The Food Systems Leadership Network is here to help you navigate the 2023 round of funding for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) recently announced by the USDA!
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.
There are two categories of grants available: Planning Grants start at $25,000 and full Implementation Grants are capped at $400,000 over a four-year period. The deadline for this year’s application is October 30, 2023.
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. Together, Andy and Hugh bring over 25 years of experience with the CFPCGP and have recently secured a four-year grant to provide essential support to CFP 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 2.5 hours of 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 by October 20 to receive support:
- Fill out an intake form here.
- E-mail Andy at [email protected] with basic questions
- Call 1-971-801-8281 and leave a voice mail.
CFP Resources
We’ll continue to add resources to the FSLN website; here are some to get you started:
- CFP Grantwriting Guide
- CFP Planning Grant Guide
- CFPCGP website
- CFPCGP Request for Proposals here
- Review Abstracts of previously funded projects
- CFPCGP RFA Technical Assistance webinar recording
- To apply through grants.gov, click here.
- CFP Discussion Group (in development)
- CFP Resource Library (in development)