Growing Capacity, Growing Impact: Soulful Seeds Shines in Philanthropy in Practice


Soulful Seeds recently completed the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Philanthropy in Practice program, a hands‑on capacity‑building experience that strengthened our organizational foundation at a pivotal moment of growth. Through workshops, coaching, and technical assistance, our team deepened essential skills in storytelling, financial clarity, and long‑term sustainability—practical tools that will directly enhance how we plan, communicate, and deliver community‑driven food access. The program also connected us with a cohort of peers who are equally committed to strengthening Northern Nevada, creating a shared learning environment that expanded our perspective and sharpened our approach.


As part of the program’s culminating showcase, Soulful Seeds was honored to receive both the Third‑Choice Judges’ Award and the People’s Choice Award—recognition that reflects not only the strength of our mission but the trust our neighbors place in the dignity‑centered work happening in our gardens every day. These acknowledgments affirm the impact of community‑rooted solutions and reinforce our commitment to building sustainable, resilient systems of care. We are deeply grateful to CFNN, our fellow cohort members, and everyone who continues to believe in the future we’re growing together.


Volunteer Season is Almost Here


Our 2026 garden season kicks off with the Official Our Place Campus Garden Launch on Saturday, April 4th from 9am–12pm. Join us as we prepare the garden for spring and welcome a new year of growing together. Sign up below!



We’re also expanding our volunteer program with a new training track for those who want to deepen their involvement alongside our regular public volunteer days. More details are on the way as we get ready for a vibrant season of community and connection.



Investing in People and Place: The Impact of Our Urban Orchard Workforce Programs 




The USDA Urban Orchard Project continues to be a major success for Soulful Seeds, and we’re proud of what this work has made possible in our community. Last year, our Same Day Work & Pay program provided paid work opportunities for 74 unduplicated community members across 15 workdays. This year, we’re building on that momentum by continuing to improve how the program serves people, pairing hands-on work in our gardens and orchards with opportunities to learn and grow. Participants now have access to free financial literacy classes through a partnership with U.S. Bank, with CPR training and seasonal OSHA 30 certification also planned for the year ahead.


Our Arborist Apprenticeship is another place where we’re seeing steady, meaningful progress.


Our first apprentice has completed all required education hours and logged more than 2,200 hours of hands-on training, gaining experience in climbing, rigging, tree care, soil health, and plant biology. This year, he’ll continue developing more advanced technical skills in the field. We also welcomed a second apprentice, Zevis, who joined the program in January after previously volunteering with us. Zevis shared that he’s excited to build practical skills in tree care and land stewardship and hopes this work helps people feel more connected to the land around them.

Together, these workforce development programs reflect our commitment to supporting community wellbeing in meaningful ways by addressing the economic and educational challenges that often sit alongside food insecurity, while investing in people, green spaces, and long-term resilience.


Thank you Spotlight:

Robert Z Hawkins Foundation


Soulful Seeds is deeply grateful for the continued support of the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation, whose commitment to strengthening community‑centered organizations has made a tangible difference in our work. Their focus on empowering local efforts that improve quality of life aligns closely with our mission, and their investment has helped us expand our growing spaces, increase the amount of fresh food we’re able to harvest, and deepen our engagement with the neighbors we serve.


Because of this partnership, we’ve been able to move forward on major goals that strengthen both our gardens and our community relationships—from expanding planting areas to boosting overall food production to gathering more meaningful community feedback that guides our work. The Hawkins Foundation’s support is helping us build a stronger, more resilient food access system, and we are honored to grow this future together.


Soulful Seeds

316 California Avenue #700 Reno, NV 89509

Facebook  Instagram