Equitable Food Access Initiatives: School Based Nutrition Market Grant Program

The Equitable Food Access Initiative: School Based Nutrition Markets is administered by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health), specifically through the Community Health Administration (CHA) and its Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Bureau. The initiative is part of the District's broader strategy to reduce chronic disease and food insecurity by expanding access to nutritious food and improving food environments for residents, especially vulnerable populations. Through this funding opportunity, DC Health seeks to support comprehensive, multi-level, evidence-based interventions that address systemic food access challenges and health disparities across the District. The program’s primary objective is to reduce food insecurity by funding a single grantee to implement school-based and summer seasonal nutrition markets that provide access to fresh produce and pantry items. These markets are required to serve at least 7,000 children and families during the school year (October through June) and an additional 3,000 participants during the summer (July through September). The target audience includes District residents who are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, or receive free/reduced-price meals. During the school year, the markets must operate in at least 50 District schools or early childhood centers where a minimum of 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. During the summer, five or more community sites must be established in Wards 5, 7, and 8—areas identified as having the highest rates of food insecurity and chronic disease. Funded activities must span all domains of the Chronic Disease Framework: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches; Community-Clinical Linkages; Health Systems Interventions; and Data and Surveillance. Required components include training food navigators to connect residents with nutritional resources, forming referral systems with healthcare providers, and developing a marketing strategy to boost program engagement. Strategic partnerships with health centers, social service providers, and food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP are also essential. Grantees must also collect data on participant demographics, service delivery outcomes, and referral activities, reporting quarterly and annually to DC Health, and integrating evaluation findings into program improvement efforts. Applications are due April 21, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. through DC Health’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). Only one award, valued between $1.5 million and $1.825 million, will be issued for the 12-month budget period beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. The total project period extends through September 30, 2031, contingent on funding availability and grantee performance. No cost sharing or match is required. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofits and for-profit organizations that provide direct food distribution services and are licensed to conduct business in the District of Columbia. Individual applicants are not eligible. All applications must include a range of documentation, including proof of insurance, a staffing plan, a logic model, evaluation plan, and a signed board list. A comprehensive work plan aligned with the program’s strategic goals must accompany the proposal, detailing SMARTIE objectives and responsible staff for each activity. Evaluation criteria focus on demonstrated need, feasibility of implementation, quality of partnerships, and capacity for sustainability and continuous improvement. Applicants are expected to coordinate with multiple schools and community sites, source at least 10% of produce locally from within the DMV area and nearby states, and ensure accessibility for multilingual and diverse populations. The grantee will be subject to ongoing monitoring by DC Health and must adhere to standard reporting, audit, and quality assurance procedures throughout the grant term. A pre-application meeting and FAQ updates are available via the Office of Grants Management.

Submit early; align with five service areas; prioritize school and ward-based site criteria; ensure all uploads are properly labeled and signed.