Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2012
Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2012
- The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm to School Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.575 Farm to School Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 24, 2012 and posted on Apr 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Schools State and Local Agencies Indian Tribal Organizations Agricultural Producers (or groups of Producers) Non profit Entities
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Opportunity Summary:
The USDA Farm to School Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FNS F2S 2012, CFDA 10.575) is a discretionary funding opportunity run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to help schools and community partners build and expand farm to school efforts. The program was created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish a Farm to School program. The core purpose is to improve access to local foods in eligible schools by supporting projects that connect schools with nearby producers and strengthen local and regional food systems linked to child nutrition programs.
Funding is offered through competitive grants and is part of a broader annual federal investment of $5 million beginning October 1, 2012, intended to cover grants, technical assistance, and federal administrative costs. For this first funding cycle, FNS projected up to $3.5 million for direct grant awards, with the remaining portion of the annual funding expected to support training, technical assistance, administrative needs, and potentially additional farm to school grants depending on availability. The opportunity anticipated about 60 total awards.
Applicants are directed to apply under one of two tracks: Planning Grants or Implementation Grants. Planning Grants are designed for early-stage work such as assessing feasibility, building partnerships, developing procurement strategies, designing programs, and laying the groundwork for long-term farm to school activities. These awards were expected to range from $20,000 to $45,000 and make up roughly 25 percent of the total awards. Implementation Grants are intended for organizations that are ready to launch or expand active farm to school programming, such as putting local purchasing systems into practice, scaling procurement from local farms, rolling out food education, and strengthening distribution and operational capacity needed to consistently bring local foods into schools. Implementation awards were expected to range from $65,000 to $100,000 and make up about 75 percent of the awards. The award floor is $20,000 and the award ceiling is $100,000.
A key requirement is cost sharing. Recipients must contribute at least 25 percent of total project costs, because the federal share cannot exceed 75 percent of the overall project cost, as required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. In other words, applicants need to budget and document non-federal matching resources to cover at least one-quarter of the project.
Eligibility is broad and geared toward the mix of partners that typically make farm to school work. Eligible applicants include schools and school districts, state and local agencies, Indian Tribal organizations, agricultural producers (or groups of producers), and non-profit entities. Only one application per eligible entity is allowed, and applicants must choose either a Planning Grant or an Implementation Grant rather than applying for both. The program also encouraged applicants to submit a Letter of Intent before submitting a full application, which can help the agency anticipate demand and provide guidance during the cycle.
The application includes at least one required supplemental document: the Free and Reduced Price Meal Participation Form available on the Farm to School website, tied to the applicant’s grant project. This requirement reflects the program’s focus on serving eligible schools and improving food access for students, especially in communities where school meals play a major role in daily nutrition.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted April 16, 2012, with an application deadline (original and current closing date) of June 15, 2012, and an archive date of July 15, 2012. The funding instrument types listed are Grant and Cooperative Agreement, and the activity category is Food and Nutrition. Additional program details were provided through the USDA FNS Farm to School web page, and a named grants officer contact (Gregory Walton) was listed for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.
USDA Farm to School Grant Program (USDA FNS F2S 2012, CFDA 10.575) FAQs
What is the USDA Farm to School Grant Program?
The USDA Farm to School Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to help schools and community partners build and expand farm to school efforts. Its core purpose is to improve access to local foods in eligible schools by supporting projects that connect schools with nearby producers and strengthen local and regional food systems tied to child nutrition programs.
What law created this program?
The program was created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish a Farm to School program.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FNS F2S 2012, and the CFDA number is 10.575.
Who runs this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
What is the overall goal of projects funded under this program?
Funded projects are intended to improve access to local foods in eligible schools by supporting efforts that connect schools with nearby producers and strengthen local and regional food systems linked to child nutrition programs.
How much funding was available in this first funding cycle?
This opportunity was part of a broader annual federal investment of $5 million beginning October 1, 2012, intended to cover grants, technical assistance, and federal administrative costs. For the first funding cycle, FNS projected up to $3.5 million for direct grant awards, with the remainder expected to support training, technical assistance, administrative needs, and potentially additional farm to school grants depending on availability.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated about 60 total awards.
What types of grants are available under this opportunity?
Applicants must apply under one of two tracks: Planning Grants or Implementation Grants.
What is a Planning Grant intended to support?
Planning Grants are designed for early-stage work such as assessing feasibility, building partnerships, developing procurement strategies, designing programs, and laying the groundwork for long-term farm to school activities.
What is the expected funding range for Planning Grants?
Planning Grant awards were expected to range from $20,000 to $45,000.
About what share of awards were expected to be Planning Grants?
Planning Grants were expected to make up roughly 25 percent of the total awards.
What is an Implementation Grant intended to support?
Implementation Grants are intended for organizations ready to launch or expand active farm to school programming. Examples described include putting local purchasing systems into practice, scaling procurement from local farms, rolling out food education, and strengthening distribution and operational capacity needed to consistently bring local foods into schools.
What is the expected funding range for Implementation Grants?
Implementation Grant awards were expected to range from $65,000 to $100,000.
About what share of awards were expected to be Implementation Grants?
Implementation Grants were expected to make up about 75 percent of the awards.
What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?
The award floor is $20,000 and the award ceiling is $100,000.
Is cost sharing (matching) required?
Yes. Recipients must contribute at least 25 percent of total project costs because the federal share cannot exceed 75 percent of the overall project cost, as required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
How does the 75/25 cost share requirement work in practice?
The federal portion of the budget may cover no more than 75 percent of the total project cost, and applicants must budget and document non-federal matching resources to cover at least one-quarter (25 percent) of the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include schools and school districts, state and local agencies, Indian Tribal organizations, agricultural producers (or groups of producers), and non-profit entities.
Can an eligible entity submit more than one application?
No. Only one application per eligible entity is allowed.
Can an applicant apply for both a Planning Grant and an Implementation Grant?
No. Applicants must choose either a Planning Grant or an Implementation Grant rather than applying for both.
Was a Letter of Intent required?
The program encouraged applicants to submit a Letter of Intent before submitting a full application. The Letter of Intent can help the agency anticipate demand and provide guidance during the cycle.
What supplemental documents were required with the application?
The application included at least one required supplemental document: the Free and Reduced Price Meal Participation Form available on the Farm to School website, tied to the applicant's grant project.
Why is the Free and Reduced Price Meal Participation Form required?
The requirement reflects the program's focus on serving eligible schools and improving food access for students, especially in communities where school meals play a major role in daily nutrition.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted April 16, 2012. The application deadline (original and current closing date) was June 15, 2012. The archive date was July 15, 2012.
What funding instrument types were listed?
The funding instrument types listed are Grant and Cooperative Agreement.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Food and Nutrition.
Where were additional program details provided?
Additional program details were provided through the USDA FNS Farm to School web page.
Who was the listed contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?
A named grants officer contact, Gregory Walton, was listed for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.
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| The Innovation Fund for Ethiopia Agriculture (IFEA) Apply for APS 663 14 000002 Funding Number: APS 663 14 000002 Agency: Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
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| HHFKA Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger FY2015 Apply for USDA FNS HHFKA DEMO FY2015 Funding Number: USDA FNS HHFKA DEMO FY2015 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| USDA FNS FY2014 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants Announcement Apply for USDA FNS FY2014 SNAP PTI GRANTS Funding Number: USDA FNS FY2014 SNAP PTI GRANTS Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| IFRP 2014 Request For Applications Apply for IFRP 2014 000 Funding Number: IFRP 2014 000 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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