The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program supports community-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening local food systems and reducing food insecurity.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/16/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The CFPCGP projects are to be designed to require a one-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-reliant and meet short- and long-term goals. Applicants are required to address at least one short-term and one long-term CFPCGP goals that best fit the plan or project being proposed to ensure a comprehensive and enduring approach to resolving food and nutrition security and hunger.
- Short-term goals (Select at least one):
- Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service.
- Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities.
- Promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues.
- Long-term goals (Select at least one):
- Meet specific state, local, Tribal, territory, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to:
- Equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project.
- Planning for long-term solutions.
- The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
- Develop long-term enduring projects that increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the community.
- Develop long-term projects that promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues.
- Meet specific state, local, Tribal, territory, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to:
Funding Information
- Anticipated Program Funding: $4,800,000
- Minimum Award Amount: $25,000
- Maximum Award Amount: $50,000
Grant Period
3 years
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the CFPCGP must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.
- Community Food Project and Planning Project Eligibility
- Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply for this program.
- Training and Technical Assistance Project Eligibility
- Eligibility to apply for the CFPCGP T&TA is limited to nongovernmental organizations, state Cooperative Extension Services, regional food systems centers, Federal, state or Tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education. T&TA applications are not invited every year.
- To be eligible for a grant CFPCGP, applicants must be a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners, and:
- Have experience in the area of:
- Community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food and the development of new markets in communities for agricultural producers;
- Job training and business development activities for food-related activities in communities; or
- Efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs;
- Have experience in the area of:
- Demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
- Demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
