Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012058
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012058
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Cooperative Development Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.771.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.771) administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its core purpose is to fund nonprofit institutions so they can establish and operate rural cooperative development centers. These centers are meant to be hands-on support hubs that strengthen rural economies by helping people and communities create, grow, or improve cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses.
The program is designed around a practical chain of impact: USDA funds an eligible nonprofit, that nonprofit runs a development center, and the center provides technical assistance to rural communities and entrepreneurs. The technical assistance focus is central to the opportunity and generally involves the kind of expert help that makes cooperative businesses workable in real life, such as guidance on cooperative formation, governance and member structures, business planning, feasibility work, financing strategies, marketing, and operational improvements. The intended end result is better economic conditions in rural areas through stronger locally rooted, member-owned enterprises.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit institutions only. For this program, a nonprofit institution includes organizations and institutions such as accredited institutions of higher education, as long as none of the organization’s net earnings benefit, or can legally benefit, any private shareholder or individual. Applicants must meet the specific eligibility requirements laid out in 7 CFR 4284.520(a). In addition, an applicant becomes ineligible if any disqualifying conditions described in 7 CFR 4284.520(b) apply, meaning applicants need to confirm they do not trigger any of the regulatory ineligibility items before applying.
The opportunity is listed as USDA NIFA OP 012058. Applications are due by July 24, 2026 (original closing date). The maximum award amount is $1,000,000, and the agency expects to make about 12 awards. The funding activity category is Agriculture, and the funding instrument is a grant.
Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program FAQs
1) What is the Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program?
The Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.771) administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It provides funding to eligible nonprofit institutions to establish and operate rural cooperative development centers.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to fund nonprofit institutions so they can run rural cooperative development centers that provide hands-on technical assistance to rural communities and entrepreneurs. The intended result is stronger rural economies through improved cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses.
3) Who administers this opportunity?
The program is administered by USDA through NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
4) What is the Assistance Listing/CFDA number for this program?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 10.771.
5) What is the opportunity number/listing for this specific posting?
This opportunity is listed as USDA NIFA OP 012058.
6) What type of funding is this?
This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity. The funding instrument is a grant.
7) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Agriculture.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit institutions only. For this program, a nonprofit institution includes organizations and institutions such as accredited institutions of higher education, as long as none of the organization’s net earnings benefit, or can legally benefit, any private shareholder or individual.
9) Are universities or colleges eligible?
Accredited institutions of higher education can be considered eligible nonprofit institutions under this program, provided that none of the institution’s net earnings benefit (or can legally benefit) any private shareholder or individual.
10) Where are the eligibility rules defined?
Applicants must meet the specific eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4284.520(a). Applicants also need to confirm they do not fall under any disqualifying conditions described in 7 CFR 4284.520(b).
11) What could make an applicant ineligible?
An applicant becomes ineligible if any disqualifying conditions described in 7 CFR 4284.520(b) apply. Applicants should verify they do not trigger any of these regulatory ineligibility items before applying.
12) What does the grant fund, in practical terms?
The grant funds nonprofit institutions to establish and operate rural cooperative development centers. These centers function as support hubs that deliver technical assistance to help rural communities create, grow, or improve cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses.
13) What is meant by a “rural cooperative development center†in this program?
In this program, a rural cooperative development center is a hands-on technical assistance hub run by an eligible nonprofit. Its role is to strengthen rural economies by helping people and communities develop cooperatives and other member-owned or mutually owned businesses.
14) What kind of technical assistance is emphasized?
The program centers on technical assistance that makes cooperative businesses workable in real life. Examples listed in the opportunity include guidance on cooperative formation, governance and member structures, business planning, feasibility work, financing strategies, marketing, and operational improvements.
15) What outcomes is USDA/NIFA aiming for with these grants?
The intended end result is better economic conditions in rural areas through stronger, locally rooted, member-owned enterprises, supported by practical technical assistance delivered through funded development centers.
16) How does the program’s “chain of impact†work?
The program is designed around a practical chain of impact: USDA funds an eligible nonprofit; that nonprofit establishes and operates a development center; and the center provides technical assistance to rural communities and entrepreneurs to create, strengthen, or improve cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses.
17) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount is $1,000,000.
18) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency expects to make about 12 awards.
19) When is the application due?
Applications are due by July 24, 2026 (original closing date).
20) Is this program focused on rural areas?
Yes. The funded centers are intended to strengthen rural economies by supporting rural communities and entrepreneurs with cooperative development technical assistance.
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