months after the deadline.

Next Steps and How to Apply

Ready to get serious? Do these five things in order.

1. Confirm eligibility: Make sure you meet the age, organizational registration, and project location requirements.
2. Draft a two-page concept note: Problem, proposed solution, expected outcomes (with numbers), and a high-level budget.
3. Line up partners and letters: Reach out now to farmers, municipal partners, or Indigenous collaborators to secure specific letters before the application window closes.
4. Prepare required documents: Registration proof, organizational summary, staff bios, monitoring plan, and detailed budget.
5. Submit early: The portal can be unpredictable. Aim to upload everything at least 48 hours before February 23, 2026.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application page and follow the instructions carefully: https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/gen-regen-round-one

If you want a quick check of fit before applying, draft your two-page concept note and have an external adviser or a peer read it. A fresh pair of eyes can spot missing assumptions and help you tighten the narrative.

Good luck — regenerative agriculture is the kind of work that pays dividends for soil and people alike. If your project has momentum and clear outcomes, this challenge could be the investment and spotlight that helps it grow.