The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program request for applications (RFAs) are now open. To apply, visit Grants.gov and follow the instructions found in each FY 2025 RFA. This year the RFA has been split into three separate solicitations:
To apply, visit Grants.gov and follow the instructions found in the RFA. Come back and visit this page for updated resources, including webinars recorded to assist Farm to School Grant applicants. To register for upcoming webinars expand the “webinars” section below.
For additional funding opportunities for farm to school activities, visit the USDA AMS Grants, Loans and Other Support webpage.
- Getting Started
- Farm to School Planning Toolkit: This comprehensive document describes the key activities to building a strong Farm to School program.
- Summary of Grant Awards: View press releases and download project descriptions of past Farm to School awardees.
- Prior Requests for Applications: Visit this link for prior RFA announcements.
- Webinars
- Office Hours: The Farm to School Team will host bimonthly office hours on the dates below to provide applicants with an opportunity to pose questions they may have about the Farm to School Grant Program. Note that these sessions are not recorded, but you can come and go at any time. You do not need to attend the full hour, and the full time will be dedicated solely to answering applicant questions. Please use the corresponding link below to register for the session.
- Tuesday Nov. 19, 1:00-2:00p.m ET -Register here
- Monday Dec. 2, 11:00-12:00p.m ET- Register here
- Wednesday Dec. 18, 3:00-4:00p.m ET- Register here
- Tuesday Jan. 7, 2:00-3:00p.m ET- Register here
- Introduction to the Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications: This webinar will help grant applicants choose the solicitation that is the best fit for them and help attendees understand grant eligibility, funding priorities, and grant objectives.
- Submitting a Complete Grant Package: This webinar will help potential grant applicants understand the components of a complete application and learn how to submit a responsive application that meets all the requirements to be considered for an award.
- Creating Successful Assessment Plans: This webinar provides guidance on how to create successful assessment plans for your grant proposals and projects.
- Planning Sustainable Projects: This webinar provides an overview of how to create a sustainable farm to school project along with resources and examples. It highlights how to write an application that showcases a project’s sustainability, encouraging projects to outlast farm to school grant funds and initiate a permanent impact in the community. This information may be used both during the grant planning process and as a general project planning resource.
- Identifying & Calculating Match: This webinar reviews the match requirements of the Farm to School grant program which includes identifying cash match sources, defining in-kind match, how to calculate a match and federal request amount, what are allowable and unallowable match sources, and a walk through of critical budget components of the Farm to School grant application.
- Preparing an Effective Grant Proposal: This webinar takes you through strategies you can use to write an effective grant proposal, meaning it is aligned with the intent of the program and responsive to requirements, while communicating the intent of your project.
- Office Hours: The Farm to School Team will host bimonthly office hours on the dates below to provide applicants with an opportunity to pose questions they may have about the Farm to School Grant Program. Note that these sessions are not recorded, but you can come and go at any time. You do not need to attend the full hour, and the full time will be dedicated solely to answering applicant questions. Please use the corresponding link below to register for the session.
- Application Materials
Contact Us
For all questions about the USDA Farm to School Grant Program, please email SM.FN.FarmToSchool@usda.gov.
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