Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2018
The FY 18 Farm to School Grant opportunity is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), through the Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS). It was created under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish a USDA Farm to School Program. The central goal is to help eligible schools and their partners improve student access to local foods while supporting the development and expansion of farm to school efforts nationwide. Congress provides about $5 million per year for this program to cover grants, technical assistance, and federal administration.
This funding is meant to move farm to school work forward in practical, school-centered ways. The authorizing law directs USDA to support activities such as training, planning, operational support, purchasing equipment, building school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. In other words, projects can range from early-stage planning and community coordination to hands-on work that puts local items on cafeteria menus, improves procurement systems, upgrades handling or kitchen capacity, and connects food service with education through gardens and farm-based learning.
USDA is also required to prioritize fairness and reach across different community types. The program is designed to ensure geographic diversity and equitable treatment for urban, rural, and tribal communities. Within that framework, the highest priority is given to projects that put local food products on school menus, serve a high proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and include experiential nutrition education that actively involves students in farm- and garden-based activities. Strong applications are also expected to show real collaboration between schools and partners such as nonprofits, community-based organizations, and agricultural producer groups; include an adequate and participatory evaluation plan; and demonstrate a credible path to long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.
A key condition of receiving an award is that grantees must provide matching support, which can be cash or in-kind contributions. Recipients must also agree to cooperate with program evaluation efforts conducted using grant funds, reinforcing that USDA expects grantees to measure results and share lessons learned.
For FY 2018, funding is offered through three grant tracks, each aimed at a different stage of readiness. Implementation Grants are for applicants that already have farm to school activities underway and want to scale or deepen existing initiatives. These awards range from $50,000 to $100,000. Planning Grants are for applicants that are new or early in development and need support to organize, design, and structure a farm to school program using known best practices; these awards range from $20,000 to $50,000. Training Grants support trainings and technical assistance that strengthen farm to school supply chains or build capacity in areas like local procurement, food safety, culinary education, and integrating agriculture-based curriculum; these awards also range from $20,000 to $50,000.
Eligible applicants include schools and school districts, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers (or groups of such producers), and nonprofit entities working with schools or districts. The opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.575, with an anticipated 70 awards and a maximum award ceiling of $100,000. The funding opportunity number is USDA FNS F2S 2018, it was posted October 4, 2017, and the original application deadline was December 8, 2017.Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2018
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 18 Farm to school Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.575.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 08, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 70 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2018 USDA Farm to School Grant (CFDA 10.575) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2018 Farm to School Grant?
The FY 2018 Farm to School Grant is a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), through the Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS). It was created under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish the USDA Farm to School Program.
2) What is the main goal of this grant program?
The central goal is to help eligible schools and their partners improve student access to local foods while supporting the development and expansion of farm to school efforts nationwide.
3) How much funding does Congress provide for the Farm to School Program each year?
Congress provides about $5 million per year for this program to cover grants, technical assistance, and federal administration.
4) What kinds of activities can Farm to School Grant funds support?
The authorizing law directs USDA to support activities such as training, planning, operational support, purchasing equipment, building school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. Projects may range from early-stage planning and community coordination to hands-on work that places local items on cafeteria menus, improves procurement systems, upgrades handling or kitchen capacity, and connects food service with education through gardens and farm-based learning.
5) What are examples of practical, school-centered project outcomes this grant is meant to advance?
Based on the program description, practical outcomes can include getting more local food products onto school menus, strengthening local procurement and supply chain practices, improving food handling or kitchen capacity through equipment or operational support, and integrating experiential learning through school gardens and farm- or garden-based nutrition education.
6) Does USDA prioritize certain types of projects?
Yes. The highest priority is given to projects that put local food products on school menus, serve a high proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and include experiential nutrition education that actively involves students in farm- and garden-based activities.
7) How does the program address equity and community diversity?
The program is designed to ensure geographic diversity and equitable treatment for urban, rural, and tribal communities.
8) What does USDA expect in terms of partnerships and collaboration?
Strong applications are expected to show real collaboration between schools and partners such as nonprofits, community-based organizations, and agricultural producer groups.
9) Is an evaluation plan required?
Strong applications are expected to include an adequate and participatory evaluation plan. In addition, recipients must agree to cooperate with program evaluation efforts conducted using grant funds.
10) Does the grant require sustainability beyond the grant period?
Strong applications are expected to demonstrate a credible path to long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.
11) Is matching support required to receive an award?
Yes. A key condition of receiving an award is that grantees must provide matching support, which can be cash or in-kind contributions.
12) What are the three FY 2018 grant tracks?
For FY 2018, funding is offered through three grant tracks: Implementation Grants, Planning Grants, and Training Grants. Each track is aimed at a different stage of readiness.
13) What are Implementation Grants and how much can applicants request?
Implementation Grants are for applicants that already have farm to school activities underway and want to scale or deepen existing initiatives. These awards range from $50,000 to $100,000.
14) What are Planning Grants and how much can applicants request?
Planning Grants are for applicants that are new or early in development and need support to organize, design, and structure a farm to school program using known best practices. These awards range from $20,000 to $50,000.
15) What are Training Grants and how much can applicants request?
Training Grants support trainings and technical assistance that strengthen farm to school supply chains or build capacity in areas like local procurement, food safety, culinary education, and integrating agriculture-based curriculum. These awards range from $20,000 to $50,000.
16) Who is eligible to apply for the FY 2018 Farm to School Grant?
Eligible applicants include schools and school districts, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers (or groups of such producers), and nonprofit entities working with schools or districts.
17) How many awards were anticipated for FY 2018?
The opportunity anticipated 70 awards.
18) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award ceiling is $100,000.
19) Is this a competitive or formula-based grant?
This is a competitive grant program and is described as a discretionary grant.
20) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 10.575.
21) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FNS F2S 2018.
22) When was the FY 2018 opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on October 4, 2017, and the original application deadline was December 8, 2017.
23) What is USDA looking for in a strong application?
Based on the program description, strong applications typically emphasize: placing local food products on school menus; serving a high proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals; providing experiential nutrition education with farm- and garden-based activities; demonstrating real collaboration with relevant partners; including an adequate and participatory evaluation plan; and presenting a credible plan for sustainability beyond the grant period.
24) What is required of grantees regarding evaluation activities?
Recipients must agree to cooperate with program evaluation efforts conducted using grant funds, reflecting an expectation that grantees measure results and share lessons learned.
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