The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, authorized in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) (42 USC 1751 et seq.), is designed to increase the availability of local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operations and connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for CNP meals. Grants can be used to launch new farm to CNP¹ programs or expand existing efforts. The objective of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Farm to School Grant is to improve access to local foods in eligible CNP sites through comprehensive farm to CNP programming that includes local sourcing and agricultural education efforts. These grants are expected to improve child health and nutrition and reinvigorate American agriculture by better connecting American farmers and producers with USDA’s Child Nutrition Programs.

This Request for Application (RFA) differs significantly in several important ways from past Farm to School Grant Program solicitations, including eligibility, funding amounts available, and project scope. Please read the RFA thoroughly for complete information.

Funding

This competitive grant will fund innovative farm to school projects ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for a total of up to $18 million. 

Please note, grant awards are subject to the availability of funding and/or appropriations of funds. We reserve the right to use this solicitation and the results of this competition to award additional grants this year or the subsequent fiscal year, should additional funds become available.

Eligibility

The following are eligible entities:

• State agencies
• Indian Tribal organizations
• Child Nutrition Program operators*
• Local agencies*
• Agricultural producers*
• Groups of agricultural producers*
• Non-profit organizations*
  • All non-profit organizations must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

Note: Under this RFA, all entities marked with an asterisk (*) must be part of a partnership to be eligible to apply.

Organizations applying as any of the entities specified above, but which do not meet the eligibility definitions will be deemed ineligible and removed from competition without further consideration.

For additional information please see the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program website.

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