The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), in partnership with the Office of Grants Management (OGM), is soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2025 Community Food Assistance Program from currently active food assistance provider organizations that have consistently provided regularly scheduled services on at least a monthly basis, to Montgomery County residents at County-based sites for a minimum of two years. $3,500,000 in total is available for awards of direct funding and/or shopping credits to order food for distribution of shelf-stable, fresh food, and/or prepared meals to Montgomery County residents. The goal of these funds is to provide continuity of existing critical community food assistance services, while also closing service gaps, enhancing program impact, standardizing data collection, providing greater flexibility and transparency in funding processes, and strengthening the capacity of the provider network and resilience of the local food system.
The minimum award that applicants may request is $5,000 and the maximum award is $300,000. Final award amounts may be lower than $5,000. The performance period for these grant awards is one year (anticipated to be on/about October 15, 2024 to October 15, 2025).
Key Program Dates:
- Program Opens for Applications: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 4:00 PM
- MS Teams Live Grant Program Information Session: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 12:30 PM
- Submission Deadline: Monday, September 23, 2024 at 3:00 PM (New Due Date!)
Key Program Resources:
- Online Grants Application Platform: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/
- Program Page: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/FY25CFA
- Download the full FY25 Community Food Assistance Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity document in .pdf format.
- A required Budget template is available to download and use in your application.
Applications that are incomplete, do not meet legal requirements, or are submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Need Application Assistance? To support community partners through this grant application process, the OFSR is offering pre-scheduled 15 minute virtual 1:1 support meetings with a member of our team for applicants at a variety of times from 9/10-9/19. To sign up, please visit: https://bit.ly/CFA_chat. Please register for only one session; open slots are available on a first-come, first served basis. Before your appointment, fully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and online application resources, and come prepared with specific questions as sessions cannot exceed their allotted time. Reschedule requests cannot be guaranteed accommodation. Last minute registrations (one hour or less before the appointment time) may be subject to cancellation or delayed start.
Applicants requiring an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation should contact the Office of Grants Management to discuss alternative submission options. Applications that are incomplete, do not meet legal requirements, or are submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. For alternate ADA submission options please contact the Office of Grants Management using the contact information below:
Ali Hoy, Program Manager II, OGM
(240) 773-3384
grants@montgomerycountymd.gov
For any technical questions related to the application, please contact the OFSR using the contact information below:
Catherine Nardi, Program Manager, OFSR
(202) 816-9083
Catherine.Nardi@montgomerycountymd.gov
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, Outgoing Grants Program Manager of the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.
FY25 Community Food Assistance Grant Program
The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), in partnership with the Office of Grants Management (OGM), is soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2025 Community Food Assistance Program from currently active food assistance provider organizations that have consistently provided regularly scheduled services on at least a monthly basis, to Montgomery County residents at County-based sites for a minimum of two years. $3,500,000 in total is available for awards of direct funding and/or shopping credits to order food for distribution of shelf-stable, fresh food, and/or prepared meals to Montgomery County residents. The goal of these funds is to provide continuity of existing critical community food assistance services, while also closing service gaps, enhancing program impact, standardizing data collection, providing greater flexibility and transparency in funding processes, and strengthening the capacity of the provider network and resilience of the local food system.
The minimum award that applicants may request is $5,000 and the maximum award is $300,000. Final award amounts may be lower than $5,000. The performance period for these grant awards is one year (anticipated to be on/about October 15, 2024 to October 15, 2025).
Key Program Dates:
- Program Opens for Applications: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 4:00 PM
- MS Teams Live Grant Program Information Session: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 12:30 PM
- Submission Deadline: Monday, September 23, 2024 at 3:00 PM (New Due Date!)
Key Program Resources:
- Online Grants Application Platform: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/
- Program Page: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/FY25CFA
- Download the full FY25 Community Food Assistance Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity document in .pdf format.
- A required Budget template is available to download and use in your application.
Applications that are incomplete, do not meet legal requirements, or are submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Need Application Assistance? To support community partners through this grant application process, the OFSR is offering pre-scheduled 15 minute virtual 1:1 support meetings with a member of our team for applicants at a variety of times from 9/10-9/19. To sign up, please visit: https://bit.ly/CFA_chat. Please register for only one session; open slots are available on a first-come, first served basis. Before your appointment, fully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and online application resources, and come prepared with specific questions as sessions cannot exceed their allotted time. Reschedule requests cannot be guaranteed accommodation. Last minute registrations (one hour or less before the appointment time) may be subject to cancellation or delayed start.
Applicants requiring an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation should contact the Office of Grants Management to discuss alternative submission options. Applications that are incomplete, do not meet legal requirements, or are submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. For alternate ADA submission options please contact the Office of Grants Management using the contact information below:
Ali Hoy, Program Manager II, OGM
(240) 773-3384
grants@montgomerycountymd.gov
For any technical questions related to the application, please contact the OFSR using the contact information below:
Catherine Nardi, Program Manager, OFSR
(202) 816-9083
Catherine.Nardi@montgomerycountymd.gov
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, Outgoing Grants Program Manager of the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.