Childhood Hunger

Great American Bake Sale Grants

Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale grants program helps ensure that low-income children receive nutritious food during critical times when they are out of school and particularly vulnerable to hunger. By increasing access to nutritious meals outside of school hours, we can help end childhood hunger in communities across the country.

The Great American Bake Sale grants program will support efforts to increase participation among low-income children in summer and afterschool meal programs. Share Our Strength is specifically interested in increasing participation in meal programs that utilize USDA reimbursement through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Nonprofit organizations that work to increase the number of children that receive nutritious afterschool and summer meals may be eligible to apply for funds raised through the Great American Bake Sale.

Available Grants

Two types of grants will be offered through the Great American Bake Sale grants program:

Grants for Program Sponsors
Grants will be awarded to organizations that directly sponsor USDA-reimbursed afterschool and/or summer meal programs for children. Grants will specifically support efforts to increase participation in the organization's USDA summer and afterschool meal programs. Grant awards will range from $1,000-$10,000.
Grants for Advocacy
Grants will be awarded to organizations that work to increase participation in USDA-reimbursed afterschool and summer meal programs through outreach and advocacy. Grants will support projects designed to increase participation in afterschool and summer meal programs through advocacy. Organizations engage in advocacy when they work with schools, community organizations, local businesses, and with a range of government officials to increase participation in summer and afterschool meal programs. Grant awards will range from $1,000-$10,000.

Grant Guidelines

Grants will only be provided to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools with a valid NCES code, or local government entities that work to ensure children have access to afterschool and summer meal programs.

Organizations applying for Program Sponsor Grants are also required to submit proof of their certification to receive reimbursement from the USDA for the meals and snacks they serve through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

Applying for a Grant

The grant application process for funds raised through the 2008 Great American Bake Sale closed in May 2008.

Grant applications for funds raised through the 2009 Great American Bake Sale will begin to be accepted in March 2009.