4-H Military Extension Educator Program

MEE
CFDA 10.277 Active Grant

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$214K FY2026
$214K
FY24
$214K
FY25
$214K
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 Fiscal Year 2024: Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support Grant Program: 5 applications received, 2 awards made. Mentoring at Risk and Rural Youth program: 7 applications received 6 awards made.

Program Objective

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Division of Youth and 4-H (DY4-H) partners with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Military Community and Family Policy, the Military-Civilian Transition Office and the Army, Navy, and Air Force to support military-connected children and youths and to ensure that service members are able to focus on readiness and the mission. The objectives of these partnerships include fostering access to consistent, and evidence informed programs and services, both on and off military installations, that encourage youth development.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • State
  • Other

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: From 30 to 60 days

Contact the National Program Leader (NPL) regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time. Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA’s respective links regarding general information are provided below: http://nifa.usda.gov/ http://www.grants.gov.

Program details & compliance

Description

Includes partnerships with the Army, Navy and Air Force to develop and support military children, youth and family programs on military installations around the world, as well as families of National Guard and Reserves living in communities far removed from military installations. With the support of 4-H Extension professionals, the programs supported through these partnerships differ in focus, from 4-H Clubs to professional development for military staff members, but each infuses youth development practices within its work and contributes to military mission-readiness.

Mission Categories

Primary: Vocational Education

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved integrated research, extension and education objectives to address food and agricultural sciences, in the broadest sense. NIFA has determined that grant funds awarded under this authority may not be used for the renovation or refurbishment of research, education, or extension space; the purchase or installation of fixed equipment in such space; or the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities. DETAILED INFORMATION – 4-H Military Extension Educator Program Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom SPECIAL NOTES: (1) A synopsis of general restrictions is provided in the CFDA database. (2) Please refer to the Competitive, Non-Competitive and/or Requests for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. (3) Although the information provided in the CFDA database is not exhaustive, NIFA attempts to also indicate “Exceptions” to the general restrictions. NIFA has determined that grant funds awarded under this authority may not be used for the renovation or refurbishment of research, education, or extension space; the purchase or installation of fixed equipment in such space; or the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities. Funds may not be used for any purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents. Tuition remission is not allowable. For most of the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) programs, Indirect costs are not allowable. Pertinent details are provided for the few exceptions to the rule. OTHER - DETAILED INFORMATION – RESTRICTIONS ONLY SPECIAL NOTE: For most of the extension programs, Indirect Cost is NOT allowable and Matching is NOT required. Exceptions to the general rule are indicated, as deemed necessary and appropriate. Some funds are Fully Discretionary. Some funds are Mandatory.

Required Documentation

The System for Award Management (SAM) combines eight federal procurement systems, including CCR, and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. CCR activities are conducted through SAM (the CCR website will redirect users to SAM).Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)Number and System for Award Management (SAM): Each applicant (unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid UEI number in its application; and (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. It also must state that the Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicants must furnish the information required in the Request for Applications (RFAs). Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process. These include, but are not limited to the following: Organizational Management Information - Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one time basis, with updates on an as needed basis, as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of a grant identified under this RFA, if such information has not been provided previously under this or another NIFA program. NIFA will provide copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements as part of the preaward process. Although an applicant may be eligible based on its status as one of these entities, there are factors which may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual involved or a determination that an applicant is not responsible based on submitted organizational management information). This information collection is approved under OMB Circular Control No. 0524-0026, “Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights, Compliance and Organization Information.”
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader
2024014939
Institute of Food Production and Sustainability, Division of Plant Systems-Protection, National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205 Courier/Package Delivery Address: 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061, Kansas City, MO 64141
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-02-04. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:34:00.