Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
🏛 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations addressing food security and hunger in communities. Eligible applicants are public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities (including gleaners). Applicants must have relevant experience in community food work, job training for food-related activities, or efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity.
Applicants must propose projects addressing both short-term and long-term goals related to food and nutrition security. The projects should work toward self-reliance after federal support ends. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible.
Some funding tracks (Training and Technical Assistance) are limited to nongovernmental organizations, state Cooperative Extension Services, regional food systems centers, and institutions of higher education.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIFA Form 424 (or SF-424)
- Project narrative/description
- Budget narrative and justification
- Organizational capacity statement
- Cost-sharing documentation
- Letters of support from partners
- Management plan or timeline
Program contact
- 👤 Catherine Bohnert Grantor
- 📧 grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
- 📞 816-398-3349
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.225 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,000,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$399,964
-
$398,142
-
$397,914
-
$386,000
-
$386,000
Top States by Funding
- MA 6 awards $2.7M
- CA 10 awards $2.6M
- HI 4 awards $1.4M
- IL 4 awards $1.2M
- WA 6 awards $1.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.225). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $4,640,956 | |
| 2025 | $2,304,956 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,800,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for Community Food Projects grants?
Public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofits (including gleaners) can apply. Individuals and for-profits cannot.
What experience must I have?
You need experience in community food work, job training for food activities, or efforts to reduce food/nutrition insecurity in communities.
What must my project address?
Your project must address at least one short-term and one long-term goal related to food and nutrition security. Projects should become self-reliant after federal funding ends.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is July 16, 2026. Cost-sharing is required.
What are the award amounts?
Awards typically range from $25,000 to $400,000. The total program has $4.8 million in funding.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly explain how your project addresses both short-term and long-term food security goals in your narrative. Connect directly to CFPCGP priorities.
- Document your organization's relevant experience in community food work or related activities. Include past successes and community relationships.
- Develop a realistic sustainability plan showing how your project will become self-reliant after federal funding ends.
- Identify your cost-sharing match early in proposal development. Include letters of commitment from partners contributing match funds.
- Align your project with eligible activities like supporting small/medium farms, creating new markets, job training, or reducing food insecurity.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals fail when they address only short-term OR long-term goals instead of both. Weak sustainability plans that don't show how the project becomes self-reliant after federal support ends. Insufficient documentation of organizational experience in food work, job training, or community food security efforts.
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