The Giving Grove Has Expanded Its Urban Orchard Program

The national nonprofit has grown its footprint to 17 cities, supporting 847 active orchards across the country.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration of a fruit sapling, a watering can, and soil, representing the expansion of an urban orchard program. — The Giving Grove has expanded its urban orchard program to 847 locations across 17 U.S. cities, supporting local food security efforts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support converting vacant neighborhood lots into public-access fruit orchards?

The Giving Grove has expanded its urban orchard program to 17 cities nationwide, currently maintaining 847 orchards with over 14,000 fruit trees. This initiative aims to provide expertise on tree selection and growing techniques to local volunteers through a network of 1,700 stewards.

Why it matters

The organization provides critical training and soil quality improvements to local groups, helping ensure that over 80 percent of planted orchards remain in production. By assisting communities with tree expertise and grant access, the group aims to increase local food security through sustainable urban agriculture.

The Giving Grove maintains 847 orchards across 17 cities with more than 1,700 stewards. The organization operates on an annual budget of slightly more than $1 million and maintains an 80 percent success rate in tree production.

The players

The Giving Grove

This is a nonprofit organization that specializes in the development and maintenance of urban orchards.

The details

The organization supports its mission by offering workshops to local orchard stewards and helping groups secure grant funding for soil health. These efforts have resulted in 248 free orchards in Kansas City alone, featuring nearly 4,600 fruit, nut, and berry trees.

The Giving Grove was established as a concept 14 years ago.
The first orchard was planted at Hale Cook Elementary 13 years ago.
The organization expanded to St. Louis 9 years ago.
The current expansion status was reported as of October 5, 2026.

Market Landscape

This expansion follows the funding patterns set by the 1% for the Planet corporate philanthropy model. The growth reflects a broader trend of leveraging corporate and individual donations to scale community-based agricultural initiatives across major U.S. cities.

Community members in newly served areas may gain access to free, locally sourced fruit and nut harvests through neighborhood orchards. Readers can participate by volunteering as orchard stewards or accessing training programs for local tree management.

The takeaway

Urban agriculture programs like this demonstrate the impact of specialized technical training on the success rate of community green spaces. Local groups interested in improving food access can leverage professional expertise to ensure the long-term viability of their own gardening projects.