FY 2026 Team Nutrition Training Grants

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service is soliciting applications for FY 2026 Team Nutrition Training Grants to enhance training for child nutrition professionals, with applications due July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Eligible applicants are state governments that administer child nutrition programs; individual program operators, sponsors, charter schools, and private schools cannot apply directly but may participate as subgrantees.

Applicants must select one of two objectives. Objective #1 delivers training and technical assistance to child nutrition professionals in School Meals Programs (NSLP, SBP, and SFSP) to improve meal planning and preparation aligned with the Dietary Guidelines, promote nutrition education, and foster healthy school environments. Objective #2 provides training, mentorship, and technical assistance to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers to enhance meal planning and preparation while delivering nutrition education through multiple channels and promoting healthy food environments at CACFP sites.

Individual state agencies may request between $500,000 and $1,000,000, with 8–10 awards anticipated from up to $10 million in total federal funding. The performance period runs three years from September 30, 2026 through September 30, 2029, with awards anticipated in September 2026.

Applicants must designate a Project Director (minimum 0.25 FTE) and hire a Team Nutrition Coordinator (1.0 FTE annually) within six months. State agencies may partner with universities, nonprofit organizations, and other state agencies; inter-state partnerships earn 10 bonus points, while same-state partnerships do not qualify for bonus points. State partnerships require a formal partnership letter addressing mutual benefits and justified by reference to food systems improvement initiatives, Eat Real Food implementation, or innovative pilot strategies.

Allowable costs include personnel, fringe benefits, travel (including required annual in-person convenings in Washington, D.C. lasting two to three days), supplies, equipment under $10,000, technology not exceeding 10 percent of funds, training incentives up to $500 per professional not exceeding 5 percent of the award, and sub-grants to eligible entities. Unallowable costs include large commercial foodservice equipment, marketing or advertising unrelated to the grant, and activities outside the four federally assisted meal programs.

Applications require SF-424 federal forms, project narratives, detailed budget narratives with SF-424A alignment, resumes, organizational charts, and state partnership letters where applicable. Grantees must submit quarterly progress reports on form FNS-908 and quarterly financial reports via FPRS, with final reports due 120 days after grant close.

The program operates under CFDA 10.574. An informational webinar is available at https://www.fna.usda.gov/tn/training-grants/webinar-2026. For general inquiries contact TeamNutrition@USDA.gov; for technical questions contact Anna.Arrowsmith@usda.gov.