Our mission at Gaining Ground is possible because of generous donations from our community, as well as grant funding, from organizations like Winning Home. We first applied for a grant from Winning Home in 2013, hoping to get $5,000 to build a well, and install a hoop house.

When Albert “Chip” Curran, the organization’s treasurer and a Concord resident, saw our name on the application he said it immediately felt like seeing a familiar face. One of his children had volunteered with Gaining Ground. But in addition to that connection, Chip was intrigued by our grant application as he thought of us as different from many of the other non-profit organizations that often apply for Winning Home’s grants.

“Gaining Ground wasn’t necessarily a small organization, but they were at the beginning stages,” Chip recalled. 

Chip was also a bit concerned about the ask for $5,000. He thought Gaining Ground could use more.

“We were so nervous that the farm wouldn’t get the rest of the $15,000 needed for the project so we gave you the entire amount needed,” Chip said. “And that was — how do you say it? — the start of a beautiful relationship.”

Winning Home has had pivots and changes throughout its more than 125-year history. The Winning Home property began serving the public after William Henry Winning passed away in 1898, leaving instructions in his will to turn his property into a place to support children and families in need. It has operated as a summer camp for kids, a place to ride horses, and picnic with their families under the names “Winning Farm” and “The Winning Farm for Children.” Bolstered by volunteers, groups, and organizations from the communities, the property continued to expand to meet the needs of young people with new cabins, kitchens, merry-go-rounds and swimming pools.

However, as the 21st century neared, the Board of Trustees felt that selling the property would put Winning Home in the best position to continue the mission. Now, like the volunteers and organizations that once supported Winning Home, the non-profit feeds other charitable organizations through grants using money from the property’s sale. Winning Home has gone on to make grants totalling more than $6.5 million to charities and organizations in the area, beginning with a $100,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Woburn.

Chip said that Winning Home usually receives 35 to 40 applications each year and awards grants to 22 to 24 organizations that provide support and services to children and families with economic, social, physical, emotional, or mental challenges. The awards range from $5,000 to $100,000. Organizations must be non-profit and tax-exempt per Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code to be eligible for funding.

“We see ourselves as a feeder or smaller charitable organizations,” Chip said. “We try to look out for ones that need help, and watch them grow.”

After receiving the first grant in 2013, Gaining Ground next approached the Winning Home Foundation with a proposal to help build soil health, a necessary step to increase production.

“When we awarded that soil health grant, Graining Ground was producing 20,000 pounds of food a year. Now they produce over 130,000 pounds of food per year,” Chip said.

Chip doesn’t just review the application and contribute to granting funds. He’s an annual visitor to the farm.

“Gaining Ground is a heck of a name for the organization,” Chip said. “That’s what they do every day. They not only increase food production with amazing results, but they have milestone achievements and land stewardships — expansions, community engagement. They have it all. It’s incredible that the farm involves so many volunteers, and that they constantly evolve and bring in new people. They don’t stop. They’re always looking ahead. That’s what I love about Gaining Ground”

Chip is also looking ahead and forward to a continued relationship with us at Gaining Ground.

“I love visiting the farm,” Chip said.”I hope they keep applying for grants and continue to grow, and I think they will.”