Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Child and Adult Care Food Program (10.558)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.8 billion
• Grant awards776
• Typical award$863,372
• Awarded in FY 2025$290 million
• Size rank177 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $662 million in fiscal 2021 to $290 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 177th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 78% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 54 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

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

The State or U.S. Territory agency applies for and signs an agreement with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to administer the Program and receive Federal funds for disbursement. The State agency enters into an agreement with each institution that has been approved for participation. The agreement is permanent and may be amended as necessary to ensure compliance with all Federal requirements. Institutions must agree to operate a nonprofit food service that is available to all eligible children and adult participants regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. Refer to the USDA Civil Rights page for current information. Currently available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights

What the money can and cannot pay for

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) makes funds available to States for disbursement to eligible institutions to reimburse their costs in providing meals and snacks to children and adult participants enrolled in nonresidential day care, children attending afterschool care programs, and children residing in emergency shelters. Disbursement is made on the basis of the number of breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks served, using annually adjusted reimbursement rates specified by law. CACFP allows reimbursement for up to two meals and one snack served each day to children through age 12, children of migrant workers through age 15, and persons with disabilities, in child care centers and day care homes. Adult day care centers receive reimbursement for up to two meals and one snack served each day to enrolled adults who are functionally impaired or age 60 and older. In afterschool care programs in low-income areas, reimbursement is available for one snack and one additional meal served each day, during the regular school year, to children and youth through age 18. CACFP also provides reimbursement to emergency shelters for up to three meals served each day to children or young people through age 18. All meals must meet USDA standards to be eligible for reimbursement. Funds are also paid to States and family day-care home sponsors for administrative expenses related to Program staffing and oversight, as well as for audit expenses associated with CACFP administration.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 7, Part 4, Subpart a-l,Public Law Public Law 94-105.Public Law 94-105Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.

By state

52 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.