Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 011776
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports community-driven projects aimed at reducing food and nutrition insecurity and hunger through lasting, locally rooted solutions. The core idea behind CFPCGP is that funded projects should use a one-time infusion of federal support to build capacity and become self-reliant over time, rather than depend on ongoing federal funding. Because of that, applicants are expected to propose work that has both immediate benefits and durable, long-range impacts, and each application must clearly address at least one short-term goal and at least one long-term goal aligned with CFPCGP priorities.
Projects funded under this program typically focus on strengthening local food systems and improving food access in ways that are comprehensive and sustainable. The opportunity emphasizes community food work connected to small and medium-sized farms, including efforts that increase local food availability and create or expand markets for agricultural producers. It also supports job training and business development tied to food-related economic activity, as well as direct efforts to reduce food insecurity such as food distribution, improving access to nutrition assistance and related services, or coordinating programs across a community. In addition to the programmatic approach, applicants must show they can carry out the project responsibly: they need to demonstrate organizational competency, fiscal accountability, and the ability to collect data and produce required reports. Applicants must also be willing to share what they learn with researchers, practitioners, and other interested groups so that successful models can be replicated and improved.
Eligibility depends on the type of project. For Community Food Projects and Planning Projects, individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply. Eligible applicants for CFPCGP grants must be a public food program service provider, a Tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity (including gleaners). Beyond organizational type, applicants must also have relevant experience in at least one of the key areas the program targets (community food work linked to farms and markets, food-related job training and business development, or community-based efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity). They must also be able to manage federal funds appropriately and handle monitoring and reporting requirements. There is also a Training and Technical Assistance (TandTA) track, but it is not offered every year; when it is offered, eligibility is narrower and limited to certain entities such as nongovernmental organizations, state Cooperative Extension Services, regional food systems centers, federal/state/Tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education.
For nonprofits, the notice provides a clear definition of what qualifies as a private nonprofit entity: it must be a nongovernmental organization operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar public-interest purposes; it cannot be organized primarily for profit; and it must reinvest net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand operations. Applicants may be asked to document nonprofit status using standard forms of evidence, such as a current IRS tax exemption certificate, a statement from a state authority verifying nonprofit status, a certified incorporation document showing nonprofit status, or documentation from a parent nonprofit plus a signed statement confirming affiliate status.
The program also accommodates applicants that cannot accept federal funds directly by allowing the use of a fiscal agent. A fiscal agent is an organization that agrees to manage the financial and administrative responsibilities of the award on the applicant’s behalf, and the fiscal agent itself does not have to meet CFPCGP eligibility requirements. If a fiscal agent will be used, the application must include a letter stating that award funds would be administered through that fiscal agent, identifying the fiscal agent and including contact details (such as address, phone, and email). The letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent and included as an attachment in the application package.
Key logistics from the opportunity listing include: the opportunity title is Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program, funding opportunity number USDA NIFA CFP 011776, CFDA number 10.225, and the administering agency is USDA NIFA. The application deadline listed is July 16, 2026. Awards are expected to be grants with an award ceiling of $400,000, with approximately 21 awards anticipated. Applicants are expected to follow all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), since missing eligibility or documentation requirements by the deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration.Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 011776
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-16. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 21 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) FAQs
What is the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP)?
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports community-driven projects that reduce food and nutrition insecurity and hunger through lasting, locally rooted solutions.
What is the main purpose or philosophy of CFPCGP funding?
CFPCGP is intended as a one-time infusion of federal support that helps communities build capacity and become self-reliant over time, rather than depend on ongoing federal funding. Proposals are expected to show both immediate benefits and durable, long-range impacts.
Do applications need to include both short-term and long-term goals?
Yes. Each application must clearly address at least one short-term goal and at least one long-term goal aligned with CFPCGP priorities.
What kinds of projects are typically funded under CFPCGP?
