October 30, 2014

Nico Gumbs
National Farm Worker Ministry
4420 Parkway Commerce Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32808

Dear Nico,
Attached to this letter is our final draft of a grant proposal to be submitted to the
CS Fund Foundation; all highlighted sections are to be edited by your organization to
reflect current data. A letter of inquiry is required by the CS Fund before you send the
proposal (more information can be found at http://www.csfund.org/). This proposal style
is very basic and adaptable to many different foundation requirements, so if you find CS
Fund is not for you, this format may be helpful for any future proposal submissions.
Thank you for allowing us to partner with your organization; its been an
enjoyable experience, and we are all in agreement that the Youth and Young Adult
Network of the National Farm Worker Ministry is an excellent group of youth activists.
Good luck in all of your activities!

In Solidarity,
Chelsea Aldrich
Ileana Roque Gonzalez
Kimberly Maltby

Summary
The Youth and Young Adult Network of the National Farm Worker Ministry (YAYA),
located in Central Florida, acts as a youth solidarity group to farm worker organizations
in the United States. Farm workers are subjected to human rights violations across the
nation, and YAYA aims to bring awareness to young adults and organize their
community to support workers in their fight for justice.
This proposal would expand YAYAs community outreach and ability to participate in
activities promoting farm worker advocacy. The monetary amount needed to continue
and grow YAYAs program comes out to $45,000. Of this, $40,000 has been obtained
through other foundations, annual membership fees and t-shirt sales. This proposal
requests the final $5,000 needed for expansion.

Introduction
YAYA is the Youth and Young Adult Network of the National Farm Worker Ministry. The
NFWM is a faith-based organization created in the 1920s to support farm workers
seeking change from the current oppressive social, political, and economic conditions
they face. YAYA contributes to these causes by organizing their communities in support
of farm workers, educating people and institutions about the plight of farm workers, and
mobilizing them to support campaigns for justice.
YAYAs organize their community in support of a variety of national and local campaigns
led by farm workers. The organization seeks to lobby and provide a foundation for
marginalized farm workers in their mission to gain equality. YAYA works in solidarity with
major farmworker initiatives such as United Farm Workers, Farm Labor Organizing
Committee, Farmworker Association of Florida, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and
Alliance of Active Women.
In conjunction with these groups, YAYA participates in letter campaigns, peaceful
marches, lobbying, immersion trips, research projects, and organizing training. The
Youth and Young Adult Network of the NFWM has received financial support from
organizations such as the Fund for Democratic Communities. These contributions have
served to build relationships with farm workers as well as leadership within YAYA.

Statement of Need
Farm workers play an integral part of the American economy, by providing low-cost food
to US households. Yet, despite their vital role of putting food on every table in our
country, they are not afforded the same basic human rights of a typical American. The

predominantly migrant group are marginalized or overlooked completely because they

are regarded as alien, and are seldom given a voice in their industry.
Farm workers are the foundation of agriculture in the United States. One-third of the
vital agricultural industry is comprised of migrant workers. According to the National
Center of Farmworker Health, 80% of fruits and vegetables are picked by migrant
workers. Yet, they earn the lowest annual family income of any US wage and salary
workers. According to the National Agricultural Workers Survey conducted by the
Department of Labor, the average total family income ranged from $17,500 to $19,999.
One quarter of farm worker families fall below the national poverty line. Workers are
paid meager earnings that are often determined by a piece rate, which affords no
lenience during the off-season or in the event of crop failure. An average rate for
tomatoes, for example, is a mere $0.52 per 35 pounds.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks agricultural occupations among the most
dangerous in the nation. Farm workers are often exposed to toxic pesticides, which can
be seriously detrimental to their health especially in the case of pregnant women.
Workers have been found victim of modern day slavery through threats, violence, and
indentured servitude. Due to exemptions for agriculture in Federal labor laws, children
as young as 12 are often forced to work in the fields in order to help their families
survive. Farm workers also must endure substandard housing as well as sexual and
verbal harassment.

