Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Assistance (FA) is excited to announce the opening of applications for the fourth round of Resiliency Grants.
Donor Name: Washington State Department of Agriculture
State: Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
To help address critical needs of hunger relief organizations across Washington, WSDA FA is offering the Resiliency Grants Program with at least $5.3 million in pass through state funding to eligible hunger relief organizations, including those not currently participating in FA core programs.
The Resiliency Grants Program is funded by General Fund State. This program contributes to WSDA’s ongoing Focus on Food Initiative, which aims to ensure access to a safe and nutritious supply of food to support a healthy and thriving Washington population. The Resiliency Grants and Initiatives Committee, a diverse advisory group, helps inform the design of this program.
Funding Priorities
This funding will prioritize:
- Statewide representation to meet critical organizational and community needs.
- Underserved communities including rural or less densely populated regions, tribes, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
- Projects that can be accomplished within the agreement period considering current supply chain challenges.
- Representation across funding categories.
Funding Objectives
Through this program, WSDA will fund projects that bring benefit and target the following objectives:
- Food: Food purchases for distribution as groceries or meals, culturally familiar foods, etc.
- Operations/Equipment: Costs associated with regular or expanded operations (rent, insurance, staffing, supplies, costs associated with transporting food, delivery vehicles, etc.)
- Client Services: To support inclusive and welcoming service environments; increased access to services and reduced barriers; costs associated with concepts that enhance the client experience such as client-choice models and translation; etc.
Funds will be awarded under the following categories:
- Small Grants Hosted by Harvest Against Hunger: A shorter application with fewer reporting requirements. Maximum award size $4,999.99.
- Small Equipment and Installation
- EFAP Sub-Agency Grant: for organizations in the role of EFAP Sub-Agency in the current (’23-25) biennium, who are experiencing or anticipating additional costs as a result of updated client intake processes for the ’23-25 biennium. This grant is to help cover costs (up to $4,999.99) related to client intake requirements.
- FA Core Program Participants: At least 50% of awards will be to organizations who currently participate in FA core programs. Maximum award size $150,000.00.
- Non-FA Core Program Participants: At least 30% of awards will be to organizations who have never participated in FA core programs. Maximum award size $150,000.00.
- TEFAP and/or CSFP Sub Agencies: At least 10% of awards will be to organizations who are currently sub agencies of these programs. Funding for operational costs, including staffing, for TEFAP and/or CSFP support. Maximum award size $25,000.00.
Funding Period
July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
- Is a Tribe; tribal organization; 501(c) non-profit organization; public agency; or public corporation, commission, or authority established pursuant to RCW 35.21.660, RCW 89.08, or RCW 35.21.730.
- If a nonprofit organization, has been in operation for 12 or more consecutive months and is registered with the Washington State Secretary of State as a corporation.
- May have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status and demonstrated capacity to ensure adequate administrative and accounting procedures to safeguard funds awarded under this grant.
- Must be located in Washington State and supporting hunger relief in Washington State.
- The applicant’s status as a legal entity must be in good standing and must not have been revoked in the previous calendar year.
- Is not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded in any Federal or State department or agency from participating in transactions.
- Will direct the benefits of all awarded funds to people who live in Washington State.
- Has contracting capabilities including, but not limited to, internal controls and fund accounting procedures to assure the proper disbursement of, and accounting for, all funds. Funded agencies will be required to submit a monthly report including an expanded general ledger, related backup, and copies of all paid invoices and receipts each month.
- For $5,000 and over projects:
- Applicant is currently registered as a statewide vendor for the state of Washington, and/or will register within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as a successful applicant. For instructions on becoming a statewide vendor, please visit:https://ofm.wa.gov/it-systems/accounting-systems/statewide-vendorpayee-services.
- Has additional contracting capabilities including reports provided throughout the contract period.
- All awarded agencies that also provide direct service are expected to provide low barrier access to services.
- Agencies should not require identification or proof of residency, income, household size, or citizenship status from any community member accessing projects that are funded through WSDA.
- As applicable, self-attestation of household size, address, income, and need should be accepted for all community members accessing WSDA resources.
- Agencies should not decline services to community members who provide a self-attestation that they live in Washington and have food needs.
- Recipients of assistance from the WSDA FA are required to meet legal requirements relating to civil rights, nondiscrimination and nondiscriminatory use of funds. Those requirements include ensuring that entities receiving financial assistance from WSDA FA do not deny benefits or services, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), honorably discharged veteran or military status, age (40 or older), or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
For more information, visit WSDA.
