After$chool Funding: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Welcome to our series on funding and sustainability for afterschool and summer learning programs! We will be sharing information about top funding streams and how to access them every Friday during this campaign. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to make sure you get regular updates.

Afterschool and summer programs serve as essential partners in addressing food insecurity, particularly in rural, tribal, and low-income communities, ensuring young people are fed nutritious meals and snacks during the hours outside of school. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a federal agency that promotes nutrition and food security for American families by partnering with school and community sponsors, like out-of-school time programs, to administer meals. The USDA offers various nutrition assistance programs that can specifically help out-of-school time providers offer meals and snacks to participating students.

Reimbursement programs and grants

At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program: The At-Risk Meals Program through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) leverages afterschool programs as partners for ensuring young people are fed, engaged, and learning. Programs must offer educational or enrichment activities in order to be able to serve meals and meals can be provided after the regular school day ends or on week-ends and holidays, during times of the year when school is in session.

• Who controls the money: State agencies administer the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program to sponsors

• Who is eligible: Afterschool programs, schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based and other non-profit community organizations that offer educational or enrichment activities. Programs are eligible if they serve communities where at least 50%of students qualify for free and reduced priced meals. Programs must also meet licensing, health, or safety codes that are required by state or local law; and follow USDA meal pattern requirements that ensure they serve nutritionally balanced meals.

• How to apply: Contact your state agency for more information and eligibility details

• How much is a typical reimbursement: Afterschool meals and snacks are reimbursed based on a national average payment rate, which can vary by state and year

Afterschool Snack Program: The Afterschool Snack component of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is designed to fill the “afternoon hunger gap.”

• Who controls the money: The snack service is administered by local school food authorities under the umbrella of state education or state agriculture agencies, depending on the state

• Who is eligible: Afterschool programs that “provide organized, regularly scheduled activities in a structured and supervised environment, including an educational or enrichment activity. Examples of eligible activities include homework assistance, tutoring, supervised “drop-in” athletic programs, extended day programs, drama activities, and arts and crafts programs.”

• How to apply: Contact your local school food authority or state agency to apply to participate in the Afterschool Snack Program

• How much is a typical reimbursement: Afterschool meals and snacks are reimbursed based on a national average payment rate, which can vary by state and year.

Summer Food Service Program: Rebranded earlier this year as the SUN Meals program, the Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure that young people have access to no-cost, nutritious meals during the summer months. 

• Who controls the money: The USDA administers the program through state agencies to eligible public sites

• Who is eligible: Public sites, including schools, parks, and other communicable locations, where at least half of the children come from families with incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty level and therefore qualify for free or reduced price lunch

• How to apply: Contact your state agency to see if you are eligible to become a sponsor or site

Farm to School Grant Program: The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program aims to increase access to local foods in schools and educate young people on local food systems. Successful grantees can use the funds for a variety of activities in their afterschool programs that help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, and field trips. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts.

• Who controls the money: The USDA administers the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant to eligible applicants

• Who is eligible: State and local agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, tribal organizations, and agricultural producers who are working to increase access to local foods in schools and educate young people on local food systems

• How to apply: Learn more about the grant on the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program website and apply at Grants.Gov

• How much is a typical grant: Up to $500,000

To learn more about USDA nutrition programs and funding streams available to help you sustain your out-of-school time program, check out our new sustainability page!