Grants in Your Corner Enhance Your School Meal Programs!
G rants are an amazing opportunity to boost your school meal programs but applying for grants can be very daunting. The first barrier is simply finding the time to search for available grants between serving breakfast and planning next month’s menu. Through - out my tenure in school nutrition, I have successfully applied for numerous grants with varying degrees of complex applications. I know how stressful it can be to apply for any grant, especially if you haven’t tried before. When looking for grants, focus on grants that can play a small role in your overall plan to create the school meal program of your dreams. This helps to hone in on the exact ask or need. For example, if you are wanting to enhance your school meal program’s culinary innovation, the first step would be to identify the needs of the kitchen equip - ment and school nutrition team. Your school district may have a grant writer to assist with these projects or check with a local community founda - tion about a grant writer. Either way, this is not a process you have to tackle alone. There are many resources and colleagues that can assist you along the way.
Check out these current grant opportunities!
Whole Kids Foundation Funding Topic: School Garden Deadline: March 5th APPLY HERE School Nutrition Foundation Funding Topic: Kitchen Equipment Deadline: March 12th APPLY HERE Fuel Up Funding Topic: Kitchen Equipment Deadline: April 2025 APPLY HERE Tarrah’s Tip: Before applying for a grant make sure to find your school district’s tax exempt Kroger Community Grants Funding Idea: School Food Pantry or Summer Meals Deadline: Accepted All Year APPLY HERE Wal-Mart Spark Good Local Grants Funding Idea: School Food Pantry or Supper Meals Deadline: Accepted All Year APPLY HERE status form. The finance director should have this form with the correct tax identification number.
Toshiba Funding Idea: Pair with Farm to School Efforts Deadline: October 1st of each year APPLY HERE Cliff Family Foundation Funding Idea: Wellness or Sustainability Initiatives Deadlines: March 1st and August 1st of each year APPLY HERE Tarrah’s Tip: Work with local community organizations to boost your grant application. The more you show how it will impact the community, the stronger the application is! The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Funding Idea: Farm to School Programming Deadline: Accepted All Year APPLY HERE
The Lunch Box Funding Topic: Salad Bars Deadline: Accepted All Year APPLY HERE
No Kid Hungry Funding Topic: School Breakfast Program and/or Summer Feeding Programs utilizing Non-Congregate Sites. Deadline: Accepted All Year APPLY HERE
Tarrah Westercamp | Westercamp Consulting LLC Tarrah is owner of Westercamp Consulting LLC helping school districts and organizations reach more students with healthy meals and innovative programming. Tarrah is a Registered Dietitian with over a decade of experience in child nutrition programs encompassing USDA regulations, meal pattern requirements, school food service operations, obtaining stakeholder buy-in, and innovative implementation strategies to increase meal access to students. Tarrah holds a master’s degree in food and nutrition from Ball State University. In her free time, Tarrah enjoys spending time with her husband, John, traveling, cooking, and sipping hazelnut iced coffee.
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