The Edible SchoolyardFundraising

The Edible SchoolyardGovernment Funding: USDA

The USDA Farm to School Grant Program(and Other Federal Programs Supporting Local Food Systems) Tegan Hagy

Edible Schoolyard Academy| June, 2015

Our Authorizing Legislation

Section 243 of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act:“The Secretary shall carry out a program to… improve access to local foods in eligible schools.” Through:

1. Grants

2. Technical Assistance

Grant Activities Supported

• Award up to $5.0 million annually, for: » Training;

» Supporting operations;

» Planning;

» Purchasing equipment;

» Developing school gardens;

» Developing partnerships; and

» Implementing farm to school programs.

Details

• Eligible entities: Eligible schools and school districts, Indian tribal organizations, nonprofit entities, local and state agencies, agricultural producers and groups of agricultural producers.

• Consideration given to high need; geography; and other departmental priorities.

• In the middle of our fourth application/selection cycle; 221 awards made to date.

Types of Awards

» Planning (schools)

• 1 year, $20K to $45K

» Implementation (schools)

• 1-2 years, $60K to $100K

» Support service (all others)

• 1-2 years, $60K to $100k

» *New* Training planning track

Funding Priorities

the Secretary shall give the highest priority to funding projects that, as determined by the Secretary—

» make local food products available on school menus;

» serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches;

» incorporate experiential nutrition education activities in curriculum planning that encourage the participation of school children in farm and garden-based agricultural education activities;

» demonstrate collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners;

» include adequate and participatory evaluation plans;

» demonstrate the potential for long-term program sustainability; and

» meet any other criteria that the Secretary determines appropriate.

USDA Farm to School Grants (and other federal funds) are particularly

good for projects that are… • impactful. • replicable. • innovative. !

• They’re not so great for ongoing support or projects that aren’t relevant beyond a community.

• collaborative. • sustainable. • multi-faceted. !!!!

!!

Benefits Beyond the Cold Hard $$$

• Opportunity to generate community excitement and support

• National-level press and attention • Access to a cohort of other grantees engaged in similar

projects • Technical assistance and training • Accountability and regular reporting to USDA

Tips

• Ensure that key people in your organization and community are supportive of the grant proposal.

• Be reasonable with your funding request and make sure it matches the scope of work proposed.

• Get to know the RFA like the back of your hand.

• Look at all supporting documents: FAQs, sample proposals, etc.

More Tips!

• Apply early… really. ▪ The vast majority of applications are submitted in the last few

days.

▪ Grants.gov is not *quite* as user-friendly as it could be. ▪ It is hard (sometimes impossible) for us to troubleshoot last

minute.

• Don’t be intimidated, and don’t hesitate to reach out.

• Frame the application process as a valuable exercise, even if you don’t receive an award.

Examples of Other USDA Programs

• The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (Agricultural Marketing Service) » $30 million

• Community Food Projects (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) » $5 million

• Community Facilities Grants and Loans (Rural Development) » Administered at the state level !

• See handout in your binder!

2014 Investments in CA

FMLFPP $1.3 millionCF Loans $33.6 million

CF Guaranteed

$854,655

Resources

• Grant Award Summaries • USDA Farm to School E-letter • USDA Farm to School Website: www.fns.usda.gov/

farmtoschool

» Finding, Buying, and Serving Local Foods Webinar Series

» Fact Sheets

» Past Webinars

» Most recent RFA

• Your colleagues in the field who have received grants!

USDA Farm to School Regional Leads

Bob Gorman Mountain Plains

Kacie O’Brien Western

Nicole Zammit Southwest

Samantha Benjamin-Kirk

Southeast

Danielle Fleury Northeast

Vanessa Zajfen

Midwest

Tegan Hagy Mid-Atlantic

Thank you!

The Edible SchoolyardWhole Kids Foundation

OUR MISSION

Whole Kids Foundation works to improve children’s health and wellness through nutrition by supporting schools

and inspiring families.

Whole Kids Foundation works to improve children’s nutrition byINSPIRING FAMILIES

Scrapkins Hands-On!Art projects engage kids’ hands and minds making them more open to

new conversations. “Think About It” questions help families talk about

healthy food choices

Awesome Eats!Free educational iTunes

game app downloaded more than 1.8 million times in 200

countries. Fun food facts and healthy eating tips between

levels educate kids of all ages

Better Bites!Simple changes that

families can make to add more nutrition to every bite

SALAD BARS TO SCHOOLS• Salad Bar grant = equipment !

• Salad bars are filled by the schools and are considered the vegetable component of the meal !

• Partner with Chef Ann Foundation and Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools !

• To learn more, visit: saladbars2schools.org

!• Application available year round

To Date: 3,456 Salad Bars

HEALTHY TEACHERS PROGRAM• Teachers are the most powerful role models for

our children - 7 hours a day! • Course includes basic nutrition, healthy cooking

techniques, group discussion, recipes, and family style tastings !!!!!

• For more details email healthy.teachers@wholefoods.com

• Three Simple Guidelines:!– Eat a Rainbow!– Eat Greens First!– Eat as Close to Nature as Possible

To Date: 3,000+ Teachers

SCHOOL GARDEN GRANTS• Partner with FoodCorps, a non-profit

Americorps service organization focused on connecting children to their food !

• $2,000 monetary grant !

• Must be an edible garden on K-12 school campus

!• Schools or non-profits working with

schools can apply !• All 50 states

To Date: 2,116 School Garden Grants

SCHOOL GARDEN GRANTS-Application Process

• Annual Fall application – Spring selection !

!• FoodCorps fellows help review

applications !

• About 500 schools selected each year !• 1 year grant: non-renewal 2015 Application

September 1st-October 31st

SCHOOL GARDEN GRANTS-What we’re looking for

• Kid involvement and connection to healthy eating !

• Thorough, thoughtful plan !• Integration into the curriculum and

school community !

• Sustainability

2015 Application September 1st-October 31st

Garden Grant Writing Tips

• Developed by FoodCorps fellows !

• What they wanted to tell the applicants

!• How not what

Email: gardens@wholekidsfoundation.org

Garden Grant Writing Suggestions

• Be Specific

• Be Unique

• Be Concise

• Be Realistic

• Be Strategic

• Be Sustainable

• Be Passionate

Good Example

“We have received materials from our local Home depot and gardening store.”!

Better Example

“We have received materials from our local Home Depot and gardening store. We applied for a Home Depot school garden grant but did not get it. We plan to reapply this year and to the Annie’s gardening grant. We are also ramping up our garden events as a way to garner awareness of our school garden and possibly generate more funds.” !States multiple ways receiving support: !• Local business!• Applying for other grants (multiple times)!• Events for awareness and more funds!!!

BE PASSIONATE

Contact Us!!

!Tristana Pirkl - School Programs Specialist!!

!Kim Herrington – School Programs Director !

!!

Email: gardens@wholekidsfoundation.org

Thank you!