Community Food Projects (10.225)
Community Food Projects (Assistance Listing 10.225) is run by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $34.3 million in 131 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $261,619 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $349,221. Half of the 131 awards fell between $138,801 and $374,021, and they ranged from $10,911 to $1.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$34.3 million
- Grant awards131
- Typical award$349,221
- Awarded in FY 2025$2.3 million
- Size rank1145 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $4.6 million in fiscal 2021 to $2.3 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1145th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 25% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 39 states and territories.
What the program funds
The primary goals of the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) are as follows (7 U.S.C. 2034(b)): a. Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service; b. Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and c. Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or d. Meet specific state, tribal, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to: i. Equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project; planning for long-term solutions; or ii. The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Proposals may be submitted by private nonprofit entities. Because projects must promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues, applicants are encouraged to seek and create partnership among public, private nonprofit To be further eligible for a grant, a private nonprofit applicant must meet three mandatory requirements: 1. Have experience in the area of: (a) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers; or (b) job training and business development activities in low-income communities; 2. demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability and oversight, collect data, and prepare reports and other appropriate documentation; and 3. demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Community food projects are intended to take a comprehensive approach to developing long-term solutions that help to ensure food security in communities by linking the food sector to community development, economic opportunity, and environmental enhancement. Comprehensive solutions may include elements such as: (1) Improved access to high quality, affordable food among low-income households; (2) support for local food systems, from urban gardening to local farms that provide high quality fresh food, ideally with minimal adverse environmental impact; and (3) expanded economic opportunities for community residents through local business or other economic development, improved employment opportunities, job training, youth apprenticeship, school-to-work transition, and the like. Any solution proposed must tie into community food needs. 1.) Construction and Renovation: With prior approval, and in accordance with applicable Federal cost principles, grant funds may be used to plan, acquire, or construct a building or facility, or to acquire land; and for improvements, alterations, renovations, or repairs to land or buildings, necessary to carry out a funded project under this program. However, requests to use grant funds for such purposes must demonstrate that such expenditures are essential to achieving the major purpose for which the grant request is made. 2. ) Indirect Costs: Full Negotiated Rate.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Applicants MUST provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) basis for all Federal funds requested at the time the application is submitted. Matching funds must be accurately documented for all project years at the time the application in the R&R Budget and SF-424 forms. Matching funds in excess of the required amount will not be considered as part of the application review.If a project is selected for funding and includes match beyond the required amount, a revised budget will be required which may lead to delays in processing the award. Matching funds may include cash and/or in-kind contributions, including third-party in-kind contributions, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services. In-kind contributions are donations of goods, services, or time.The matching funds, or non-federal share of the funding, may come from State government, local government, other private non-profit entities, or private sources. Federal money cannot be used to match unless it is expressly authorized to be used for this purpose. Examples of qualifying matching contributions may include direct costs such as: rent for office space used exclusively for the funded project; duplication or postage costs; and staff time. A complete list of matching sources must be secured and maintained at applicant’s organization location. Do not submit this list to NIFA or provide match commitment letters unless requested.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive and/or capacity project grant, or cooperative agreement are established, these amounts will be announced in the annual Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFA is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/community-food-projects-cfp-competitive-grants-program
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) is a USDA-NIFA initiative designed to support community-driven projects that improve food security, strengthen local food systems, and promote long-term sustainability. These projects aim to increase access to healthy, affordable food for communities in need while fostering self-reliance and resilience through education, infrastructure, and partnerships. In FY2025, one funded project focused on an urban youth nutrition and market access initiative in a major Midwestern city. The project combined youth-led nutrition education with a mobile farmers market to address food deserts and improve access to fresh produce. Activities included hands-on workshops for teens on healthy eating and budgeting, as well as pop-up farmers market stalls in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Expected outcomes included improved nutrition literacy among youth, greater availability of nutrient-rich foods, and enhanced economic opportunities for local farmers.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Community Food Projects (10.225) awarded$34.3 million across 131 grant awards, an average of $261,619 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sector New England, Inc. | Massachusetts | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Project New Village | California | 2 | $419,500 |
| St Marys Regional Medical Center | Maine | 1 | $400,000 |
| Turlock Gospel Mission | California | 1 | $400,000 |
| Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully Inc | Georgia | 1 | $400,000 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Putnam County | New York | 1 | $400,000 |
| Farming Hope | California | 1 | $400,000 |
| Sharing Excess Inc | Pennsylvania | 1 | $400,000 |
| Our Neighbors' Table, Inc. | Massachusetts | 1 | $400,000 |
| Elepaio Social Services | Hawaii | 1 | $400,000 |
| Mill City Grows Inc | Massachusetts | 1 | $399,964 |
| National Center for Frontier Communities | New Mexico | 1 | $398,142 |
| Agroecology Commons | California | 1 | $397,914 |
| East End Food Institute | New York | 1 | $393,708 |
| Little Village Community Foundation Corp | Illinois | 1 | $386,000 |
| Kids Food Basket | Michigan | 1 | $386,000 |
| West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition Inc | West Virginia | 1 | $385,765 |
| The Nashville Food Project, Inc. | Tennessee | 1 | $380,597 |
| The Urban Food Initiative, Inc | Massachusetts | 1 | $377,914 |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Utah | 1 | $377,914 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 93% of the money, tribes 2.8% and small businesses 2.0%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 118 | $32.0 million | 93% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 7 | $942,930 | 2.8% |
| Small businesses | 2 | $680,491 | 2.0% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $355,300 | 1.0% |
| Other | 1 | $222,263 | 0.7% |
| Colleges and universities | 2 | $50,674 | 0.1% |
By state
10 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 18 | $5.2 million |
| Massachusetts | 11 | $4.0 million |
| New York | 11 | $2.9 million |
| Hawaii | 6 | $2.2 million |
| Maine | 5 | $1.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | $1.6 million |
| Minnesota | 6 | $1.4 million |
| Illinois | 4 | $1.4 million |
| Florida | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Michigan | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $958,758 |
| Colorado | 3 | $948,634 |
| Georgia | 3 | $887,192 |
| Alaska | 4 | $805,066 |
| Washington | 7 | $762,877 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $752,581 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | $735,020 |
| New Jersey | 3 | $717,845 |
| West Virginia | 2 | $678,465 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $411,000 |
| Tennessee | 2 | $404,310 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $400,391 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $377,914 |
| Utah | 1 | $377,914 |
| Virginia | 2 | $375,897 |
| Texas | 1 | $350,651 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $349,055 |
| Nevada | 1 | $343,175 |
| Missouri | 2 | $328,024 |
| Maryland | 1 | $314,407 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $250,599 |
| Ohio | 1 | $239,690 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $76,608 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $33,775 |
| Indiana | 1 | $33,775 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $28,167 |
| North Carolina | 1 | $18,638 |
| South Carolina | 1 | $5,871 |
| South Dakota | 2 | $1,054 |