Funded projects typically strengthen local food systems and improve food access in comprehensive and sustainable ways. Examples mentioned in the opportunity include work connected to small and medium-sized farms, efforts that increase local food availability, and projects that create or expand markets for agricultural producers.
Does CFPCGP support projects connected to farms and local markets?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes community food work connected to small and medium-sized farms, including efforts that increase local food availability and create or expand markets for agricultural producers.
Does the program support job training or business development?
Yes. CFPCGP supports job training and business development tied to food-related economic activity.
Can projects focus on direct food insecurity interventions (like distribution or benefits access)?
Yes. The opportunity includes direct efforts to reduce food insecurity, such as food distribution, improving access to nutrition assistance and related services, or coordinating programs across a community.
What capacity or management expectations does CFPCGP have for applicants?
Applicants must show they can carry out the project responsibly by demonstrating organizational competency, fiscal accountability, and the ability to collect data and produce required reports.
Are awardees expected to share results or lessons learned?
Yes. Applicants must be willing to share what they learn with researchers, practitioners, and other interested groups so successful models can be replicated and improved.
Who is eligible to apply for Community Food Projects and Planning Projects?
For Community Food Projects and Planning Projects, individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible. Eligible applicants must be a public food program service provider, a Tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity (including gleaners).
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are not eligible to apply for Community Food Projects and Planning Projects under CFPCGP.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for Community Food Projects and Planning Projects under CFPCGP.
What types of organizations count as eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants for CFPCGP grants (for Community Food Projects and Planning Projects) include public food program service providers, Tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities (including gleaners).
Is relevant experience required to apply?
Yes. Applicants must have relevant experience in at least one of the key areas the program targets: (1) community food work linked to farms and markets, (2) food-related job training and business development, or (3) community-based efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity.
What is the Training and Technical Assistance (TandTA) track, and is it always available?
The opportunity notes a Training and Technical Assistance (TandTA) track, but it is not offered every year. When it is offered, eligibility is narrower and limited to certain entities such as nongovernmental organizations, state Cooperative Extension Services, regional food systems centers, federal/state/Tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education.
How does CFPCGP define a private nonprofit entity?
A private nonprofit entity is defined as a nongovernmental organization operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar public-interest purposes. It cannot be organized primarily for profit, and it must reinvest net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand operations.
What documentation might be required to prove nonprofit status?
Applicants may be asked to document nonprofit status with standard evidence such as: a current IRS tax exemption certificate, a statement from a state authority verifying nonprofit status, a certified incorporation document showing nonprofit status, or documentation from a parent nonprofit plus a signed statement confirming affiliate status.
Can an organization apply if it cannot accept federal funds directly?
Yes. The program allows an applicant to use a fiscal agent if the applicant cannot accept federal funds directly.
What is a fiscal agent in the context of this program?
A fiscal agent is an organization that agrees to manage the financial and administrative responsibilities of the award on the applicant's behalf.
Does the fiscal agent need to meet CFPCGP eligibility requirements?
No. The fiscal agent itself does not have to meet CFPCGP eligibility requirements.
What must be included in the application if a fiscal agent will be used?
If a fiscal agent will be used, the application must include a letter stating that award funds would be administered through the fiscal agent, identifying the fiscal agent, and including contact details (such as address, phone, and email). The letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent and included as an attachment in the application package.
What is the application deadline for this opportunity?
The application deadline listed is July 16, 2026.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA CFP 011776, and the CFDA number is 10.225.
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $400,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
Approximately 21 awards are anticipated.
What happens if an application is missing required eligibility information or documentation?
Applicants are expected to follow all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The listing notes that missing eligibility or documentation requirements by the deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration.
What should applicants pay close attention to when preparing their application?
Applicants should follow all requirements in the NOFO and ensure that eligibility requirements and required attachments (including any fiscal agent letter, if applicable) are submitted by the deadline, since missing items can result in the application being excluded from consideration.
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