For a more in depth look at farm worker statistics and more information on these topics,
please visit:
National Farm Worker Ministry
United States Department of Labor
National Agricultural Workers Survey

Methods
YAYA aims to provide youth solidarity to farm worker organizations, initiatives, and
campaigns to support their fight for just and healthy lives for farm workers. To achieve
this goal, YAYA will continue to execute an awareness-based program that focuses on
education, outreach, and solidarity to connect young activists to farm worker
organizations.

Education
To bring awareness to the struggles of farm workers and their families, YAYA organizes
educational workshops to share with the community. Each presentation includes two
speakers, a PowerPoint, educational handouts, and resources provided by farm worker
organizations so each audience member has an opportunity to get involved with farm

worker advocacy. Presenters must be active within the organization, well-versed on the
farm worker experience, and be able to commute from the Central Florida office to
different locations around the state.

Outreach
YAYA performs outreach by tabling at community events, making phone calls to
interested volunteers, and maintaining an active presence on college campuses. Many
interested volunteers get into contact with YAYA after seeing a presentation or saying
hello to a member at the table. Promotional t-shirts and stickers are also handed out to
prospective members.

Solidarity
In 2015, YAYA will take members to VegFest of Central Florida, the premiere of Food
Chains, a documentary produced by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and the
Florida Immigrant Coalition Congress. Members will also continue to help with
community gardens and the fundraising efforts of farm worker organizations.
Every action taken by YAYA is an effort of solidarity with farm worker organizations; all
members recruited take part in volunteer opportunities, travel to conferences to lobby
for better labor laws, and campaign for farm workers and their families.

Objectives
The objectives of this program are to first increase YAYA membership by over 50
percent in the upcoming year (2015). Currently, in 2014, 26 young people have paid
their dues and are considered active members; by 2016, YAYA estimates a membership
count of 55 young adults total. Membership growth will be obtained through an active
presence on college campuses in the state of Florida and educational presentations at
club meetings, academic facilities, and community events.
With an extended membership, YAYA will increase their presence at events hosted by
farm worker organizations from an average of 15 YAYAs at every event to 30 YAYAs at
every event, building a larger network of youth voices in support of farm worker justice
by January 1, 2016.

Evaluation
YAYA will evaluate progression through participation of members and volunteers in
trainings, meetings, immersion trips, volunteering events and involvement of the
community. Because it is YAYAs goal to reach out and to educate the community on the
issues farm workers face, roster logs will be kept to track participation and to document
contact information. The purpose of this roster will be to build a relationship and
continue expanding outreach efforts.
In addition, logs will serve as tool to inform people about upcoming trainings, events,
and campaigns involving the different farm worker organizations. It is expected that

when members of YAYA speak at universities, churches, and other locations, a record of
attendees and interested volunteers will be measured to track the progress of the
program. The distribution of educational material such as flyers and newsletters will also
be tracked in order to evaluate community education and outreach and to recognize any
areas that need improvement. Inventory of t-shirts, totes and other YAYA merchandise
will be recorded to keep track of sales.

Other Funding
The funds requested in this proposal are to support the expansion of YAYAs community
outreach and solidarity for farm worker-led campaigns and initiatives. There are four
funding components for YAYAs future funding:
1.

From grants:
BVM Focus Ministry, Oxfam America, Veatch at Shelter Rock, and Fund for
Democratic Communities are organizations that will continue to provide general
programing support. The commitment by these organizations will amount for
approximately $21,400 during the grant period.
2.

From YAYAs parent organizationThe National Farm Worker Ministry:

NFWM contributes $17,600 a year to keep the network of YAYA chapters active
and able to support farm workers.

3.

From fundraisers:
Yard sale fundraisers throughout the spring, a silent auction, a chili cook-off, an
an art show will help extend YAYA efforts in raising awareness about farm worker
issues.

4.

From merchandise:
The sale of t-shirts, totes, and other YAYA merchandise totals to approximately
$2,000. Earnings from the sale of merchandise will go towards the purchasing of
new promotional materials for the next year.