Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Summer Food Service Program for Children (10.559)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$53.3 million
• Grant awards12
• Typical award$1.5 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$15.3 million
• Size rank1,016 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• It is the 1016th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• Awards went to recipients in 2 states and territories.

What the program funds

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) operates SFSP in partnership with State agencies and local organizations to provide free meals to eligible children during the summer months and at other approved times when school is not in session. USDA assists States through grants-in-aid and other means to conduct nonprofit food service programs for children through the SFSP.

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 (includes District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) agency applies for and signs an agreement to receive Federal funds for disbursement. The State agency enters into an agreement with each sponsor that has been approved for participation. The agreement is permanent and may be amended as necessary to ensure compliance with all Federal requirements. Sponsors must agree to operate a nonprofit food service that is available to all eligible children regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability.

What the money can and cannot pay for

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) makes funds available to States for disbursement to eligible service institutions (sponsors) which provide free meals to children in areas where at least 50 percent of the children meet the income eligibility criteria for free and reduced price meals. Meals may be served to children 18 and younger, and to individuals over 18 who participate in State-approved school programs for persons with disabilities. SFSP generally operates during the months of May through September at site locations where regularly scheduled food services are provided for children. Sites may also participate in SFSP from September through May if an area school is closed because of an emergency situation. Sponsors operating food programs for children on school vacation under a continuous year-round calendar may apply for participation in other months. Reimbursement may be paid for one meal and one snack or two meals to each child each day. Camps and sites primarily serving children of migrant workers may be approved to serve up to three reimbursable meals to each child each day. Meals must meet USDA standards to be eligible for reimbursement. Funds are also paid to participating State agencies for administrative expenses related to program staffing, operation, and oversight.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 7, Part 5, Subpart a-f,Public Law Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.Richard B. Russell National School Lunch ActMatching 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

1 state has a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. It is Kansas.

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