Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program

Who can apply

Applicants for the CFPCGP must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Community Food Project and Planning Project Eligibility Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply for this program. Training and Technical Assistance Project Eligibility Eligibility to apply for the CFPCGP T&TA is limited to nongovernmental organizations, state Cooperative Extension Services, regional food systems centers, Federal, state or Tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education. T&TA applications are not invited every year. To be eligible for a grant CFPCGP, applicants must be a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners, and: 1. Have experience in the area of: a. Community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food and the development of new markets in communities for agricultural producers; b. Job training and business development activities for food-related activities in communities; or c. Efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs; 2. Demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and 3. Demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties. Private Nonprofit: “Private Nonprofit entities” are defined as any nongovernmental corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization which: 1. Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest. 2. Is not organized primarily for profit. 3. Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. Acceptable Evidence: The following documents can be used as proof of Private Nonprofit eligibility. 1. A copy of a currently valid Internal Revenue Service tax exemption certificate. 2. A statement from a state taxing body, State Attorney General, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has a nonprofit status. 3. A certified copy of the organization’s certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes private nonprofit status. 4. Any of the above proof for a state or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate. See the NIFA Policy Guide for additional information. Fiscal Agents: A Fiscal Agent is an organization managing financial responsibilities on behalf of the applicant. If an eligible applicant’s institution/organization cannot accept Federal funds directly, the applicant must have an assigned Fiscal Agent. The fiscal agent is not required to meet CFPCGP eligibility. The applicant must provide a letter in the application stating that in the event the application results in an award, the award funds must be administered through a Fiscal Agent on their behalf. This agent must be identified in the letter from the applicant, and the letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the Fiscal Agent organization. The letter should include the Fiscal Agent’s point of contact, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. This letter is to be included as an attachment to Field 12, Other Attachments (see Part IV, B of this NOFO). In the event an application is recommended for funding, NIFA will request that both the applicant