The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Nutrition Incentive Program
This funding opportunity supports projects that encourage low-income individuals to buy more fruits and vegetables by providing financial incentives through authorized retailers.
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) for FY 2025, managed by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports projects that increase fruit and vegetable purchases among participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). It offers three funding categories: Pilot Projects (up to $100,000 for 12 months), Standard Projects (up to $500,000 for up to 36 months), and Large-Scale Projects (above $500,000 for up to 36 months). The total available funding is approximately $36.3 million, with applications due by April 15, 2025. Eligible entities include government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar match for federal funds. Special waivers for matching funds may apply to territories like Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The program encourages collaborations with academic institutions, community organizations, tribal nations, and other stakeholders to strengthen local food systems. Applications should include a project narrative detailing goals, community impact, proposed activities, evaluation plans, and a sustainability strategy. Projects must provide financial incentives for fruits and vegetables to SNAP/NAP participants through authorized retailers and comply with program regulations. A mandatory consultation with the GusNIP NTAE Center ensures alignment with program guidelines. Evaluation criteria focus on alignment with program priorities, community benefits, project design, organizational capacity, evaluation plans, and sustainability. Priority is given to projects serving underrepresented communities and geographies, and those that demonstrate innovative outreach or address food access challenges. Applications require submission through Grants.gov, with all forms and attachments provided in the NIFA Grants Application Guide. Successful applicants will be notified by September 30, 2025, and must comply with reporting and administrative requirements. Further guidance is available from NIFA and the GusNIP NTAE Center.
Award Range
Not specified - $500,000
Total Program Funding
$36,300,000
Number of Awards
20
Matching Requirement
Yes - Match Required β Applicants MUST provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all Federal funds awarded under the Nutrition Incentive Program (7 U.S.C. 7517(b)(1)) as amended. Matching funds, also known as the non-Federal share, must be documented for all project years at the time the application is submitted in the R&R Budget and SF-424 forms (See Part IV, B). Nutrition Incentive Program applications to the FPP, FIP, and FLSP program area priorities may meet the match requirement through cash and/or in-kind contributions, including third-party in-kind contributions fairly evaluated (including facilities, equipment, or services).
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility Requirements Applicants to the GusNIP - Nutrition Incentive Program must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in 7 U.S.C. 7517 and as discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFAs Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. 1. Eligible Entity Eligibility to apply for a GusNIP - Nutrition Incentive Program grant is limited to governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. 2. Partners and Collaborators Applicants for GusNIP grants are encouraged to seek and create partnerships with public or private, non-profit, or for-profit entities, including links with academic institutions (including minority-serving colleges and universities and tribal colleges and universities) and/or other appropriate professionals; community-based organizations; tribal nations and local government entities; and/or partnering entities for the purposes of providing additional resources and strengthening historical failure in underserved communities. Nutrition Incentive Program applicants may partner with or make subgrants to public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities; including an emergency feeding organization, an agricultural cooperative, a producer network or association, a community health organization, a public benefit corporation, an economic development corporation, a farmers market, a community-supported agriculture program, a buying club, a retail food store participating in SNAP/NAP, and a Tribal, State, Territory, or local agency. Only the applicant must meet the requirements specified above for grant eligibility. When planning partnerships and collaborations, applicants may sub-award to organizations not eligible to apply directly to the Nutrition Incentive Program provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project, will complete and maintain active registration with SAM, and are otherwise eligible to receive Federal Assistance awards. All organizations not eligible to receive a Federal award are listed in SAM with the Exclusion Type. See SAM Exclusion Types. See Part IV, C of this RFA for the subaward funding restriction. Fiscal Agent. If a non-profit organization cannot accept Federal funds directly, a letter must be included in the application stating that in the event the application results in an award, the award funds must be administered through a fiscal agent organization on their behalf. This agent must be identified in the letter from the applicant and the letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent organization. The letter must include the fiscal agents point of contact, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. This letter is to be included as an attachment to Field 12, Other Attachments (Part IV, B of this RFA) of the application. In the event an application is recommended for funding, NIFA will request that both the applicant institution/organization and the fiscal agent organization submit complete management information (see Part V, C of this RFA). Include documents showing the applicant organizations non-profit status when responding to this request.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
January 14, 2025
Application Closes
April 15, 2025
Grantor
US Department of Agriculture (National Institute of Food and Agriculture)
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