2027 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program
🏛 Foreign Agricultural Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations that promote exports of U.S. agricultural commodities. Applicants must be nonprofits with no business interest in or direct remuneration from specific commodity sales. All U.S. agricultural commodities except tobacco are eligible for market development support.
Organizations must have an active registration in SAM.gov before the application deadline. Inactive, expired, pending, or excluded SAM.gov listings result in automatic ineligibility. No exceptions or waivers are available for registration status requirements.
The program operates on a competitive basis. USDA/FAS aims to fund a diverse array of agricultural commodities through cost-sharing agreements with eligible Cooperators.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Program description
Under the Cooperator Program, USDA/FAS enters into agreements with nonprofit agricultural trade organizations (“Cooperators”) to share the costs of maintaining and developing foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities and products. Financial assistance under the Cooperator Program is made available on a competitive basis, and USDA/FAS endeavors to enter into agreements with eligible Cooperators to cover as broad an array of agricultural commodities as possible. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SAM.gov registration confirmation (active status)
- Nonprofit organization documentation (Articles of Incorporation, IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or equivalent)
- Application form (per FAS announcement)
- Program narrative describing market development strategy
- Budget and cost-sharing plan
- Organizational capacity documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Denyse Watson Grantor
- 📧 curt.alt@usda.gov
- 📞 2027200525
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 10.600 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.600). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $34,500,000 | |
| 2025 | $34,500,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $34,500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program?
Only nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations can apply. Your organization must promote exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and have no financial interest in specific commodity sales.
What SAM.gov status is required?
You must have an active SAM.gov registration before the deadline. Inactive, expired, pending, or excluded status disqualifies you with no exceptions.
What commodities are eligible?
All U.S. agricultural commodities are eligible except tobacco. The program supports broad market development efforts across multiple commodity types.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, cost-sharing is required. USDA/FAS and your organization share costs for maintaining and developing foreign markets.
How competitive is this program?
The program is highly competitive. FAS seeks to fund diverse commodities, so applications must demonstrate strong market development strategy and organizational capacity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your SAM.gov registration is active months before applying. Allow extra time for registration processing to avoid last-minute issues.
- Clearly document your nonprofit status and demonstrate zero financial interest in specific commodity sales. This distinction is critical for eligibility.
- Show concrete experience in agricultural export promotion. Include past market development achievements and geographic reach.
- Detail your cost-sharing commitment upfront. Explain how you'll fund your portion of the joint agreement with FAS.
- Align your proposal with FAS priorities. Focus on commodities with strong export potential and realistic market development objectives.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying with inactive or unverified SAM.gov registration. Missing the fixed August deadline with no rolling acceptance available. Failing to clearly establish nonprofit status or demonstrating financial conflicts from commodity sales.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health