FY23 Farm to School Grant | USDA FNS 2023 F2S

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS 2023 F2S

The FY23 Farm to School Grant opportunity is a competitive discretionary grant program run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), specifically through the Community Food Systems Division (CFSD). It is authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, which created the Farm to School Program to help eligible organizations start, expand, or strengthen farm to school efforts. The central goal is to improve children s access to locally produced foods within USDA supported child nutrition settings, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. In practical terms, the program is meant to help schools and their partners buy, serve, and promote local foods while connecting food service with hands-on food and agriculture learning.

Funding for Farm to School is typically supported by a base amount of 5 million dollars per year, but USDA notes that additional appropriations from FY 2018 through FY 2022 increase the total funding available under this particular solicitation. For FY23, USDA expects to award about 12 million dollars in total. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is 500,000 dollars per grant, and USDA anticipated making around 144 awards, indicating an intent to fund a substantial number of projects across the country rather than only a handful of large initiatives.

The grant is designed to support a wide range of farm to school activities, reflecting the different stages communities may be in. Allowable project types include planning and launching farm to school programs, training and technical skill building, operational support to help programs function effectively, purchases of equipment that enable local food use (for example, storage or preparation capacity), development of school gardens, partnership development among schools and community stakeholders, and direct implementation activities that put local foods and related education into action. The overall emphasis is on practical steps that help institutions serve more local food reliably and build the relationships and infrastructure needed to sustain that work.

Eligibility is broad and includes many of the organizations that typically lead or partner on farm to school efforts. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that category); private institutions of higher education; and other applicant types as described in the solicitation s additional eligibility details. This wide eligibility is consistent with how farm to school projects often require coordination among public agencies, school systems, tribal communities, nonprofits, growers, and education partners.

USDA is also directed by law to distribute awards in a way that reflects geographic diversity and provides equitable treatment across urban, rural, and tribal communities. In evaluating proposals, the program gives the highest priority to projects that put local food products on school menus, reach schools serving a high proportion of children eligible for free or reduced price meals, and embed experiential nutrition education into curriculum planning. This education component is expected to encourage student participation in farm and garden based learning, connecting what students eat with where food comes from and how it is produced.

Beyond menu changes and education, USDA prioritizes projects that show strong collaboration and community alignment. Competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate real partnerships among eligible schools and relevant stakeholders such as nongovernmental and community based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other local partners. Projects are also expected to include evaluation plans that are adequate and participatory, meaning the applicant should be able to measure progress and outcomes while involving key participants in how success is defined and tracked. Finally, sustainability matters: applicants are expected to show how the work can continue beyond the grant period, whether through durable partnerships, institutional changes in purchasing and menu planning, improved infrastructure, or ongoing funding strategies.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.575. The funding opportunity number is USDA FNS 2023 F2S, with an original posting date of October 6, 2022 and an original application deadline of January 6, 2023. Overall, FY23 Farm to School Grant funding is aimed at helping communities build lasting local food systems connections within child nutrition programs, pairing local procurement and food service improvements with hands on student learning and long term program durability.

• The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 Farm to School Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.575.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 06, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 06, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 144 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for USDA FNS 2023 F2S

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