Right now

Fund Our Service Year Team

Your gift is doubled through GivingTuesday, December 1. Craig Cussimanio, a longtime Joy Grows supporter, will match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $2,500.

This year, three Marylanders chose to give a year of their lives to Eastport through Maryland's Service Year Option. They run the farm, build the greenhouse, and lead our youth programs. Joy Grows' share of their pay is $9,000 per member for the year, including payroll taxes and insurance. That's $27,000 for the team, or about $660 a week. Your gift keeps them serving.

Meet the team

  • Kareem, Farm Manager. Runs the Eastport Community Farm day to day. He welcomes people onto the site, keeps the beds growing, and makes every visitor feel at home.
  • Eli, Greenhouse and Impact. Is building the greenhouse with our crews and setting up the tracking that shows what your gift actually did: pounds grown, hours worked, people reached.
  • Joy, Youth and Volunteers. Builds our youth programs and coordinates the volunteers who show up every week.

How your gift is multiplied

  • The State pays most of their wage. Each member earns $16 an hour. Maryland pays most of that, and Joy Grows' share, including payroll taxes and insurance, is about $5.50 an hour. So every $5.50 you give puts a full $16 hour of service to work in Eastport. Your gift nearly triples.
  • A finish line worth reaching. Members who complete their year are eligible for a $6,000 completion award from the State. Your gift keeps them on track to earn it.

Sponsor a member

$9,000 sponsors one member's year. $6,000 goes straight to their pay and brings in about $20,000 more from the State, plus a $6,000 completion award. That's up to $32,000 for someone serving Eastport. The other $3,000 covers payroll taxes and insurance.

Where your money goes

Every gift to this campaign goes into a restricted fund that pays only the Service Year team's stipends and payroll costs. If we raise more than our goal, extra gifts support Joy Grows' youth and service programs.

Joy Grows (Annapolis Ag Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 88-1560600. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Read the team's story →

Give to Joy Grows

Fund the Farm

Where your gift goes

$25 buys tools

Provides a new set of durable gardening gloves and hand tools.

$100 funds education

Covers the cost of materials for one exciting youth workshop

$500 builds a garden

Fund a new set of raised beds for an awesome community.

$1,000 funds a youth program

With $1,000 we can hold 15 afterschool art club sessions with snacks. We can build 2 sets of picnic tables for the community.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Volunteer your time

Your participation makes our programs possible!

Donate supplies

Have extra gardening tools, quality soil, or lumber? We accept in-kind donations. Please contact us to coordinate.

Spread the word

Tell your friends, family, and groups about the work we do. Sharing our mission helps us connect with new supporters and participants!

More ways to give

However you give, it goes to work in Eastport.

Give monthlyChoose "monthly" in the form above. A steady gift lets us plan the season and keep neighbors working.
Double it at workMany employers match gifts. Ask your HR team, and use our EIN, 88-1560600.
Donor-advised fundRecommend a grant to Annapolis Ag Inc. (Joy Grows), EIN 88-1560600. Tell us your name so we can thank you.
Mail a checkMake it payable to Annapolis Ag Inc. and mail it to Joy Grows, 701 Chesapeake Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403.
Give materials or timeLumber, tools, food for community meals, or professional skills. Contact us to coordinate.
Businesses and organizationsSponsor a project, a season, or a program, and join our partners. See partner levels →

Joy Grows (Annapolis Ag Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 88-1560600. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Public recognition is optional, and we'll always ask before listing your name. Giving as an individual or family? Reach out to Lily Fauntleroy at lily@joy-grows.org.

Plant a Seed of Joy

Joy Grows is more than just a garden; it’s a vibrant community classroom, a neighborhood gathering spot, and a symbol of local resilience. Everything we accomplish, from planting the first seeds in spring to hosting essential community workshops, is made possible by people like you. Your support—whether it’s a few dollars for a new bag of soil or a larger gift to fund an entire season of youth programs—doesn’t just help us grow plants. It helps us grow connections, knowledge, and joy right here in our community. Thank you for considering making a gift today and becoming a true partner in our mission.