Community Food Projects Support & Technical Assistance

The USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program FY ’25 Request for Applications is LIVE!

Applications are due November 7, 2024.

The Food Systems Leadership Network is working in partnership with ISED Solutions, the national technical assistance provider for the CFP program, to support applicants and grantees of this cornerstone program. See below for more information about upcoming opportunities, links to resources, and how to get one on one support in the application process!

About the CFPCGP

The USDA-NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) aims to unite stakeholders from different parts of the food system to better understand national food security trends and explore ways to improve local food systems. Recognizing that low-income individuals face significant barriers to accessing nutritious foods, these projects are designed to tackle food and nutrition security, especially among the most vulnerable populations.

The CFPCGP makes available $5 million annually in competitive grant funding, requiring a dollar-for-dollar match using non-federal sources. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and tribal entities.

There are two categories of grants available: Planning Grants range from $25,000 to $50,000. Full Implementation Grants start at $125,000 and are capped at $400,000 over a four-year period. Dollar for dollar matching funds are required.

Note that this year’s Request for Applications is for both 2025 and 2026. Grant applications will be accepted until Nov 7, 2024, and then again in the fall of 2025 until October 30, 2025.

Technical Assistance through FSLN and ISED

The Food Systems Leadership Network in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development Solutions (ISED) will be providing technical assistance to CFPCGP applicants and grantees. Assistance will be provided by Andy Fisher, the founding director of the Community Food Security Coalition and a recognized expert in food security, and Hugh Joseph, a CFP technical assistance provider and grants expert, and Emma Bliss, a farmer and community food systems organizer. With a combined 25 years of experience in diverse food systems work, this technical assistance team secured a four-year grant to provide essential support to CFPCGP applicants and grantees.

All technical assistance, resources, and opportunities developed through the project will be accessible through the FSLN website, serving a broad and diverse audience of CFP prospects. Additionally, CFP applicants and grantees will have the chance to tap into the wide array of professional development and capacity building opportunities that are offered through the network.

Accessing Technical Assistance for your CFP Grant Application

To access direct technical assistance from ISED, you can fill out an intake form here.  

ISED will be able to:

  • Provide up to 2 hours of application assistance per project.
  • Answer specific questions about the grant program.
  • Assess your project’s potential for funding, including its strengths and weaknesses.
  • Collaborate with you on program design, partnerships, evaluation, sustainability, and related topics.
  • Review your grant proposal and offer feedback on its clarity, content, analysis, project description, and budget/budget narrative.

Please note that ISED will not be able to:

  • Address Grants.gov, SAM, and DUNS related problems. Please contact these entities directly.
  • Help you fundraise to make your match.
  • Rewrite – or write- your grant proposal.

Additionally, highly technical questions, such as those about the eligibility of capital purchases, may require us to be in touch with USDA staff, which may require a few extra days to respond.

Get in touch to receive support:

CFP Resources

We’ll continue to add resources to the FSLN website; here are some to get you started:

NEW! Resources for 2024 Application Phase:

Evergreen CFP Resources:

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