The Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE) is pleased to make available grants between $5,000 and $50,000 and a duration of up to 12 months to support capacity building initiatives for current USDA GusNIP, GusCRR, and ARPA grantees and their implementing partners and subawardees.
For the purpose of this funding opportunity, Capacity Building is defined as initiatives that are designed to strengthen an organization’s ability to implement a nutrition incentive or produce prescription project(s) in their community. Capacity building is an investment in the efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term viability of a nutrition incentive project and/or produce prescription project.
This grant seeks to support initiatives that build capacity in any or all the following categories:
Communications Planning & Strategy
Community Building + Partnership Development
Evaluation
Fundraising
Maximizing Project Efficiencies for Long Term Viability
Governance Structure of Your Nutrition Incentive or Produce Prescription Project
Nutrition Education
Participant Engagement + Outreach
Staffing Support & Internal Systems
Technology
Capacity Building Projects in Other areas are also encouraged
Funding Priorities: This year, based on the
needs identified across the GusNIP community, priority will be given to applicants
with projects that tackle challenges related to the long-term viability of
their GusNIP projects. Activities around financial planning, fundraising, evaluation
and storytelling, communications planning and strategy, systems improvements,
governance and board development are some ideas of allowable activities.
Applicants are encouraged to identify systems, processes, workflows, and other
opportunities to streamline projects in order to increase efficiency and
effectiveness. Please note, this year we will be prioritizing applicants that were not
invited to apply for FY25 GusNIP funding.
Eligibility: Current GusNIP, GusCRR, and/or ARPA-PPR grantee organizations or implementing partners/subrecipients of these funds are eligible to apply. Applicants must be registered as either a government agency or non-profit organization. Due to limited funding, we are only able to award one grant per GusNIP grantee. If we receive multiple applications from a current GusNIP, GusCRR, or ARPA grantee (or their partners), a maximum of one may be funded, depending on the scores of reviewers.
Budget Considerations:
Eligible Expenses: Allowable expenses under the Capacity Building & Innovation Fund align with the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) budget policy and can include time for staff and consultants, technology, supplies, marketing, materials, postage, and travel incurred between the grant start and end dates. Applications may include relevant expenses incurred by the organization’s outreach and retail partners.
Applicants
must ensure alignment with Administration policy and Executive Orders
(EOs) including the most recent EOs and . Applicants are also encouraged to ensure that their projects
clearly demonstrate alignment with the Administration priorities,
such as those articulated in the MAHA and Farmers
First reports, as appropriate.
You can visit the NIFA Grants Guide for a full list of allowable costs or refer to the Federal Assistance Policy Guide: Section VI: Allowable Costs.
Ineligible Expenses: The following activities and expenses are NOT eligible under this grant:
No part of the grant funds may be used to:
- Persuade or recruit individuals to apply for SNAP/NAP benefits.
- Carry on propaganda, for lobbying or other attempts to influence legislation, or to influence the outcome of any specific public election, or to carry on, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive.
- Replace existing GusNIP, GusCRR, or ARPA, funding. No part of the grant funds may be used as a match for a GusNIP, GusCRR, or ARPA grant.
- Spend directly on nutrition incentives or produce prescriptions.
- POS equipment necessary for redeeming SNAP/NAP benefits may not be purchased for retailers. Upgrades to retailers’ existing equipment specifically for the purpose of enhancing the issuance and/or redemption of GusNIP incentives is acceptable.
- Equipment for stocking fruits and vegetables for retailers.