Community Food Projects

Technical assistance & resources available for applicants and grantees

New Entry provided free training and technical assistance to applicants or grantees of the USDA Community Food Project's grant program during 2016-2019.  We encourage you to explore the resources we have developed here on our website and to carefully review the new RFA when it is released for any changes or modifications to guidance presented in prior educational programs and resources.

 

See the collective impact of Community Food Projects in FY 2018 HERE!

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide

Check out the great resources for applicants and grantees!

Community Food Projects Overview

The primary goals of the Community Food Projects Grant Program are to:

  • Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;
  • Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities;
  • Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues;
  • Meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs 

Community Food Projects are intended to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system and to foster understanding of national food security trends and how they might improve local food systems.

CFP Resources

USDA Resources

    USDA Community Food Projects website - includes an overview of the grant program and current and former Requests for Applications

    CFP webinars and FAQs

    NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide

Overview of the Community Food Projects Program

    Community Food Projects FY 2019 Grant Writing Guide - A comprehensive guide written by New Entry to serve as a supplement to the RFA.

    Planning Grant FY 2019 Guide - A guide written by New Entry specifically for organizations interested in apply for the CFP planning grant (last update for 2019 RFA, please review current year RFA carefully for any changes).

    Electronic Submissions Guide - A guide that walks through the process of submitting grants through Grants.gov

    Summary of Community Food Projects - Created by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

    Planning Successful Community Food Projects - Originally by Hugh Joseph and Barbara Rushmore, updated by New Entry

    Inclusive Engagement Toolkit for Community Food Projects Planning - October 2015, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project

Community Food Projects Evaluation

    Community Food Project Evaluation Handbook - Created by Community Food Security Coalition

    Community Food Project Evaluation Toolkit - Created by Community Food Security Coaltion

    Whole Measures for Community Food Systems - Community Food Security Coalition

    Whole Measures for Community Food Systems: Stories from the Field - Community Food Security Coalition

Community Food Projects Indicators of Success and Reporting

The Community Food Security Coalition and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture developed the Community Food Projects Indicators of Success to determine the collective impact of the CFP grant program on an annual basis. New Entry Sustainable Farming Project now administers this survey annually to CFP grantees; participation is required. The Indicators of Success survey uses outcomes-based reporting that allows us to capture important information on project success and communicate those to the USDA.

    2018 Indicators of Success Survey - and Survey Guide For current CFP grantees 

    2018 Beneficiary Survey - and Survey Guide For current CFP grantees to administer to their beneficiaries

    Indicators of Success Report: FY2018 - New Entry Sustainable Farming Project

    Indicators of Success Report: FY 2017 - New Entry Sustainable Farming Project

    Indicators of Success Report: FY 2016 - New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (with case studies by Andy Fisher)

    REEport Guide for Project Directors - NIFA June 2017

Community Food Security Coalition Resources

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) had created a variety of helpful resources for technical assistance and training for applicants and grantees of CFP prior to New Entry taking on this role. Click here to view some of these resources. Note that many are dated (the CFSC dissolved in 2012) but still valuable.

Why Hunger Resources

    Community Food Projects Database - on the WhyHunger website

    Digital Storytelling site showcasing past and current Community Food Projects

Additional Resources

    Community Food Security in the United States: A Survey of the Scientific Literature Volume II - The John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

    Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future Food Systems Studies

    Logic Model Development Guide - W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2006 (webpage contains free PDF download)

 

This project was supported by the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA Grant #2016-33800-25610 and made possible by collaborations with:

Partners