The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP-NI) funds and evaluates projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as by Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) Block Grant participants in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Incentives are provided at the point of purchase.

Overview

Administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing 10.331, the GusNIP-NI supports innovative approaches to improve dietary choices among low-income households. The program aims to strengthen the link between agricultural production and nutrition security by making fruits and vegetables more affordable for SNAP/NAP participants. Projects must include an evaluation component to measure impact.

Funding and Benefits

• Total Program Funding: $36,300,000
• Expected Number of Awards: 15
• Award Minimum: $10,000
• Award Maximum: $15,000,000
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
• Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. Each eligible entity may submit only one application. An entity is defined as an autonomous organization; for academic institutions, this is the Higher Education Directory System Office. Applicants may form partnerships or collaborations with public or private entities, including for-profit organizations, academic institutions (including Tribal colleges and universities), emergency feeding organizations, agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, community health organizations, farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, retail food stores participating in SNAP/NAP, and Tribal, state, territory, or local agencies. Subawards are permitted subject to NIFA approval. If a non-profit organization cannot accept federal funds directly, a fiscal agent arrangement must be documented in the application.

All applicants must maintain active registration in SAM and comply with the requirements outlined in the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Organizations not eligible to receive federal awards are listed in SAM with an Exclusion Type.

Application Process

• Closing Date: June 16, 2026
• Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-FINI-011905
• Category of Funding Activity: Agriculture

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. For questions about preparing application content, contact grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays. Additional information and full program details are available on the NIFA website at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program-nutrition-incentive-0.